"She does not desert her sons." "Your name ?" demanded he.

"Belin," said I, inventing a name for the occasion.

"You are engaged, Belin," said the skipper; "we start this minute." With a grateful heart I stepped on board and busied myself with casting loose the rope.
"Observe, Belin," said my new master, noticing approvingly that at least I knew how to handle a rope, "your name under me is Plon, that of a vagabond scoundrel who has just deserted me, and who is named on the way-bill.

There are his jersey and his cap; put them on, and keep your counsel." "Pardon, my captain," said I, when I had obeyed him, "what is our business for the Republic ?" "We carry coats and boots for the Army of the North." "Long live the Army of the North," said I devoutly.
We soon reached the bridge which marked the boundary of the city.

Here our bill of lading was carefully scrutinised, and our cargo inspected to make sure we carried no fugitive hidden in the midst of it.
As for me, I took my skipper's advice, and sat smoking my cigar and saying nothing while the ceremony lasted.
But when at length we were ordered to pass, you may guess how thankfully I cast off the rope and found myself gliding down the quick current of the Seine out of that horrible city in which for nearly a year I had been cooped, expecting every day to be my last I showed my gratitude by undertaking any hard work my skipper chose to put upon me; and when he found me so willing, and on the whole so handy, he was content enough, and we became tolerably good messmates.