"I can only spare you one man, for already I can hardly pull
round the yards," said he. "One of the boats has been lowered,
and this man will row you ashore and await your return. The
light which you see is indeed the light of Longwood. All who are
in the house are your friends, and all may be depended upon to
aid the Emperor's escape. There is a cordon of English sentries,
but they are not very near to the house. Once you have got as
far as that you will convey our plans to the Emperor, guide him
down to the boat, and bring him on board."
The Emperor himself could not have given his instructions more
shortly and clearly. There was not a moment to be lost. The
boat with the seaman was waiting alongside. I stepped into it,
and an instant afterward we had pushed off. Our little boat
danced over the dark waters, but always shining before my eyes
was the light of Longwood, the light of the Emperor, the star of
hope. Presently the bottom of the boat grated upon the pebbles
of the beach. It was a deserted cove, and no challenge from a
sentry came to disturb us.
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