Michel and Angele [A Ladder of Swords], Complete

red all was ready once again. He had secured for the Camisard the passport and clothes of a pri

r fishermen to and fro between Boulay Bay and the Ecrehos. The captain of the frigate tried severities; but the fisherman stuck to his tale, and the light burned on as before-a lantern stuck upon a pole. One day, with a telescope, Buonespoir had seen the exact position of the staff supporting the light, and had mapped out his course accordingly. He would head straight for the beacon and pass between the Marmotier and the Maitre Ile, where is a narrow channel for a boat drawing only a few feet of water. Unless he made this, he

lay to the north, and a sweet sea before. Nothing could have seemed fairer and more hopeful. But a few old fishermen on shore at Carteret shook their heads dubiously, and at Port Bail, some miles below, a disabled naval offic

uit, because no sensible seafaring man, were he King's officer or another, would venture forth upon the i

hen, even as the passage between the Marmotier and the Ecrehos opened out, the wind suddenly shifted from the north-east to the southwest and a squall came hurrying on them-a few

y would presently be at the mercy of the French. To trust their doubtful fortunes and bear on was the only way. The tide was running fast. They gave the mainsail to the wind still more, and bore on towards the passage. At last, as they were opening on it, the

zanne was lying over dangerously. But the tide, too, was running hard from the south, fighting the wind; and, at the moment when all seemed terribl

anger was not over. Ahead lay a treacherous sea, around them

quietly asked De la Foret, nod

s face to the north, for the wind had veered again to north-east, and he fea

They were standing off about a mile from the island, and could see lighted fires and groups of people upon the shore, when suddenly a gale came out from the southwest, the wind having again shifted. With an

and in her face they read her mortal fear, though she made no cry, but only clasped her hands in agony. Her heart told her that yonder Michel de

"will you not save them?

ung to them, and none stirred. Looking round helplessly, Angele saw the tall figure of the

her, jerking a finger towards t

nodding her head piteously

rew near and

o dying men," said he, and st

zel loudly, and, turning round, summoned two serving-men. "Launch my strong boat,"

he long-boat, ran her down to

to save him, dear Seigneur?

anced to the fishermen. By dint of hard words, and as hearty encourage

boat was shot out into the surf, and a cheer from the shore gave hear

again the two men seemed to sink beneath the sea, and again and again they came to the surface and battled further, torn, battered, and bloody, but not beaten. Cri

nt rescue. Almost at their l

la Foret," said Lempriere of Rozel, and offered the fugitiv

nswered. "I owe you my l

nswered, with a toss of the head; for had not the lady refused him, the Seigneur of Rozel, s

"you have at least done tough work for her, and if I cannot pay in gold, I can in ki

ke, but I'll take your word in the way of friendship, as the lady yonder takes

re should have the half of a keg of rum. He went so far in gratitude as to offer the price of ten sheep which he had once secretly raided from

ak to me! For every fleece you thieved I'll have you flayed wi

u' of Rozel," said Buonespoir, in an offende

carry for me, varlet?"

the royal Duke's visit, and the footpads were on him, I carried him on my back to

tared, then roared again, b

the isle could have carried me on his shoulders. And I was right, for Jers

the north. "There's no better head in the isle than mine for measurement and thinking, and I swore n

two ounces," gri

head-I said no one man in Jersey could have done it-I'm heavier by three stone than any man in the island." Thereafter there was little speaking among them, for the danger was greater as they neared the shore. The wind and the sea were against them; the ti

s, the Wrestlers, s

n is slain

burn out, and

sea-reapers,

ater-ways

when the r

eep in with the t

white boats r

reap, Lord give T

t us not up

s Thee

Thy sight a

ay of the Lo

hy g

Thy

e land and

n, and the laughter of men back from a dangerous adventure. As the Seigneur's boat was drawn up th

judice, topped with the foam of vanity, now brawling in season, and now going steady and strong to the sea. Angele had come to feel what he was beneath the surface. She felt how unimaginative he was, and how his humour, which was but the horse-play of vanity, helped him little to understand the world or himself. His va

. "I shall ever pray God's blessing on the

me, come, the hand thou kissed, it hath been the hand of a friend to thee, as Raoul Lempriere of Rozel said he'd be. Thy lips upon his cheek, though it be but a rough fellow's fancy, and I warrant, co

g with honest mirth and kindness, his b

of tears were they; and, standing on

quiver in her voice; "yet this price for friendship wou

had riches, riches ye should have, brave men of Jersey," she said; "but I h

n," cried a gaunt fisherman, whose daughter was

ied a weazened boat-builder with a giant's arm, as he buried his face in

?" cried a snarling vraic-gatherer. "'Tis some jest upon Holy Chu

d told them bluntly the reasons for his disguise; then, taking a purse from his pocket, thrust int

n high; he was fain to show Angele what a gorgeous gentleman she ha

l; for honest drink which sends to honest sleep hurts no man. To my kitchen with ye all; and you, messieurs"-turning to M. Aubert and De