enough that the French women intended to be kind.

"You hungry?" asked Pierre.

"Very," answered Jack.

Pierre said something to his mother and sister, who at once set about
spreading a cloth and placing eatables on the table--bread and cheese,
and pickled fish, and some salad.

"Merci! merci!" said Jack and Bill, as their hostess made signs to them
to fall to. Pierre joined them, and in a short time Captain Turgot
himself came in. He was as hospitably inclined as his wife and
daughter, and kept pressing the food upon the boys.

"Merci! merci!" was their answer.

At last Jeannette began to laugh, as if she thought it a good joke.

Jack and Bill tried hard to understand what was said. Pierre observed
them listening, and did his best to explain.

From him they learned that they must remain quiet in the house, or they
might be carried away as prisoners of war. He and his father wished to
save them from this, and intended, if they had the opportunity, enabling
them to get back to England.

"But how will you manage that?" asked Bill.

Pierre looked very knowing, and gave them to understand that smuggling
vessels occasionally came into the harbour, and that they might easily
get on board one of them, and reach the English coast.

"But we do not wish to get rid of you," said Pierre. "If you like to
remain with us, you shall learn French, and become French boys; and you
can then go out and help us fish, and gain your livelihood."

Pierre did not say this in as many words, but Jack and Bill agreed that
such was his meaning.

"He's very kind," observed Bill; "but for my part, I should not wish to
become a French boy; though I would not mind remaining for a while with
the French dame and her daughter, for they're both very kind, and we
shall have a happy time of it."

This was said a day or two after their arrival.

Captain Turgot had fitted them up a couple of bunks in a small room in
which Pierre slept, and they were both far more comfortable than they
had ever been in their lives.

Captain Turgot's cottage was far superior to that of Jack's father; and
as for Bill, he had never before slept in so soft a bed. They had to
remain in the house, however, all day; but Captain Turgot or Pierre took
them out in the evening, when they could not be observed, to stretch
their legs and get a little fresh air.

They tried to make themselves useful by helping Madame Turgot, and they
rapidly picked up from her and