"Is it possible?" cried Claude, in amazement.
Mimi turned, and with her face close to Claude"s, regarded him with an anxious look, and spoke in a low, hurried voice:--
"O, be on your guard--beware of him. Even now he is engaged in some plot against you. I know it by his face. That"s what takes him down there to confer with the seamen. He is not to be trusted. He is all false--in face, in figure, in mind, and in heart. He knows nothing about honor, or justice, or mercy. He has been the deadly enemy of the Montresors, and if he finds out who you are, he will be your deadly enemy. O, don"t smile that way! Don"t despise this enemy! Be careful--be on your guard, I entreat you--_for my sake_!"
These last words were spoken in a hurried whisper, and the next moment Mimi turned and hastened down into the cabin to her father, while Claude remained there, thinking over these words. Yet of them all it was not the warning contained in them that was present in his memory, but rather the sweet meaning convoyed in those last three words, and in the tone in which they were uttered--the words _for my sake_!
Out of his meditations on this theme he was at length aroused by an exclamation from Zac. Looking up, he saw that worthy close beside him, intently watching something far away on the horizon, through a gla.s.s.
"I"ll be darned if it ain"t a French frigate!"
This was the exclamation that roused Claude. He at once returned to himself, and turning to Zac, he asked him what he meant. Zac said nothing, but, handing him the spy-gla.s.s, pointed away to the west, where a sail was visible on the horizon. That sail was an object of curious interest to others on board; to the lieutenant and seamen of the wrecked vessel, who were staring at her from the bows; and to Cazeneau, who was with them, staring with equal interest. Claude took the gla.s.s, and raising it to his eye, examined the strange sail long and carefully, but without being able to distinguish anything in particular about her.
"What makes you think that she is a French frigate?" he asked, as he handed the gla.s.s back to Zac. "I cannot make out that she is French any more than English."
"O, I can tell easy enough," said Zac, "by the cut of her jib. Then, too, I judge by her course. That there craft is comin" down out of the Bay of Fundy, which the Moosoos in their lingo call Fonde de la Baie. She"s been up at some of the French settlements. Now, she may be goin" to France--or mayhap she"s goin" to Louisbourg--an" if so be as she"s goin" to Louisbourg, why, I shouldn"t wonder if it mightn"t be a good idee for our French friends here to go aboard of her and finish their voyage in a vessel of their own. One reason why I"d rather have it so is, that I don"t altogether like the manoeuvrin"s of that French count over thar. He"s too sly; an" he"s up to somethin", an" I don"t fancy havin" to keep up a eternal watch agin him. If I was well red of him I could breathe freer; but at the same time I don"t altogether relish the idee of puttin" myself into the clutches of that thar frigate. It"s easy enough for me to keep out of her way; but if I was once to get under her guns, thar"d be an end of the Parson. This here count ain"t to be trusted, no how; an" if he once got into communication with that there frigate, he"d be my master. An" so I"m in a reg"lar quan-dary, an" no mistake. Darned if I know what in the blamenation to do about it."
Zac stopped short, and looked with an air of mild inquiry at Claude.
Claude, on his part, was rather startled by Zac"s estimate of the character of Cazeneau, for it chimed in so perfectly with Mimi"s opinion that it affected him in spite of himself. But it was only for a moment, and then his own self-confidence gained the mastery.
CHAPTER VII.
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
The schooner was now directed towards the stranger, and before very long they saw that her course had been changed, and that she was now bearing down upon them. Zac stood at the helm saying nothing, but keeping his eyes fixed upon the frigate, which drew nearer and nearer, till finally she came near enough for her flag to be plainly seen. They had been right in their conjectures, and the new comer was a French frigate. This a.s.surance seemed to open the mouth of Zac.
"I must say," he remarked to Claude, "the nearer I get to her, the less I like it. I"ve met Moos...o...b..fore this on the high seas, but I allus went on the plan of keepin" out of his way. This here system of goin" right into his jaws don"t suit me at all."
"O, come now," said Claude, "don"t begin again. I thought you"d given up all anxiety. There"s not the slightest occasion for being worried about it. I"ll find out whether they can take me to Louisbourg, and so I"ll leave you, and you"ll get back to Boston quicker than if you took me where you first proposed."
"Yes; but suppose she"s goin" to France, and chooses to take me prisoner?" said Zac.
"O, nonsense!" said Claude. "They couldn"t. What, after saving so many lives, and conveying these rescued fellow-countrymen to their own flag, do you suppose they could think of arresting you? Nonsense!
The thing"s impossible."
Zac said no more, but was evidently ill at ease, and in his own mind there was no end of dark forebodings as to the event of this meeting.
These forebodings were in no way lessened as the schooner rounded to under the lee of the frigate, and Zac saw a row of guns heavy enough to blow him and his "Parson" to atoms. The frigate did not wait for the schooner to send a boat aboard, for her own boat was all ready, and soon appeared, well manned, rowing towards the schooner. On coming alongside, the officer in command stepped on board, and Claude at once went forward to meet him. Cazeneau also walked forward with the same purpose.
Claude politely raised his hat, and the officer civilly returned his greeting.
"This, monsieur, is the schooner Amos Adams, of Boston. We have recently picked up the survivors of His Royal French Majesty"s frigate "Arethuse," which has been lost at sea, and we have come to see whether you could take them. Will you have the goodness to tell me where you are going?"
"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed the officer, "the Arethuse lost! Is it possible? What a terrible misfortune! And she had on board the new commandant for Louisbourg."
At this Cazeneau came forward.
"He is safe, monsieur, for I am he."
The officer respectfully removed his hat, and bowed very low.
"What ship is this?" asked Cazeneau, in the tone of a superior.
"L"Aigle," replied the officer.
"Where are you bound?"
"To Brest. We have just been cruising to the different settlements and forts on the Bay of Fundy, with some supplies which were sent from Louisbourg."
"Ah! And you are now on your return to France?"
"Yes."
"Who commands your ship?"
"Captain Ducrot."
"Ah! Very good. You see, monsieur," said Cazeneau to Claude, "this ship is bound to France; and that destination will not suit any of us. I think I had better go aboard and see the captain, with whom I may have some little influence. Perhaps, as my command is an important one, he may be persuaded to alter his course, and land us at Louisbourg, or some other place.--And so, monsieur," he continued, turning to the officer, "I shall be obliged to you if you will put me aboard the Aigle."
The officer a.s.sured him that the boat was altogether at his service; whereupon Cazeneau stepped aboard, followed by the officer, and in a short time the boat was on its way back to the frigate. Claude watched this in silence, and without any misgivings. It seemed to him quite natural, and, indeed, the best thing that could be done, under the circ.u.mstances. If the ship was going to France, she could not be of service to them; but if her captain could be induced to change his course and land them at Louisbourg, this would be exactly what they wanted; and Cazeneau seemed to be the only one on board who was at all likely to persuade the captain of the Aigle to do such a thing as this.
It seemed a long time before any further notice was taken of the schooner. Meanwhile, all on board were watching the frigate with much anxiety, and wondering what the result would be. In any case it did not seem a matter of very great importance to any one; for the lieutenant and the two sailors, who might have been most concerned, were very well treated on board the schooner,--better, perhaps, than they would be on board a frigate,--and evinced no particular desire to leave. The priest said nothing; and to him, as well as to Claude, there was nothing to be gained by taking to the ship. As for the aged Laborde, he was still too weak to take any notice of events going on around him; while Mimi, perhaps, found herself as well situated here, under the care of Claude, as she could possibly be on the larger ship, under the care of one who might be less agreeable. Claude himself would certainly have preferred letting things remain as they were. The situation was very pleasant. Mimi"s occasional companionship seemed sweeter than anything he had ever known; and, as he was master on board, he naturally had a certain right to show her attentions; which right he could not have under other circ.u.mstances.
He would have liked to see Cazeneau take his departure for good, together with the French sailors, leaving Laborde and Mimi on board the schooner. Finally, Zac was not at all pleased with anything in his present situation. The thought of possible foul play never left his mind for an instant; and though the blow was delayed for a considerable time, he could not help feeling sure that it would fall.
During this period of waiting, the aged Laborde had been brought up on deck, and placed there on a seat. This was done from a hope which Mimi had that he would be benefited by the excitement of the change.
The sight of the ship, however, produced but little effect of any kind upon the languid and worn-out old man. He gave an indifferent glance at the frigate and the surrounding scene, and then subsided into himself, while Mimi in vain strove to rouse him from his indifference.
At last their suspense came to an end, and they saw preparations making for another visit to the schooner. This time a second boat was lowered, which was filled with marines. The sight of this formidable boat"s crew produced on Claude an impression of surprise; while in Zac it enforced a conviction that his worst fears were now to be realized.
"Look thar!" said he in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. "Now you see what"s a comin"! Good by, poor old Parson! Yer in the claws of the Philistines now, an" no mistake."
To this Claude made no reply, for he began to feel rather perplexed himself, and to imagine that Cazeneau might have been playing him false. All that Mimi had said about him now came to his mind, and the armed boat"s crew seemed like the first act of a traitor. He tried to account for this in some other way, but was not able. He could no longer laugh away Zac"s fears. He could only be still and wait.
The two boats rowed towards the schooner. Cazeneau was not in either of them. He had remained on board. At length one of the boats touched the schooner, and the same officer who had visited her before again stepped on board.
"Is the Count de Laborde here?" he asked.
Claude pointed to where the old man was seated. The officer advanced, and removed his hat with a bow to the old count, and another to the beautiful Mimi.
"Monsieur le Comte," said he, "I have the honor to convoy to you the compliments of Captain Ducrot, with the request that you would honor him with your company on board the Aigle. His excellency the Comte de Cazeneau, commandant of Louisbourg, has persuaded him to convey himself, and you, and some others, to the nearest French fort. It is the intention of Captain Ducrot to sail back up the Bay of Fundy, and land you at Grand Pre, from which place you can reach Louisbourg by land."
To this Laborde murmured a few indistinct words in reply, while Mimi made no remark whatever. She was anxious to know what Claude was intending to do. The officer now turned away to the others.
"My instructions," said he, "are, to convey the invitation of Captain Ducrot to Monsieur l"Abbe Michel and Lieutenant d"Angers, whom he will be happy to receive on board the Aigle, and convey them to Grand Pre, or France. The two seamen of the Arethuse will also go on board and report themselves."
The officer now went back to Laborde, and offered, to a.s.sist him. The old man rose, and taking his arm, walked feebly towards the vessel"s side, whence he descended into the boat, and was a.s.sisted to the stern by the seamen. The officer then a.s.sisted Mimi to a place by her father"s side, antic.i.p.ating Claude, who stepped forward with the offer of his a.s.sistance. Then followed Pere Michel, and Lieutenant d"Angers, of the Arethuse; then Margot; and, finally, the two seamen.