“The division of the reward is understood, then, to be as I desired. Half to me and half to Monsieur Danvers to be shared among our respective agents as we see fit.” “Monsieur Danvers will be perfectly satisfied with that arrangement, I have no doubt,” said Ethan. “Tell him to consider the matter and send me word by messenger before he leaves Paris. I like these little matters settled at the beginning. And now, gentlemen, I will bid you good-night.” They then found themselves shaking hands with the secret agent upon his door-step; a moment later the door had closed and they were standing upon the frozen walk, gazing at each other in astonishment. CHAPTER X THE CRUISE OF THE RANGER It was a good two hours later when Ethan and the Irish dragoon finally discovered their lodgings. Captain Jones was busy over some papers in his room when Ethan knocked upon his door. “Come in,” said the sailor. “I had just about finished.” He sealed up some documents, and then went on, “Your search was longer than you intended, was it not? and, I suppose, without much success.” “Our search resulted in nothing,” returned Ethan. “But by sheer luck we stumbled upon a most remarkable discovery.” Then he related the main incident of the night, and Captain Jones listened with the greatest attention. “Quite remarkable,” commented he, as the lad finished. “But, really, except for the fact that we now know where Siki expects to dispose of the paper, we learned all this from Dr. Franklin’s judgment in the matter. St. Mary’s Isle, eh,” he continued, musingly. “I know the place well; and, who knows, perhaps I may touch there in the Ranger and look into this matter.” Not having had any definite instructions from Mr. Jefferson about when he should return to America, Ethan had considered that he should remain in France until the paper was recovered or proven to be lost for good and all. He had had no notion of continuing the cruise with Captain Jones, but now that the Ranger and the recovery of the dispatch seemed linked, as it were, he eagerly asked to be allowed to go. “The chances are,” he reasoned, “that the Lascar will slip through their fingers. If you can land Longsword and me upon St. Mary’s Isle we may be in time to do some good.” “I shall be most glad to have you,” said the Ranger’s captain. “And somehow it seems to me that a landing at St. Mary’s Isle is going to lead to good of some sort. I sometimes get impressions like that, and they usually point pretty close to facts in the end.” Three or four days later John Paul Jones, Ethan Carlyle and Longsword once more reached Nantes; and the former immediately set about getting his ship ready for the voyage that was to strike terror to the hearts of the British and fill those of the struggling Americans with delight.