A SEA STORY.

BY LIEUTENANT C. R. LOW.

OE to the Power that does not respect treaties!" and, with hasty steps and moody brow, the First Consul of France, who uttered these portentous words, paced to and fro before the diplomatic corps assembled at the Tuileries. "What! my lord, does England then seek war, since she commits so flagrant a breach of the treaty? On what grounds," said he, still addressing the English ambassador, "can your government maintain that France is armed? Is it not well known that our fleet has been sent to St. Domingo that the armament off the coast of Holland is destined for Louisiana? France has performed her part: let England, then, do the same, and let Malta be evacuated!"

Consternation was depicted in the faces of all present at this outburst of General Bonaparte. The blood mounted to the face of the English ambassador for the moment, but instantly, in cold, measured tones, he deprecated the causes which might involve the two countries in war, and then took his departure. Hatred to England now filled the heart of Napoleon, and the whole efforts of that mighty mind were directed to the destruction of his foe. The British cabinet resolved to keep Malta; and the ambassadors at Paris and London were recalled by their respective governments.

England struck the first blow. Two English frigates swooped down upon the French merchantmen in the Bay of Audierne, and carried them off. This event, which occurred about the same time that the ambassadors withdrew, filled the soul of Bonaparte with rage. He determined to make reprisals, and ordered that all British residents

in France should be held prisoners of war; but, at the intervention of one of his colleagues, this edict was modified, so as to exclude those who did not hold commissions in the army. The invasion of England was the absorbing wish of Napoleon, and his efforts towards the accomplishment of this design were warmly seconded by all the large towns and departments, who voted vast sums of money for the construction of fleets. The means for transporting an army of 150,000 men, with artillery, were determined. Forests fell beneath the stroke of the axe; the rivers of France were covered with flat-bottomed boats; foundries, filled with skilled mechanics, yielded mortars and cannon; camps of the martial victors of Jena, Austerlitz, and Friedland were fixed, ready to be concentrated at a moment's notice; and England, not from fear, though her situation was one which might appal the hearts of the bravest, shuddered as she beheld the gigantic preparations of her indefatigable foe. The responsibility of the British Ministry was great, but the Government took every means to meet it, and devoted itself to make preparations suitable to repel the invasion.

Fouché, the Minister of the Interior, as well as of the Police, was in earnest consultation with his subordinate, Dubois.

"Yes, Dubois," said the minister, "the gold of England is lavishly spent amongst the agents of the princes; but I am in doubt as to the end of this fresh conspiracy."

"I believe the life of the First Consul will be attempted," replied Dubois. "Don't you remember the Rue St. Nicaise, four years ago, where Saint Repoint exploded his infernal machine?"

"Yes, yes; the Consul had a narrow escape, and my enemies made the most of it to my detriment. But I triumphed in the end, and the guillotine laid the execrable heads of the assassins low. But what is to be done with the present plot? You say Bouvel and Picotin have been arrested, and confessed what they knew. Bring them up; I wish to question them."

Dubois left the apartment, and in a few minutes returned, accompanied with the conspirators.

"Good morning, gentlemen," said Fouché; "I have a few questions to put to you. I need not remind you of the danger in which you are placed it depends upon yourselves whether you choose to pass the remainder of your lives in Cayenne, or secure your freedom by divulging the nature of the conspiracy in which you are engaged.

Now, Monsieur Bouvel, who were your associates during your pleasant excursion from England?"

"M. de Rivière, M. Armand, and Jules de Polignac and M. George Cadoudal."

"Ah! Monsieur George again. Well, Dubois, you see my conjectures are verified. Oh, Monsieur George, you are very cunning; but I shall trap you before long. Dubois, I enjoy this; I feel the same eagerness as do the huntsmen when following the hounds. I have found the cover of the old fox that has baffled me so long, and, Dubois, I mean to be in at the death. But let us proceed, Monsieur Bouvel : Where and how did you and your associates effect your landing on the coast? I understood sufficient arrangements were taken to render abortive any attempt of the kind? Come, monsieur, explain."

"Precautions were taken, monsieur," replied Bouvel; "but not suf ficient to deter us from gaining the shore between Tréport and Dieppe. We scaled by means of a rope the sharp, high rock called Biville on the 21st of August, and four days later reached Paris."

"Proceed, Monsieur Bouvel."

'George Cadoudal and the others have engaged to collect about one hundred men, arrest the progress of the First Consul as he goes to St. Cloud, disperse his guard, and slay him. Cadoudal insists upon the presence of one, at least, of the royal princes at this exploit."

"Ah! so," replied Fouché, "to give a sort of colouring to this—this exploit, as you term it, M. Bouvel; to remove some qualms of conscience which M. George feels, whether this exploit of scattering some halfdozen guards and slaying the First Consul might not, in the eyes of dispassionate men, be classed under the category of murder. Well, go on."

"General Lajolais is now in London. He, with Pichegru, the Count d'Artois, and the Duke of Berri, are expected in a few days at the rock of Biville, and the Republican General Moreau will join them."

"What! Lajolais and Moreau turned traitors," cried Dubois.

"M. Cadoudal and I are to receive them at the rock of Biville," was Bouvel's rejoinder.

"Monsieur Bouvel," said the Minister, "at this agreeable reunion of your friends, I purpose to be represented by a few of mine. You are

in my power, so beware. I shall send you instructions to-morrow morning, and, should my plot succeed, your reward will be commensurate with your fidelity and address."

Seven days after the conversation which has been reported above,

Fouché and Dubois were again seated together. A smile of triumph irradiated the face of the former as he explained to Dubois the plot he had formed to entrap the principal conspirators.

"Listen," said the Minister of Police, "I have caused Moreau to be arrested and conveyed to the coast, and placed on board a sloop under the command of Captain Haouen. I have given orders that Colonel Savary with his soldiers, who have kept watch for the last week at the rock of Biville, should leave the place, so that in the event of a failure on the part of Haouen, Messieurs the Princes and their friends may land at the rock unmolested. Savary with twenty of his men will lie perdu in the sloop. I know the exact moment the vessel which conveys the plotters is expected at the rendezvous. The sloop, with my little decoy Moreau, will hail the other. The poor General thinks he has embarked with friends, who are going to transfer him to the other vessel in order that he may escape to England. The poor princes, Pichegru and company, are transported at the sight of Moreau, and hasten on board to pay him their respects. A sumptuous repast is provided in the cabin,—we have royal visitors you know, Dubois. The wine sparkles in brimming cups, the merry jest passes. To the Bourbons,' and the goblets are drained to the toast; To the downfall of Napoleon,' and the replenished glasses are again emptied. 'Gentlemen,' cries my little Colonel Savary, who enters the cabin quietly, Gentlemen, I have one toast to propose, if I might be so far indulged by this august company. Fill your glasses, gentlemen; my Lord Duke allow me-ah!-ready all; then 'To Fouché.' Soldiers advance !-Present arms! Gentlemen, in a few hours I shall have the pleasure of introducing you to 'Fouché.'' Ah! Dubois, quite dramatic-is it not? Quite à la Borgia without the aqua tofana-eh? Hush! who goes there? Did you not hear footsteps, Dubois? If my plot is discovered! The door ajar, too. Ask Duprez if any person passed along the passage?"

Fouché waited impatiently until the return of Dubois.

"Well, what does he say?" "That he heard a step pass quickly along, most likely one of the agents who was waiting in the anteroom." On the 15th of January, 1804, MM. Cadoudal and Bouvel reached the rock of Biville. The sea was calm, and reflected from its bosom the uncertain light of the stars. All was still save the murmur of the waves chafing against the towering cliffs.

"You are very meditative to-night, Monsieur George," said Bouvel. "Very," was the reply.

II.-I.

D

"And what, pray, engrosses your mind so much at present?"

"The punishment of traitors," answered Cadoudal.

"Ah!" and a shudder ran through the frame of Bouvel.

"Yes," continued Cadoudal, "the punishment due to the one who, for the sake of gold, plots the death of his sworn friends. Now, Bouvel, what would you do to such an one-to one, let us say, who plans the destruction of the Princes and their confederates-of me, Bouvel, and it might be of yourself?"

"I-I really cannot," gasped Bouvel; "but, Monsieur"

"Nay; answer, we have nought to fear, we whose hearts are free from harbouring such deeds. We only plot and plan against our enemies. Why, man, dark as it is, I can see your face is as livid as that of the dead. But come, give me the lantern; it is time to signal. See, they have answered it. Bring the boat round, and let us away; we have an hour's hard pull, and the tide has turned, too." The boat darted like an arrow from the shore, and in a few minutes was lost in the darkness. Bouvel, however, who pulled the stroke oar, had managed to fasten the lantern at the stern of the boat, as he thought unperceived by George. They had proceeded about a quarter of a mile when Bouvel pulled a string attached to the slide of the lantern. Immediately the faint report of a cannon broke upon the stillness of the night, and Bouvel knew that the gleam of light he so adroitly showed had been observed, and caused the slide to fall again.

"The plot thickens," cried George. "Do you know the meaning of that signal gun, Bouvel? What, are you so ignorant? You really don't know? Come, come, Monsieur, your modesty is quite mistimed. Try to guess. No! Well, I shall endeavour to play the part of Edipus, and solve the riddle. Let us rest for a moment: hearken to me now. Half a minute ago you heard the report of a cannon, you will soon hear another, and from a different quarter. Listen, don't breathe so hard, Bouvel; no danger of a cannon-ball depriving you of your valuable existence. Hush! did you not hear it? Yes, yes, the breeze that is just rising brought along the response distinctly. To our oars again. Yes, I have consulted the oracle. The Pythia was sullen, the auspices decidedly bad, Bouvel. I was in despair, I was indeed. Give way, Bouvel; you are near your journey's end. She sat on her tripod sulky and repellent. Pass the lantern from the stern of the boat, Bouvel; it might slip from the catch, you know, and we have further use for it. Sulky and repellent, poor Pythoness; but suddenly the inspiration of the God was on her; she writhed under his potent spell,