I shall be
able to charter or buy a ship with the proceeds, and some dark night
we shall all embark; and if a surgeon is not willing to come of his
own accord, I shall press the best one in the place: it won't be the
first time I have done such a thing, with much less excuse."
"One will be willing," said Jack; "so you need not introduce One-eyed
Dick's schooner here, Willis."
"So far so good, then; it only remains for us to smuggle the captain,
the missionary, and the crew of the _Nelson_ on board."
"But we are prisoners," said Littlestone.
"I know that well enough; if you were not prisoners, of course there
would be no difficulty."
"Recollect, Willis, we are not only prisoners, but we are on parole."
"True," said Willis, scratching his ear, "I did not think of that."
"The situation," remarked Jack, "is something like that of Louis XIV.
at the famous passage of the Rhine, of whom Boileau said: 'His
grandeur tied him to the banks.' Had you been only a common sailor,
captain, a parole would not have stood in the way of your escape."
"But," said Willis, "the parole can be given up, can it not?"
"Not without a reasonable excuse," replied the captain.
"Well," continued Willis, "you can go with the minister to the
Maritime Prefect, and say: 'Sir, you know that everyone's country is
dear to one's heart, and you will not be astonished to hear that
myself and friend have an ardent desire to return to ours.
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