“Well, they have offered to the man as stops to put his name down on the books of all the three craft.  That means, of course, that he will get a share in the prize-money of all three ships if they get back.  That’s a pretty good offer, you know.  You see, a fellow on board may get captured or killed in battle or wrecked, and in that case there would not be a penny of prize-money.  The man who stops here is sure of prize-money if only one of the three craft get back to France.  Now, they ask me if I will undertake it.  I should be better off than the others; because in the first place I shall have you to talk with till I get to prison, and in the next place as I can talk English I can get on a good deal better in prison than other fellows would do.  Now, what’s your advice, lad?”

“I should say certainly accept the offer, Jacques.  You see, I can tell them all what a good friend you have been to me, and it maybe they will let you go free; but even if they don’t I could make it pleasant for you with the men, and you may be sure that if they take you to an English prison I will do all I can to get you out of it.  You see, when you get back to France you would have really a good sum coming to you from these three ships.  The two that have been out here have collected a tremendous lot of valuable plunder, and the Bell Marie is likely to get quite as much if, as you say, she is going to spend two years out in the Indian seas.  So I really think you would be wise to take the offer.  Another thing, if you like I will not show myself at all, but will stop here with you, and we will take a boat together and make for some port, where we can give out that we are shipwrecked sailors.”

“No, lad, that wouldn’t do; though I thank you for your offer.  You might get a ship back to England, but I should have very little chance of getting one for France.”

“No; but we might get one together for America, and from there you might get to France easily enough.”

Jacques thought for some minutes.  “No, lad; I will give myself up with you.  We might get lost in a boat, seeing that neither of us know the geography of these seas; we might get short of water, or caught in a hurricane.  No, I will give myself up.  I know the worst that way, anyhow.  Another spell in an English prison; but from that I may either get exchanged, or escape, or the war come to an end.  So that’s the best thing for me to do.”

CHAPTER VI.

HOME AGAIN.

Having decided to stay as one of the signallers, Jacques proceeded at once to the captain’s cabin.

“I am glad you have decided so, Jacques.  It would have been a troublesome business to cast lots, and some of the men might have absolutely refused doing so; so I am glad it’s settled.  I have arranged with the other captains that you shall have an advance of twenty napoleons.  You had best hide them about you; you may find them come in useful.  The boy is to have ten.  Of course he is glad of the chance; but at the same time he is doing us good service, and he has worked well since he came on board.  It will help him to get a passage home.”