Before we departed from that spot, four soldiers standing in a ring, fired twice into the air.

Presently we saw other torches kindled at some distance behind us, and others on the marshes on the opposite bank of the river.

"All right," said the sergeant.

"March." We had not gone far when three cannon were fired ahead of us with a sound that seemed to burst something inside my ear.

"You are expected on board," said the sergeant to my convict; "they know you are coming.
Don't straggle, my man.