my conversation with Ollivier, Dumaresq awoke and joined in; upon
which, assisted by the repulsive-looking but really sympathetic French
seaman, I contrived to get out of my bunk and reach a chest alongside
Dumaresq's bunk; and I was much gratified to find that the gallant young
fellow, although still terribly weak, was making satisfactory progress.
Further research resulted in the discovery that those saved from the gig
were, in addition to Dumaresq and myself, Tom Hardy, Peter Green, Henry
Anstey, and Philip Sendell; all four of whom were thorough staunch
British seamen, who, except when driven mad by hunger and thirst, were
to be implicitly depended upon.

It was a very great relief to me to find that so many of us had
survived; for, apart from other considerations, I foresaw that, if
Captain Renouf's intentions towards us were such as Ollivier had stated
them to be, complications were likely to arise of such a character that
the strongest possible mutual support would be necessary to enable us to
face them. The mere fact that this fellow, Renouf, had in so off-handed
a manner arranged the destinies of six of his fellow-creatures, without
even the formality of consulting them in the matter, rendered me
exceedingly uneasy; such a proceeding seeming to indicate a headstrong,
overbearing, exacting character, with which it would be exceedingly
difficult to deal. Of course, so far as Dumaresq was concerned, the
arrangement was not so objectionable; he would probably be quite willing
to work his passage to the next port. But with us who were English it
was quite another matter. The worst that Renouf had a right to do was
to treat us as prisoners of war; to impress us into an enemy's service
would simply be an outrage. Yet it was not infrequently done, not only
by the French, but also by our own countrymen. Before any further
development was possible, however, it would be necessary for us to
become well and strong again; and there was always the hope that before
that time should have arrived the _Jean Bart_ might fall in with an
enemy and be captured.

This hope, however, was not destined to be fulfilled; and on the third
day after the recovery of my senses, being once more well and strong
enough to move about, I determined to take the bull by the horns
forthwith; with which purpose I sent a message aft by Ollivier to
Captain Renouf, expressing a desire to personally thank him for his
rescue of myself and the survivo