il as
it seemed to slip away from beneath him.

"We are always in the hollow of God's hand," he whispered, "but oh,
Adele, it is a dreadful thing to feel His fingers moving under us."

"Come with me, uncle," said De Catinat, passing his arm under that of
the old man. "It is long since you have rested. And you, Adele, I pray
that you will go and sleep, my poor darling, for it has been a weary
journey. Go now, to please me, and when you wake, both France and your
troubles will lie behind you."

When father and daughter had left the deck, De Catinat made his way aft
again to where Amos Green and the captain were standing.

"I am glad to get them below, Amos," said he, "for I fear that we may
have trouble yet."

"And how?"

"You see the white road which runs by the southern bank of the river.
Twice within the last half-hour I have seen horsemen spurring for dear
life along it. Where the spires and smoke are yonder is Honfleur, and
thither it was that these men went. I know not who could ride so madly
at such an hour unless they were the messengers of the king. Oh, see,
there is a third one!"

On the white band which wound among the green meadows a black dot could
be seen which moved along with great rapidity, vanished behind a clump
of trees, and then reappeared again, making for the distant city.
Captain Savage drew out his glass and gazed at the rider.

"Ay, ay," said he, as he snapped it up again. "It is a soldier, sure
enough. I can see the glint of the scabbard which he carries on his
larboard side. I think we shall have more wind soon. With a breeze we
can show our heels to anything in French waters, but a galley or an
armed boat would overhaul us now."

De Catinat, who, though he could speak little English, had learned in
America to understand it pretty well, looked anxiously at Amos Green.
"I fear that we shall bring trouble on this good captain," said he,
"and that the loss of his cargo and ship may be his reward for having
befriended us. Ask him whether he would not prefer to land us on the
north bank. With our money we might make our way into the Lowlands."

Ephraim Savage looked at his passenger with eyes which had lost
something of their sternness. "Young man," said he, "I see that you can
understand something of my talk."

De Catinat nodded.

"I tell you then that I am a bad man to beat. Any man that was ever
shipmates with me would tell you as much. I just jam my helm and keep
m