several questions to his countrymen, as to
whether they could guess anything about the little girl who had been
carried off. "Our lieutenant knows something about that, and as he does
not want to fight with the English, hopes to gain his object by
diplomacy."

This convinced Pierre that Mary was in the camp, and he determined to
set her free if he could. There was a hut in a grove close to the camp,
into which he had hitherto not looked, and he thought it very likely
that Mary had been shut up there. He knew, however, that he should be
watched, especially by the lieutenant, who was walking up and down on
the beach, in his usual moody manner. Nothing could be done, at all
events, until it was dark; and he therefore continued laughing and
talking with his countrymen, so as if possible to throw them off their
guard. He observed the lieutenant once visit the hut with a tin of
food, and, on leaving it, he placed a log of wood across the door. This
convinced him more even than before that Mary was shut up there.

Night came on at last. By the conversation of the Frenchmen, he feared
that they had determined to have possession of the provisions by force,
if they could not gain them in any other way. The Frenchmen amused
themselves as their countrymen, even under the most adverse
circumstances, are accustomed to do, by singing, telling stories, and
occasionally getting up and dancing. At last, tired with their
exertions, they laid themselves down in their huts. Pierre waited until
they all seemed asleep. He most dreaded being detected by the
lieutenant. He crept cautiously near the hut in which he was lying
down, and, greatly to his satisfaction, found that he also was asleep.
He instantly stole off to the hut in which he believed Mary was
confined. The log at the entrance was somewhat heavy, and he had no
little difficulty in removing it without making a noise. He pushed back
the rough planks that formed the door, and there, to his infinite
satisfaction, he saw Mary. She was seated on a heap of boughs in a
corner of the hut, with her hands tied together, and her feet secured to
a log. She uttered an exclamation of surprise on hearing Pierre
approach.

"Hush!" he said, "make no noise, I have come to release you."

He fortunately had the knife in his pocket that David had given him, and
with this he quickly cut the ropes with which the little girl was bound.

"Now," he said, "take my hand, and I will lead y