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mate overboard；〃 said the steward。
〃That is safest；〃 said Captain Fourneau。
But that was more than I could stand。 Nothing would persuade me to
agree to the death of a helpless man。
With a bad grace Captain Fourneau consented to spare him； and we
carried him to the after…hold； which lay under the cabin。 There he was
laid among the bales of Manchester cloth。
〃It is not worth while to put down the hatch；〃 said Captain Fourneau。
〃Gustav； go to Mr。 Turner and tell him that I would like to have a word
with him。〃
The unsuspecting second mate entered the cabin； and was instantly
gagged and secured as Burns had been。
He was carried down and laid beside his comrade。 The hatch was
then replaced。
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〃Our hands have been forced by that red…headed dolt；〃 said the captain；
〃and I have had to explode my mine before I wished。 However； there is
no great harm done； and it will not seriously disarrange my plans。
〃Kerouan； you will take a keg of rum forward to the crew and tell them
that the captain gives it to them to drink his health on the occasion of
crossing the line。
〃They will know no better。 As to our own fellows； bring them down
to your pantry so that we may me sure that they are ready for business。
Now； Colonel Gerard； with your permission we will resume our game of
ecarte。〃
It is one of those occasions which one does not forget。
This captain； who was a man of iron； shuffled and cut； dealt and
played as if he were in his cafe。 From below we heard the inarticulate
murmurings of the two mates； half smothered by the handkerchiefs which
gagged them。 Outside the timbers creaked and the sails hummed under
the brisk breeze which was sweeping us upon our way。 Amid the splash
of the waves and the whistle of the wind we heard the wild cheers and
shoutings of the English sailors as they broached the keg of rum。 We
played half…a…dozen games and then the captain rose。 〃I think they are
ready for us now；〃 said he。 He took a brace of pistols from a locker； and
he handed one of them to me。
But we had no need to fear resistance； for there was no one to resist。
The Englishman of those days； whether soldier or sailor； was an
incorrigible drunkard。
Without drink he was a brave and good man。 But if drink were laid
before him it was a perfect madness nothing could induce him to take it
with moderation。
In the dim light of the den which they inhabited； five senseless figures
and two shouting； swearing； singing madmen represented the crew of the
Black Swan。 Coils of rope were brought forward by the steward； and
with the help of two French seamen （the third was at the wheel） we
secured the drunkards and tied them up； so that it was impossible for them
to speak or move。 They were placed under the fore…hatch； as their
officers had been under the after one； and Kerouan was directed twice a
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day to give them food and drink。 So at last we found that the Black
Swan was entirely our own。
Had there been bad weather I do not know what we should have done；
but we still went gaily upon our way with a wind which was strong
enough to drive us swiftly south； but not strong enough to cause us alarm。
On the evening of the third day I found Captain Fourneau gazing eagerly
out from the platform in the front of the vessel。 〃Look； Gerard； look！〃 he
cried； and pointed over the pole which stuck out in front。
A light blue sky rose from a dark blue sea； and far away； at the point
where they met； was a shadowy something like a cloud； but more definite
in shape。
〃What is it？〃 I cried。
〃It is land。〃
〃And what land？〃
I strained my ears for the answer； and yet I knew already what the
answer would be。
〃It is St。 Helena。〃
Here； then； was the island of my dreams！ Here was the cage where
our great Eagle of France was confined！
All those thousands of leagues of water had not sufficed to keep
Gerard from the master whom he loved。
There he was； there on that cloud…bank yonder over the dark blue sea。
How my eyes devoured it！ How my soul flew in front of the vesselflew
on and on to tell him that he was not forgotten； that after many days one
faithful servant was coming to his side。 Every instant the dark blur upon
the water grew harder and clearer。
Soon I could see plainly enough that it was indeed a mountainous
island。 The night fell； but still I knelt upon the deck； with my eyes fixed
upon the darkness which covered the spot where I knew that the great
Emperor was。 An hour passed and another one； and then suddenly a little
golden twinkling light shone out exactly ahead of us。 It was the light of
the window of some houseperhaps of his house。 It could not be more
than a mile or two away。 Oh； how I held out my hands to it！they were
the hands of Etienne Gerard； but it was for all France that they were held
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out。
Every light had been extinguished aboard our ship； and presently； at
the direction of Captain Fourneau； we all pulled upon one of the ropes；
which had the effect of swinging round one of the sticks above us； and so
stopping the vessel。 Then he asked me to step down to the cabin。
〃You understand everything now； Colonel Gerard；〃 said he； 〃and you
will forgive me if I did not take you into my complete confidence before。
In a matter of such importance I make no man my confidant。 I have long
planned the rescue of the Emperor； and my remaining in England and
joining their merchant service was entirely with that design。 All has
worked out exactly as I expected。 I have made several successful
voyages to the West Coast of Africa； so that there was no difficulty in my
obtaining the command of this one。 One by one I got these old