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As we approached the farther end this passage suddenly widened into a half circle, sufficiently extended to accoe butt of the mizzenmast, which was completely surrounded by an arether with all uard stood at either side, and I perceived the dark shadow of a third still farther beyond, while the half-dozen cabins close at hand had their doors tightly closed, and fastened with iron bars

Instinctively I felt that here were confined those French prisoners, the knowledge of whose exact whereabouts I sought as of personal peril, and my heart bounded from sudden excitement In simulated aardness, I unfortunately overdid er than ever to keep at the heels of , -bolt in the deck, and over I went, striving vainly to regain uard could even lower his gun to repel boarders,hihtly closed doors Tangled up with the surprised soldier, who pro profanity, strove to throttle me, I yet chanced to take note of the number "18" painted upon the white wood just above us Then the door itself was hurled hastily open, and with fierce exclaray-hooded Capuchin an kicking vigorously right and left at our struggling figures It giveson top, received by far the worst of it, yet I s, while we shared equally in the volubility of his tongue

"Sacre!" he screa each sentence with a fresh blow "Get away fro brutes! Has it come to this, that a respectable priest of Holy Church may not hold private converse with the condemned without a brawl at the very door? Mother of God! what uard? Why don't soaion? Take that, you black, sprawling beast!"

He aimed a vicious stroke at my head, which I ducked in the nick of ti with full force in uard, I say! If they cos with lory of God By the sainted Benedine! was ever one of our Order so basely treated before? Get away, I tell you! 'Tis a disgrace to the true faith, and just as I was about to bring the Chevalier to his knees in confession of his sins!"