ntent to continue to share our fortunes.

As several days passed and we received no visit from the Frenchmen, we
began to hope that the seamen had not betrayed us. So far that was
satisfactory, but had they remained faithful, I think that there is
little doubt that we should have attempted the rescue of the prisoners.
At last once more we saw the _Mignonne_ put to sea; and immediately on
this, with O'Carroll and Sam Kelson in company, after watching for some
time without seeing anything of the English sailors, we therefore
conjectured that either they had quarrelled with the French and been put
in prison, or had gone on board the privateer--too probably the latter.
After a consultation, we agreed that we would, at all events, pay a
visit to the passengers of the Indiaman. The French could scarcely
think it necessary to keep guards constantly watching them, and we might
therefore easily accomplish the undertaking. We accordingly set off to
move round the harbour, intending to conceal ourselves in some spot near
the Indiaman, that we might watch our opportunity for getting on board.
We had gone on for some distance, and were approaching the spot,
concealing ourselves carefully as we advanced, when sounds of laughter
reached our ears--honest English laughter. We stole on, very much
inclined to join in it, considering that we had not had a good laugh for
some time, when from some rocks up which we climbed we saw below us a
large party of ladies and gentlemen engaged in discussing a dinner in
picnic fashion on the grass. They all seemed remarkably merry and
happy. The younger gentlemen were running about helping the ladies, and
doing the polite in the most approved fashion.

Trundle smacked his lips so loudly at the sight that some of the party
turned a hasty glance in the direction where we lay hidden, supposing
probably that the noise was made by some bird in the foliage above their
heads. In a short time one of the young gentlemen was called on for a
song. He without hesitation complied. I forget the strain. It was a
right merry one. Another followed him, and then another.

"I say, Braithwaite," whispered Toby Trundle, "just let me go down and
introduce myself, and then you know I can introduce you all, and I'm
sure that they will be glad to make your acquaintance."

I nodded to Toby, and in an instant he slid down the rock, and was in
the very midst of the party before any one observed where he had come
fro