It was the light of the window of some
house--perhaps 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 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.
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