The suggestion was no sooner made than adopted.  We filled our hats and pockets with crackers and Catherine-wheels, piled the rest into one great heap, threw a dozen or so of lighted fusees into the midst of them, and just as the voices of our pursuers were growing momentarily louder and nearer, darted away again down a fresh turning, and saw the river gleaming at the end of it.

“Hurrah! here’s a boat,” shouted Sullivan, leaping into it, and we after him.

It was not our boat, but we did not care for that.  Ours was at the other side of the island, far enough away, down by the landing-place.  Just as Dalrymple seized the oars, there burst forth a tremendous explosion.  A column of rockets shot up into the air, and instantly the place was as light as day.  Then a yell of discovery broke forth, and we were seen almost as soon as we were fairly out of reach.  We had secured the only boat on that side of the island, and three or four of Dalrymple’s powerful strokes had already carried us well into the middle of the stream.  To let off our own store of fireworks—­to pitch tokens of our regard to our friends on the island in the shape of blazing crackers, which fell sputtering and fizzing into the water half-way between the boat and the shore—­to stand up in the stern and bow politely—­finally, to row away singing “God save the Queen” with all our might, were feats upon which we prided ourselves very considerably at the time, and the recollection of which afforded us infinite amusement all the way home.

That evening we all supped together at the Chaval Blane, and of what we did or said after supper I have but a confused remembrance.  I believe that I tried to smoke a cigar; and it is my impression that I made a speech, in which I swore eternal friendship to both of my new friends; but the only circumstance about which I cannot be mistaken is that I awoke next morning with the worst specimen of headache that had yet come within the limits of my experience.

* * * * *

CHAPTER IX.

DAMON AND PYTHIAS.

I left Rouen the day after my great adventure on the river, and Captain Dalrymple went with me to the station.

“You have my Paris address upon my card,” he said, as we walked to and fro upon the platform.  “It’s just a bachelor’s den, you know—­and I shall be there in about a fortnight or three weeks.  Come and look me up.”

To which I replied that I was glad to be allowed to do so, and that I should “look him up” as soon as he came home.  And so, with words of cordial good-will and a hearty shake of the hand, we parted.

Having started late in the evening, I arrived in Paris between four and five o’clock on a bright midsummer Sunday morning.  I was not long delayed by the customs officers, for I carried but a scant supply of luggage.  Having left this at an hotel, I wandered about till it should be time for breakfast.  After breakfast I meant to dress and call upon Dr. Cheron.