And then I jumped up quickly, and stood for a moment staring as they stared.

“Tiens!—­Yes—­they are coming!  Allons, ma cherie!” and we set off at a run for Beaumanoir to give the alarm.  For, out of the shadow of Herm, half a dozen black objects had crept and were making straight for Sercq, and I understood that the look-out boats, and the boats of those who had hurried across from Sercq, had been left on the shell beach because the channel was probably blocked, and that the broken remnants of Herm had fled across the Island and were coming down to take a bite at us, as Aunt Jeanne had predicted.

A dozen of the neighbours, who had gathered about the gate of Beaumanoir, came running to meet us—­the two Guilles from Dos d’Ane and Clos Bourel, Thomas De Carteret from La Vauroque, Thomas Godfray of Dixcart, and Henri Le Masurier from Grand Dixcart, Elie Guille from Le Carrefour, Jean Vaudin, and Pierre Le Feuvre, and Philippe Guille from La Genetiere.  George Hamon and Amice Le Couteur, the Senechal, from La Tour, were just coming down the lane, and every man carried such arms as he could muster.

“They’re coming!” I shouted, and Amice Le Couteur, panting with his haste from the north, took command in virtue of his office, since Peter Le Pelley, the Seigneur, was away in London.

“How many, Phil Carre?” he asked.

“I counted six boats, but they were too far off to see how many in them.”

“So!  Run on, you, Jean Vaudin and Abraham Guille, and tell us how they are heading.  They won’t try to land hereabouts.  They may try Gorey, but not likely.  They have tasted the Coupee already.  All the same, you, Pierre, run and warn the folks on Little Sercq.  They had better come over here.  Then stop on the Coupee and let no man across.  I have bidden the women and children to the Gouliots here.  Thomas Hamon of Le Fort is collecting them.  The rascals are most likely to try the Eperquerie or Dixcart.  You, Elie Guille, see them all safely into the upper cave above the black rock, and sit in the mouth and let no one in.  But I don’t think you will be troubled.  We shall beat them off.  Now, my friends, to the Head and watch them, and let every man do his duty by Sercq this night!” And they moved off in a body to Moie de Mouton, while Carette and I went on into Beaumanoir, she to join Aunt Jeanne, I to find a weapon, which I was doubtful of finding at home.

“Must I go underground again, Phil?” asked Carette.  “I would far sooner stop here and take the risk, if there is any.”

“You must go with the rest, my dear.  We may have our hands full.  It will be a vast relief to know you are all safe out of sight.  If any of these rascals should get past us they will spare no one.  Their only idea in coming is to pay off scores because they are beaten.  They will be very angry men.”

Aunt Jeanne, as might have been expected, was packing baskets of food with immense energy.