The future, indeed, was full of uncertainty, but it is that at best, and my heart was set on escape the moment the chance offered.
I went about my work with the rest, and took a certain pride in showing them how a British seaman could do his duty.

Our curious introduction had given Captain Duchatel an interest in me.

I often caught his eye upon me, and now and again he dropped me a word which was generally a cheerful challenge as to my resolution, and I always replied in kind.

Recollections of those days crowd my mind as I look back on them, but they are not what I set out to tell, and greater matters lay just ahead.
With wonderful luck, and perhaps by taking a very outside course, we escaped the British cruisers, and arrived safely in Martinique, and there we lay for close on four months, with little to do but be in readiness for attacks which never came.
The living was good.

Fresh meat and fruit were abundant, and we were allowed ashore in batches.