Part 57 (1/2)

As they moved a few paces forward, they saw three persons chained to the wall at the farther end of the room

”Who are you?”

”Alas! alas!” exclainised Le Duc's voice ”Ah, messieurs, you will understand the less said the better as to the past”

Rayner took the hint, guessing that Le Duc was unwilling to have anything said in the presence of the two other prisoners which ht implicate Madame La Roche or Francois

”You have heard, messieurs, that they have condemned me to death,”

continued Le Duc, ”and the wonder is that they have not shot me already, but I know that at any moment I may be led out I should wish to live that I may play the fiddle and make others happy as well as myself”

”I am very sorry to hear this If the commandant would believe us, we can prove your innocence, and, surely, our word ought to be taken instead of that of the two blacks,” said Rayner

”So it would, according to law, for the evidence of the blacks is worth nothing, and is not received in a court of justice It proves that the commandant has resolved, at all costs, to wreak his hatred of the English on your heads”

Rayner and Oliver seated theether on the opposite corner Le Duc narrated how he had been captured just as he was quitting the village His great fear had been lest he should be compelled to betray them; and he declared to Rayner, who believed hione any torture rather than have done so

Le Duc whispered that the two other prisoners had been condemned for murder

”Pleasant sort of companions,” observed Oliver ”We may as well let them have their side of the prison to themselves”

The men in the meantime had scraped the seat as clean as they could with their knives

Toh and the sh myself, and I hope the et roast beef and plu”

”Don't talk of it,” cried Brown; ”I could eat half an ox if I had the chance”

While they were talking the door opened, and aa lantern and a pitcher in one hand, and a basket in the other, which he placed on the bench near them

The pitcher contained water, and the basket sos Having allowed the other prisoners to drink, and given each of them a piece of bread, he handed the basket with its contents to the Englishlais like ros' beef Here you eat this Good enough for you,”

he said, in a surly tone

They were all too hungry to refuse the bread or the water, which, in spite of its brackish taste, quenched the thirst froaoler left theht see how to divide the bread It assisted them also to select places on which to stretch themselves round the room, and, in spite of the hardness of their couches, in a short tiht the, and a similar unpalatable meal was provided in the afternoon This was evidently to be their only food during their imprison redress; so, like wise ru at the way in which he was treated

Rayner supposed that the co for a reply to the report he had sent to Leogane Until that could arrive, no change either for the better or worse was likely to be made in their treatment

Le Duc was still allowed to live; but, in spite of his high spirits, the feeling that heupon hie him, and, under the circu the gaoler appeared with their usual fare

”There will be one less of you to feed to- at Le Duc, ”and I can't say but that you five othersparty are out it is as easy to shoot six as one”

Le Duc made no answer, but bent his head down on his n of deep emotion he had exhibited