ou have been to me, and it maybe they
will let you go free; but even if they don't I could make it pleasant
for you with the men, and you may be sure that if they take you to an
English prison I will do all I can to get you out of it. You see, when
you get back to France you would have really a good sum coming to you
from these three ships. The two that have been out here have collected
a tremendous lot of valuable plunder, and the Bell Marie is likely to
get quite as much if, as you say, she is going to spend two years out
in the Indian seas. So I really think you would be wise to take the
offer. Another thing, if you like I will not show myself at all, but
will stop here with you, and we will take a boat together and make for
some port, where we can give out that we are shipwrecked sailors."

"No, lad, that wouldn't do; though I thank you for your offer. You
might get a ship back to England, but I should have very little chance
of getting one for France."

"No; but we might get one together for America, and from there you
might get to France easily enough."

Jacques thought for some minutes. "No, lad; I will give myself up with
you. We might get lost in a boat, seeing that neither of us know the
geography of these seas; we might get short of water, or caught in a
hurricane. No, I will give myself up. I know the worst that way,
anyhow. Another spell in an English prison; but from that I may either
get exchanged, or escape, or the war come to an end. So that's the
best thing for me to do."

CHAPTER VI.

HOME AGAIN.

Having decided to stay as one of the signallers, Jacques proceeded at
once to the captain's cabin.

"I am glad you have decided so, Jacques. It would have been a
troublesome business to cast lots, and some of the men might have
absolutely refused doing so; so I am glad it's settled. I have
arranged with the other captains that you shall have an advance of
twenty napoleons. You had best hide them about you; you may find them
come in useful. The boy is to have ten. Of course he is glad of the
chance; but at the same time he is doing us good service, and he has
worked well since he came on board. It will help him to get a passage
home."

"Thank you, captain. That twenty napoleons may help me to get out of
an English prison. I will manage a hiding place for them. And now I
think, captain, we will be off at once--at least as soon as we have
had our dinner. It's a good long way across the island