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Updated: June 16, 2025
Was it strange that my thoughts dwelt somewhat dangerously upon the pleasant, peaceful days in Sark? When I awoke in the morning to a voiceless, solitary, idle day, how could I help thinking of Martin Dobrée, of Tardif, even of old Mother Renouf, with her wrinkled face and her significant nods and becks?
Fair words they used, saying that their captain had business of great import with certain stalwart seamen of Jersey that day, and begged us for our own advantage to come down aboard their ship. "And who is your captain?" curiously asked Renouf. The rogue dissembled not.
I thought this last a most extraordinary proceeding, France and Spain being then on friendly terms with each other; moreover, it at once disabused me of the impression that it was information only that Renouf was seeking.
I was prize-officer in charge of the Manilla at the time; hence my presence in one of her boats." "And how came you, sir, to be chief officer on board a British privateer?" now demanded Renouf. I could not, for the life of me, comprehend the drift of this question, but there was no mistaking the insolent intonation of it.
I had the still greater satisfaction of learning, not very long afterwards, that Renouf, his brother, and half a dozen more of the party had been hanged as pirates upon the evidence of Dumaresq, myself, and the other survivors of the gig's crew. This, however, is anticipating my story somewhat.
Martin," he said, hurriedly; "I'll run over to old Mother Renouf; she'll have some herbs or something to send mam'zelle to sleep." "Bring her back with you," I shouted after him as he sped across the yard. Mother Renouf was no stranger to me. While I was a boy she had charmed my warts away, and healed the bruises which were the inevitable consequences of cliff-climbing.
Let us see how far your courage will carry you!" He struck a hand-bell furiously, and shouted "Gaspar!" A man, evidently the steward, promptly made his appearance at the cabin door, and responded: "Monsieur called?" "I did," answered Renouf. "Go on deck and tell Pierre to bring three men and some lashing down into the cabin."
Renouf, however, continued to bear down upon her; and presently the Spaniard, evidently growing alarmed at the menacing behaviour of the schooner, put up her helm and bore away before the wind, with the unmistakable intention of avoiding us if possible. But a cart-horse might as well hope to gallop away from a thorough-bred racer as that ship to outsail the Jean Bart.
I told my companions that although I had consented to serve on board the Jean Bart, nothing should induce me to take up arms against my fellow- countrymen; that, on the contrary, if we should chance to fall in with a British ship, I was fully determined, by every means in my power, to frustrate Renouf's intentions, and to hamper and obstruct him in every possible way, and at all hazards; and that, if they felt disposed to accept service with a similar determination, it would be strange if five resolute, determined men like ourselves could not do something very material toward assisting in the capture of the schooner, and the safe lodgment of Monsieur Renouf aboard a British hulk.
Elsewhere, Renouf says: "It is incontestably true, that the sublimer portions of the Egyptian religions are not the comparatively late result of a process of development. The sublimer portions are demonstrably ancient; and the last stage of the Egyptian religion .... was by far the grossest and most corrupt." The history of Hindu belief presents testimony of a still more startling nature.
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