"I have told you how he married Louison; how he set out to explore the Banks of Newfoundland. At present, it only remains for me to tell you, that, having refound the country to which the devil had shown him the way, and amassed innumerable treasures, he had undertaken his eighth voyage to New France, when Satan appeared to him in a storın.

"James grew pale at the sight of him.

666

'Have I kept my word?' said the Prince of Dark

ness.

"Yes.'

“And you have been happy?'

"James shook his head, white with age, by which he

meant no.

"The devil smiled with a sardonic grin.

"So much the worse,' said he. Your soul is mine; the hour is come!'

A flame scintillated at the extremity of the main-mast; a wave, high as a mountain, struck the prow of the vessel. Ten minutes after, she had disappeared with all she contained."

"And James ?" exclaimed Nabot,

"James! I don't know. Yes, indeed, by the trident of Neptune!" replied Philip Francœur. "Now, good-night, my boys; don't have bad dreams; and may God preserve us from the devil! Yes, indeed

Malificieux did not finish his oath, of which a glorious

snoring took the place of the finale.

He was sound asleep.

CHAPTER VI.

THE SHIPWRECK.

THE next and following days it rained so incessantly that the convicts were obliged to remain in the vicinity of their encampment. John de Ganay would have preferred that the weather would allow him to reconnoitre the whole island, but finding it impossible to do so, he wished the bandits to occupy their time in some useful labor. If nothing proved that the Castor would soon return for them, it was equally true that nothing proved the contrary. Who knows? Weeks might pass before her return. It was important, therefore, to prepare for the worst. Besides, John knew that idleness is a bad counselor. When occupied, his men reflected less on the uncertainty of their fate, and habituated themselves by degrees to colonial life and labors.

He commenced by causing a sort of intrenchment to be made around the tents. Large piles, sharpened at the end,

hardened in the fire, and intertwined with flexible branches, served for this purpose.

The équerry would have wished to dig a ditch for more security; but all his efforts were fruitless. The soil on which he operated was sandy, and every blast of wind filled the opening he had made.

Several times John conceived the plan of going farther into the interior, and encamp on the banks of the lake; but on each occasion some fear prevented him.

In order to guide the course of the Castor, in case she approached the island, he planted in the most elevated spot a mast, from which floated a piece of red stuff; and he established a sort of guard at the foot of it, which was to remain day and night to watch. Four men, who relieved each other successively at every hour, composed the post. Another post was formed near the camp, and John de Ganay confided the command of it alternately to such bandit as was found to conduct himself best. These plans were as judicious as they were able. It accustomed the convicts to military discipline; they invited them to conduct themselves well, so that they might obtain the favor attached to good behavior; and at the same time obviated the danger of surprise, if, perchance, the island was inhabited by savages, or by wild beasts.

The convicts occupied themselves at this work until Sunday. During this interval they supported themselves with fishes which they captured in the following manner: having dug deep holes on the beach while the tide was out, they surrounded them with osier hurdles, and waited

for the return of the tide; then, when the water retired, they ran to their nets, which they generally found filled with cod, herrings, soles, crabs, and other fishes, abounding on the shores of Acadia.

Several sea-birds were killed besides, which, prepared by Maleficieux, the inventor of the mode of fishing we have just described, did not seem the least palatable dish to those who tasted them.

In general, the bandits did not evince a very rebellious disposition. Whether it was that they were aware that a mutiny would not, in any respect, ameliorate their condition; or whether the four sailors inspired them with salutary fear, they implicitly obeyed the orders of John de Ganay.

Sunday was clearer than any of the five preceding days, although the sun had not yet appeared above the horizon. Clouds, tinged with gray, covered the sky, and an impetuous wind whistled from the southwest.

In the morning, John de Ganay gathered around him all his companions, and made an affecting speech, exhorting them to patience. Afterwards he read them some passages from the Bible. They listened to him eagerly, and several of them were moved to tears by the consoling maxims of the Holy Scriptures.

After these pious instructions, John advised his subordinates not to go far from their tents, for the tempest threatened, and as they had not yet any certain knowledge of the island, it was to be feared that they might lose their way in the course of an excursion.