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"Oh, you are mistaken; I am sure that I have many, and so would you if you proved them," said Ronald, in a cheerful tone. "You are wounded and ill; when you recover you will be in better spirits; but tell me, who is the friend whose loss you mourn?" "He was the second lieutenant of this ship, and he was killed early in the action with you," answered young Gerardin, with a sigh.
It was great enjoyment to Morton to find himself again by the side of Edda, and to feel that he had just conferred so great a benefit on her father that he could scarcely refuse his consent to their union. He little knew the unyielding nature of the man with whom he had to deal. Both Edda and Ronald referred to the threats they had heard uttered by Alfonse Gerardin.
They had been more alarmed for the safety of Colonel Armytage than for their own; he was nowhere to be seen. "Fear not, my beloved Edda; you and your mother are in perfect safety," said Alfonse Gerardin, who had thrown himself from his horse. He was now endeavouring to draw her, with as little violence as possible, from the carriage.
The English seamen rushed upon deck, for the terrific sounds which reached their ears, and the fierce concussions the ship was receiving, warned that no time was to be lost, if they would preserve their lives. Morton was hurrying up with the rest, when he recollected the wounded midshipman, Alfonse Gerardin.
Edda stood motionless, with her head turned away from the flames, and her eye ranging with undefined hope seaward, over the water. "There are boats coming! boats! boats!" was the cry. A shout was raised by the remainder of the crew clustered on the quarter-deck. "Lieutenant Gerardin and our comrades have arrived."
"You shall, according as it is found to be correct, receive your reward. Take him on board again, Captain Gerardin, and see that he does not escape. He will probably be equally ready to inform the British government, if he has the opportunity, of what we are about." Tacon looked not over well pleased; he well knew that expostulation would be useless.
The crew began to rush to the sides to throw themselves into the boats, but a warning cry was raised in English, "Keep back, or we pull away!" One boat, however, dashed alongside. Ropes were hove to the people in her by the captain and others, and an officer climbed up on board, and instead of Alfonse Gerardin, whom she expected, Edda beheld, to her unspeakable joy, Ronald Morton.
Most of the wounded French prisoners were removed likewise, that they might be under the care of the chief surgeon of the ship, and among them was Alfonse Gerardin. He had somewhat recovered his strength and spirits, and now that he found himself no longer a prisoner, he talked away freely as well with the young Frenchmen of his own rank as with the English midshipmen.
"My name ah they call me Alfonse Gerardin," answered the French midshipman. "I am obliged to you for your kindness. A prisoner is little able to requite it. Perhaps I may some day as I should wish to do." "I have done nothing to deserve even thanks," said Ronald. "But I must not stay. I will come and see you again as soon as I can."
The first of these, in the year 1456, was aged forty-five, the second was a year older, and the third was in her fiftieth year. All three were the wives of labourers. Henriette was married to Gerard, Mengette to John Joyart, and Isabellette to Gerardin d'Epinal. To the child of the last Joan had stood god-mother.
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