human
I thank you, sir, said the French officer, raising his hat to the skipper.
gpt
It was well done. Now let me speak; let me explain,
human
It was like this, he said;
gpt
--and as he spoke he stopped short, uttering the word _one_ with grave reverence, as he took off his hat--an example followed by his son.
human
Well, gentlemen, I cannot explain to you. There is not time. Only this--you saw that I made what you English call a dash for it--for freedom. It was like madness, but we said we would rather trust the storm than the French Government. They sent boats full of soldiers to seize us, but we kept on. They opened fire upon us from the forts, but we did not shrink.
gpt
Yes, yes, we saw all, cried Uncle Paul,
human
And a very fine bit of seamanship, sir,
gpt
It was desperate, sir, he said gravely,
human
I always said you had gone down,
gpt
No, sir. We escaped with but one wound, and that was to my poor vessel; and since the night when we left Havre-de-Grace upon my mission it has been one long struggle, as you would say, for life.
human
Indeed, sir?
gpt
Yes, said the officer sadly, and he pointed over the side towards where the beautiful duck-like brig with its taper spars sat the smooth sea, but with a steady stream of water trickling down her side.
human
My chief officer and my men have worked in every way they knew long days and weeks; but it is of no use. I would not give up the great object upon which I have come, but it is forced upon us at last that before many days have gone over our heads that vessel will lie far down in the depths of the ocean. Do you not see how low she is in the water?
gpt
Eh? cried the skipper eagerly.
human
Eh? I thought she was low down with cargo. You've sprung a leak?
gpt
A cannon ball crashed through her, sir, and we have never been able to master that leak.
human
Then why in the name of thunder didn't you put into port?
gpt
I cannot explain, he said.
human
There was not time. I had work to do--a task that I had promised to fulfil, and we held on till it was forced upon me that I must get another vessel or stand with my men upon the deck and let our brave _Roi Dagobert_ sink beneath our feet.
gpt
That wasn't her name at Havre,
human
No, sir, said the officer, smiling;
gpt
I don't quite see that,
human
No? said the officer.
gpt
Monsieur has never passed long years as a prisoner of war.
human
Well, no, grunted the skipper.
gpt
Maybe that might have made me a bit shifty.
human
There, sir, said the officer, turning now to Uncle Paul;
gpt
And if I say, sir, that I cannot accede to what you must own are wild demands, said Uncle Paul,
human
What then?
gpt
You mean that you will attack us, and the strongest wins?
human
No, sir, he said at last, slowly and gravely.
gpt
Neither my son nor I can raise our hands against those who gave us liberty, almost life. Morny, my boy, we will do our duty to the last, and try to keep the poor _Roi Dagobert_ afloat. She may live long enough, even as she has kept afloat so long. If she sinks with us--well, my boy, we shall have done our duty to him we serve, and our names may not be forgotten in our country's rolls.
human
But I say, uncle, he cried eagerly,