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Terry and Jerry then went to work, assisted by Biler, and soon the boat was in the water. "Ef I hadn't ben sich a darned donkey," said Zac, in a tone of vexation, "I might have got at 'em before an' saved them all these hours of extra starvation. Ef I'd only yelled back when I fust heerd the voice! Who knows but that some of 'em hev died in the time that's ben lost?"
One day after dinner, while the Acadians were lolling in the sun, and while Terry was smoking his pipe forward, Zac sauntered up to him in a careless fashion, and placing himself near Terry, where he could not be overheard, he began to talk in an easy tone with the other, "Terry, lad," said he, "I'm getting tired o' this here."
I hope that his excellency will accord you the favor of an interview." All this time Zac had been a silent spectator of the scene. He had not understood the words that were spoken, but he had gathered the general meaning of this scene from the gestures and expression of the two speakers. The presence, also, of the armed guard was enough to show him that the blow which he dreaded had fallen.
For various reasons, however, he preferred going nearer; and therefore he had refrained from sending the boat ashore that day. The next day came. There was a fresh breeze and a favorable one. The waters began to rise. Zac was all ready. Up went the anchor, the sails were set, and once more the Parson was turned towards the landing.
At last the boat touched the schooner's side. One of the men leaped on board, securing the boat, and the other followed immediately. They were both dressed like all the Acadians, but the second boatman had a slouched hat, which concealed his face. Zac, who carelessly regarded him, noticed that he was a smooth-faced boy, while the first boatman was a grizzled old man.
At length the water had spread over as much of the red mud as seemed desirable, while every hour the schooner would have a greater depth beneath her; so Zac concluded to start. Up then went the anchor, the sails were set, and yielding to the impulse of a favorable breeze, the Parson turned her head towards the landing-place at Grand Pré.
But it was the other three occupants of the raft that most excited the attention of Claude and Zac. An old man was seated there, with thin, emaciated frame, and snow-white hair. He was holding in his arms a young girl, while beside her knelt another young girl who seemed like the attendant of the first, and both the old man and the maid were most solicitous in their attentions.
The one who understood a little English was able to comprehend this. The command was followed by an excited debate among the four, which was at last ended by a second mandate from Zac, accompanied by a threat to fire upon them. At this a hurried answer was given: "We render. We render. Fire not." A small skylight was then opened, and all the arms and equipments of the prisoners were passed up.
"I'd give ten guineas," said he, "for one good hooray I would, by George! But bein' as it is, I'll postpone that till I haul off a few miles from this." "Why, what's the matter?" said Claude, rousing himself out of abstraction. "Matter?" repeated Zac. "Why, the wind's hauled round to the nor'west, and the fog's goin' to lift, an' the Parson's goin' to show her heels."
"What did it mean?" he asked, at length. Claude told him. Zac said nothing for some time. "I wonder whether they've seen us," said he, at length. "No 'tain't possible. The fog's too thick and we're as invisible to them as they are to us. Besides, these words show that they ain't thinkin' about anybody but themselves.
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