ndred miles, the
brig bore away for the west. By dint of getting Jacques Clery to
translate sentences into French, and of hearing nothing but that
language spoken round him, Ralph had by this time begun to make
considerable progress in the language. Not only was he anxious to
learn it for the sake of passing away the time and making himself
understood, but his efforts were greatly stimulated by the fact that
if any of the crew addressed him in French a cuff on the head was
generally the penalty of a failure to comprehend him. The consequence
was that when six weeks after sailing the cry of land was shouted by
the lookout in the tops, Ralph was able to understand almost
everything that was said, and to reply in French with some fluency. As
the brig sailed along the wooded shores of the first island they fell
in with, Ralph was leaning against the bulwarks watching with deep
interest the objects they were passing.

"I can guess what you are thinking about," Jacques Clery said, taking
his place quietly by his side. "I have been through it all myself and
I can guess your feelings. You are thinking how you can escape. Now,
you take my advice and don't you hurry about it. You are doing well
where you are. Now you begin to talk French and understand orders it's
a good deal easier for you than it was, and the men are beginning to
regard you as one of themselves; but you may be sure that you will be
watched for a time. You see, they daren't let you go. If you were to
get to one of the English ports here we should have five or six of
your men-of-war after us in no time.

"If it was not for that I don't suppose the captain would object to
put you ashore. He has evidently taken a fancy to you, and is pleased
with the way in which you have taken things and with your smartness
and willingness. Beside, I don't think he considers you altogether as
a prisoner. Running you down in the way we did in the channel wasn't
like capturing you in a prize, and I think if the captain could see
his way to letting you go without risk to himself he would do it. As
he can't do that he will have a sharp watch kept on you, and I advise
you not to be in any hurry to try to escape. You must remember if you
were caught trying it they would shoot you to a certainty."

"I should be in no hurry at all, Jacques, if it were not that the brig
is hunting for English vessels. You know what you would feel yourself
if you were on board a ship that was capturing F