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caught him by the throat, his limbs quivered for an instant, then all was still, it was the last pang of death, the man was a corpse, and we were in utter darkness through the concussion of the fire-arms having extinguished the light. I released myself from the incumbrance and rose up almost exhausted. An audible whisper pronounced "Silence," and all was as quiet as the grave. At last Marie crept towards me, and clung to my arm as she softly uttered "Henri-Henri-est-il ?"

"Yes, yes," answered I, "my opponent is dead."

The poor girl shuddered and sobbed convulsively, when again the word "Silence" was repeated, and the utmost stillness prevailed for several minutes. "We are thus far safe," uttered the same voice in a subdued tone; "all is quiet, no alarm has been given, and I-aye," I could hear the grinding of the teeth, "I am revenged."

"He may be only wounded," said I, though I was convinced to the contrary. "Had we not better have a light?"

"There is no occasion for it," responded the other roughly, "Pierre Dupont never misses his mark. But what have I done that you should bring this evil on my house? Mon Dieu! mon Dieu! but he was my cruel foe and I have slain him: hear me, Sir, the blame must rest upon you. Fly if you can, for nothing but wings can carry you clear away. I shall not prevent your quitting the house, for the mark of your footsteps may easily be traced in the snow though it is now falling, and if you remain the officers of justice will speedily have you in their clutches; what the end will be I have yet to learn.'

"It was not I that killed the man," exclaimed I with warmth, "though I should most likely have done so had I possessed a similar instrument."

"It is useless to discuss the matter," he replied with irony, "the word of a French citizen will go beyond that of an English prisoner, and I shall glory in getting rid of two foes at once."

"You cannot mean to do me any harm," said I warmly, "I am sure you cannot."

"You are right," returned the man, "I have no wish to do you harm, but I must save my home and my family. You have thrust yourself amongst us; I did not send for you. Jump from the lower window to the ground and away if you please."

"Dear father, do not be thus angry," implored Marie, "the pauvre prisoner has done nothing."

"Be at peace, Marie," replied he; "what can you know about such things? it is your safety that I am anxious about. Come, Sir, make up your mind. Allons-jump or be captured."

"Let me have a light for a few minutes," requested I, "so that I may put on the dead man's uniform, if it is not too much stained it will serve me for a favourable disguise; at all events I will try it."

"You can have no light here," returned the landlord, "whatever you do must be done in the dark, and quickly too or the cry shall be

raised."

I saw the drift of Dupont's intention. Why he had killed the gendarme I had no actual clue to, except from the few words spoken by Marie. But I concluded he had endured gross wrongs from him, and had now put an end to his life at a moment when he could attach the offence to me. I saw there was not an instant to be lost-it was of no

use wavering; there was scarcely any chance of my getting away, but yet I resolved to try it, and it yet wanted five or six hours to thorough daylight. My intention was to jump out of the window into the yard, saddle the horse of the Serjeant, and scour off as hard as it would carry me. True, I was unacquainted with any of the roads, but removal from the locality seemed to promise me a better chance of escape. Next, it came stealing over me, that trying to desert would, if I was re-apprehended, appear in strong evidence to my disadvantage, and the landlord might readily turn it to his own account. Every moment's delay was teeming with hazard, and if the news reached Dunkirk before my arrival I was certain of being taken, and I much doubted that if Blackeman afforded me concealment he would give me up the instant the report of my being a murderer reached him. These things alternately rushed through my mind with the rapidity of thought, and whilst I was exchanging my dress for the uniform of the Serjeant, which having completed to my best ability I descended the stairs, and requested to be supplied with some brandy, and the pistols of the fallen man. The liquor was given to me, the weapons were refused; but, on my being ready to start, the landlord, with a blunderbuss as big as a swivel under his arm, presented them. It was an eventful moment for me. I tried them both with the ramrod, and found that they were loaded, but I was doubtful as to the nature of the charge. In short, in whichever way I turned destruction seemed to be before me.

"I know not what to do, Marie," said I, as the weeping girl stood by my side. "I am truly beset by difficulties, and have no one to counsel me. Surely, surely your father cannot mean to surrender me as a murderer."

Awed by the presence of her parent she said not a word in reply, when unexpectedly another individual came upon the scene of action; and this was the man who had charge of the wagon, and had driven the horse since my departure from Dunkirk.

"Pierre Dupont," said he with firm solemnity, "I have witnessed the whole of this." The landlord raised his blunderbuss, and I cocked one of my pistols, at which Dupont scornfully laughed, and convinced me of his treachery. "You may present," continued the man, " but I have taken the same precaution with your arms that you have already done with those you have given to the English prisoner, the charge is drawn, and," showing a brace of pocket-pistols which he grasped in either hand, "I am now more than a match for you. I find no fault with your having slain that rascal-"

"I slay him!" exclaimed the landlord in alarm, and then assuming a bullying tone, "I did not kill him. The probability is that you yourself fired the shot-"

"Stop, stop, Dupont," uttered the other loudly, and in a commanding manner. "Stop, I say, and do not add the character of liar to that of coward. Jean Baptiste always faced an enemy, and never screened himself in darkness to effect his purpose, whether for good or evil. No, no, Pierre Dupont, you ought to have known me better. This young officer is a friend of my employer. To save yourself you would villanously sacrifice him. Our countries are at war, it is true, but that is no reason we should turn wilful murderers, Pierre! However I lose time; let the wagon be got ready, and perhaps I can save you both."

" In what way?" demanded the landlord dejectedly. "I must know your plans before I stir one peg."

"Madame mère, and ma petite Marie," appealed the man, removing his hat and bowing, "you perceive that he is perverse and obstinate,it is useless reasoning with him. I will not resign the prisoner to his tender mercies; nor will I now reveal my intentions." He turned to the landlord, "Once more, Dupont, will you put the horse to the vehicle?"

"You will inform against me," exclaimed the landlord with bitterness; "I cannot do it."

"Then," again bowing to the women, "I must request permission of these to place you under restraint, whilst I perform it for myself. Come, Dupont, we know each other too well to have any trifling. Young gentleman," to me, "take the old rags out of your pistols. Here is a screw, and here are ball-cartridges to reload."

I promptly obeyed, and so did Dupont. The pistols were quickly reloaded, and as quickly the horse was put in the shafts of the wagon. "Bring the body down," said my friend, "and remember every moment is precious; not one should be thrown away. Pierre, you must go with us. The animal has carried heavier burthens; but that I need not tell to one so well acquainted with the fact."

The corpse was lifted with caution down the stairs, a coarse cloth being wrapped round it to prevent any falling blood from leaving traces. In the lowest room it was rolled in a thick tarpauling, and a plank being laid from the door-way to the wagon, it was slid into the vehicle by Baptiste, who was extremely cautious that only the impression of his own footsteps should be visible in the snow. Pierre Dupont, though much averse to it, was compelled to pass along the plank, and to lie by the side of the man he had killed. Jean Baptiste and myself covered them over with clean straw, and having bade adieu to Madame mère, and pressed Marie closely to my heart, I took my seat. The driver removed his hat, and saluted the females in the most polite and courteous manner; he then ascended to his station, the gates were thrown open by Marie, and away we dashed outwards through the snow, which prevented any sound of the wheels being heard. We were soon on the open road, and though our progress was both arduous and difficult still we pushed on at a very fair pace, trusting to reach Dunkirk by the time of the opening of the gates for the market-people.

The night was not very dark, the snow was falling thick, and its white flakes threw a misty glare upon the atmosphere that served to light us on our way. It was intensely cold, for the frost was severe, and hardened the road. The animal's instinct informed him that we were proceeding for his home, and no obstacles impeded him. Dupont complained of the intenseness of the cold, but occasionally small quantities of brandy supplied an artificial warmth. We saw not a soul upon our journey, held but little conversation amongst ourselves, and when near our destination I was also requested to lie down in the bottom of the conveyance, so as not to be seen.

I need not describe the agitation under which I laboured, nor the regret I felt at leaving my brave fellows in durance, but there was no alternative. Dupont had sunk into slumber which I feared would be his last; he breathed heavily, sometimes convulsively, and was fast sinking into insensibility. I tried, by lying close to him, to warm his body, but dread had nearly overpowered him, and when he did speak it was with wildness and incoherency.

"He will die, Jean," said I, "his senses are going; and for Marie's sake I would wish him to live."

" Pierre is only frightened, Sir," responded the driver contemptuously, "and if he can be kept quiet till we reach the spot I shall convey him to, it will be so much the better for all of us. I hope those foolish women at the auberge will try and eradicate every vestige of the affray. We must use caution, Monsieur, -every caution."

It was broad daylight when we entered Dunkirk, but scarcely a soul was stirring, the sentries had crept into their boxes as we passed them, -the townspeople kept to their houses and their fires, that is all those who were out of their beds, and we drove on apparently unobserved. At last the wagon stopped at the entrance of a court-yard that belonged to several large warehouse-like buildings. Jean Baptiste alighted without delay, and knocked loudly, but we had to wait for some time before the gates were opened by a lazy Flemish girl, who welcomed his return and instantly withdrew. The carriage was soon within the walls, and no living creature was visible. Jean led the pleased but wearied horse into a capacious outbuilding, where, removing him from the shaft, he closed and locked the doors, and we were left alone, -the living, the dying, and the dead in horrible proximity. But he sang as he went, with merriment to which my heart could not respond.

A full hour (though it seemed a day to me) passed away. The landlord manifested no signs of existence; but, feeling his pulse, I ascertained that it still throbbed in fits and starts,--and I sometimes thought I could hear a heavy breathing, or rather groaning, from the corpse. A drowsiness was creeping over my own frame, which I vainly endeavoured to prevent, and I was rapidly sinking into sleep, when I heard a voice whispering into my ear,

"Eh bien, mon ami,--a pretty affair you have made of it. But come, come, I promised to befriend you, and I will not go back from my word, though I certainly did not think you would so soon have required its fulfilment. Jean Baptiste has told me all."

I remembered the voice was that of Blackeman; but I could not answer, -the torpor which had seized upon my faculties was increasing. I was not even able to move; but I was not long permitted to remain in that state. I was lifted from the wagon, but have no recollection of what took place subsequently, till awakened from a horrible dream, I found myself in a comfortable bed in a deep underground vault, partly filled with barrels and bales, and dimly lighted by a lamp that hung suspended in the centre. Not a soul was to be seen, and at first all recollections of the past had faded. I wondered where I was, and how I came there; but as reason resumed her empire the events that had occurred came stealing across my memory in shadowy visions. I felt assured I was not the inmate of a prison-cell, but conjecture was set at defiance as to the reality; for the last occurrences I was utterly ignorant of, and feeling again inclined to doze, I resigned myself to its influence, and again composed myself to rest.

And a sweet and refreshing repose it was, though as to its duration I can say nothing; but when I was aroused I found the privateer's man by my side. He soothingly inquired how I felt.

"I have suffered much for you," he said with strong feeling, "but I hope the worst is past, and a few days will restore you to health and strength."

" Your are kind and generous," answered I, "but where-what have you done with"

"Dupont is safe," answered he. "The place has been searched, and no discovery made. Jean Baptiste has not betrayed us; and you owe much to his ingenuity and faithfulness-"

"I thank God! - then Marie will not lose her father," exclaimed I with energy.

"Not if he is wise," returned Blackeman, "but his treachery deserves punishment, if it was politic to inflict it. He must be taught better for the future."

"And the Serjeant," I continued in my inquiries, "what has become of the the"

"The body has been disposed of where it will be difficult to find it," answered my friend, for such he really was, notwithstanding all his levity. "Compose yourself, gain strength, and I have no doubt something will turn up to enable me to restore you to your native land. I have not forgotten the assistance I received at Walmer when a prisoner like yourself; and though I may be called a traitor, that is, if they find me out, mon ami,--yet, having commenced my task, rest assured I will do my best to carry it through. Do you think I have forgotten the counsel of the immortal poet,-

'Be great in act, as you have been in thought;
Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
Threaten the threatener, and outface the brow
Of bragging horror. So shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behaviours from the great,
Grow great by your example, and put on
The dauntless spirit of resolution."

This was uttered in his usual theatrical manner, and, distressed as I was, I could not forbear smiling at his indulgence of the ruling passion.

"I know and feel I am greatly indebted to your firmness and fortitude," said I, "and I wish I could testify my gratitude in actions, and not by words."

"The time may arrive when perhaps I shall require it," answered he, "but at present you have nothing more to do than to get well as soon as you can. I am unable to remain longer with you now, but will return at every opportunity." He pressed my hand and disappeared, though I was unable to tell where he went to; for no doors were opened, and not the slightest noise was made,--even his footsteps were unheard by me.

In a short time the man who had attended upon me at Blackeman's house, brought me refreshments; my hunger was excessive, and my thirst still greater, but I both ate and drank sparingly, as I felt there was fever in my blood that required subduing. And it was well I did so, for, as it was, three weeks did I lie in all the burning fury of epi

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