Then the door clanged. The soldiers took him upstairs and
cast him back into the great dungeon.
The next morning he started in a chain of thirty-five slaves for the
galleys at Dunkirk.
CHAPTER XI.
THE GALLEY "L'HEUREUSE."
The archers, or constables, in charge of the slaves took them
through Ypres and Furnes; and as the distance is about twelve
leagues, it was not till the third day that Tristram saw the spires
and fortifications of Dunkirk rising against the greyish sea.
But in that time he learnt much, being tied to a brisk rotund
Burgundian, the cheerfullest of the gang, who had made two campaigns
with the English Foot Guards in Turenne's time, and had picked up a
smattering of their language. He knew, at any rate, enough English
to teach Tristram some rudiments of French on the road, and gave him
much information that went far to alter his notions of the world.
Tristram was deeply shocked at the sight of one or two of the men
whom he had left in the hands of M. de Lambertie. He now ceased to
wonder at the agony of apprehension they had exhibited, and, while
compassionating their horrible case, did not forget to thank God for
having interposed to save him from a similar fate.
"Ah, yes," said his comrade tranquilly; "they are deserters.
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