"I think you ought to go, Captain Saucier," said Rice. "You will be needed. The boat may be swamped by some of those large waves. I am ashamed of leaving my stepmother behind; but she would not leave my father, and Maria clung to me. We dared not fill the boat too full." Angelique ran and kissed the children before her father put them into the boat, and offered her cheeks to her mother. Madame Saucier was a fat woman. She clung appalled to her husband, as he let her over the slippery roof. Two slave men braced themselves and held the ropes which steadied him, the whites of their eyes showing. Their mistress was landed with a plunge, but steadied on her seat by Colonel Menard. "Oh," she cried out, "I have left the house without saying adieu to tante-gra'mere. My mind is distracted. She will as long as she lives remember this discourtesy." "It could be easily remedied, madame," suggested Colonel Menard, panting as he braced his oar, "if she would step into the boat herself, as we all wish her to do." "Oh, monsieur the colonel, you are the best of men. If you had only had the training of her instead of my poor gentle Francis, she might not be so hard to manage now." "We must not flatter ourselves, madame. But Mademoiselle Angelique must not remain here much longer for anybody's whim." "Do you think the water is rising?" "It is certainly rising." Madame Saucier uttered a shriek as a great swell rolled the boat. The searching wind penetrated all her garments and blew back loose ends of her hair. There was now a partially clear sky, and the moon sent forth a little lustre as a hint of what she might do when she had entirely freed herself from clouds. The children were lowered, and after them their black nurse. "There is room for at least one more!" called Pierre Menard. Captain Saucier stood irresolute. "Can you not trust me with these fragments of our families?" said Rice. "Certainly, Monsieur Reece, certainly. It is not that. But you see the water is still rising." "I was testing the rise of the water when Colonel Menard reached us. The wind makes it seem higher than it really is. You can go and return, captain, while you are hesitating." "I am torn in two," declared the Indian fighter. "It makes a child of me to leave Angelique behind." "Francis Saucier," came in shrill French from the screens, "get into that boat, and leave my godchild alone." The captain laughed. He also kissed the cheeks of tante-gra'mere's godchild and let himself slide down the roof, and the boat was off directly. The slaves, before returning to their own room, again fastened the sashes of the dormer window. The clamor of bells which seemed to pour through the open window was thus partly silenced. The lantern made its dim illumination with specks of light, swinging from a nail over the window alcove. Maria had not yet unclosed her eyes. Her wasted hand made a network around one of Rice's fingers, and as the coughing spasm seized her she tightened it.