“‘Sir,’ said I, ’one word more—­you know the French laws; be good enough to tell me what crime will most surely and most promptly send me to prison.’

“‘Oh, there are plenty of them,’ said he, laughing.

“‘Well, commissary,’ says I, ’suppose I knock you down here on the spot, will that do?”

“Was that not going a little too far, Willis?”

“What could I do?  The ship was all ready, everybody on board but yourselves, circumstances were pressing, and you know I would have floored him as gently as possible.”

At this moment the bar yielded.  To the end of a piece of twine, which Willis had rolled round his body, a piece of stone was attached; this he let down till it touched the water, and then the caw of a crow rang through the air.

“That was a very good imitation, Willis,” said the captain.  “You did not break any of the commissary’s bones, did you?”

“No; the threat was quite sufficient; he would not yield to my prayers, but he yielded to my impudence, and ordered me into custody.  At first, however, I was thrust into an underground cell; but I obtained, or rather my louis obtained for me, permission to chum with you; and, by the way, what a frightful staircase I had to mount! that more than any thing else, obliges us to get down by the window.”

[Illustration]

Willis, who continued to hold one end of the cord, at the sound of a whistle drew it up, and found attached to the other end a stout rope ladder.  This he made fast to the bars of the window that still remained intact.  At the request of the minister, all three then fell upon their knees and uttered a short prayer.  Immediately after, Wolston went out of the window and began to descend, the captain followed, and Willis brought up the rear.  All three were cautiously progressing downwards, when the missionary called out he had forgotten to forget his purse.

“I have made the same omission,” said the captain; “hand yours up, Wolston.”

The missionary accordingly held up his with one hand whilst he held on the ladder with the other.  The captain bent down to take it, but found he could not reach it without endangering his equilibrium.  They both made some desperate efforts to accomplish the feat, but the thing was impossible.

“I see no help for it,” said the missionary, “but to ascend all three again.”

“That is awkward,” said the captain.

“Gentlemen,” said Willis, “three o’clock is striking on the prison clock; the warder will be round in two minutes.”

“God sometimes permits good actions to go unrewarded,” said the missionary; “but he never punishes them.”

“Let us re-ascend, then,” said the captain.

“So be it,” said Willis, going upwards.

They had scarcely time to re-enter the cell before they heard the sound of steps and the clank of keys in the corridor.  The steps discontinued at their door, and a key was thrust into the lock.