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The fugitives, who had fought so long with the sea, were unarmed, while the four surveillants in the canot had revolvers, and would either recapture or kill. But Maxime Dalahaide spoke a word to his companion; and, as if the triumph of the canot over the yacht's boat had been a signal, the two sprang from the shelf of the reef into the sea.
Then he became sullenly despairing; but I began to take an interest in him, believing that he was not at bottom such a desperate character as the surveillants had grown to consider him. I did what I could to soften his lot, having him introduced to more congenial work in the bureau; but this was not until he had known three months in the Black Cell.
Sitting in the boat they could not see the hospital; not a light was visible in any prison building; and they had the feeling that in any one of a dozen great masses of shadow armed surveillants might be hiding, to spring out upon Maxime Dalahaide as he crept toward his friends and far-off safety.
But, if any one should be mad enough to attempt a dash for freedom, four or five surveillants would be on him before he could count twenty. They do not make themselves conspicuous here, that is all." Sir Roger Broom looked across the eastern wall of the hospital garden, over the green expanse of the great lagoon, and thought much; but he said nothing.
Fort Leavenworth, for instance, emanates even now a perfume which is utterly delightful to certain Americans. At least, in that Republic, amnesty has been proclaimed, or so I hear. But to return to the Surveillants remark. J'avais de la chance. Because I am by profession a painter and a writer. Curious thing.
The air cracked with revolver-shots, but George was not the target now: the eyes of the surveillants were for the fugitives nearest safety. Whether Roger or Dalahaide were hit, George could not tell, but he kept his head above water in sheer self-forgetfulness until both had been hauled on board. Then he dived again, and when he rose to the surface he was close to the boat.
These men were directed in their labour by other men in white; and Virginia shivered all over, for this was her first sight of the convicts. What if Maxime Dalahaide were among these forlorn wretches who toiled and sweated in the blazing sun, with no encouragement save the rough exhortations of the white-clad surveillants with revolvers on their hips?
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