''THE TOILERS OF THE SEAr 13 



revolver (then a novelty in fire-arms), ascertained that Rantaine 

 intended to escape from France in a vessel, the captain of which 

 had agreed to send a boat ashore for him; and just as he was 

 about to embark, after killing a coastguardsman to prevent his 

 giving an alarm, presented the revolver at his head, and demanded 

 ''restitution," as he called it, of the plunder. An altercation 

 ensued ; but the formidable weapon gave its owner superiority, 

 and Rantaine was made to toss to his opponent from a distance 

 the three bank-notes, enclosed in an iron tobacco-box, and was 

 then allowed to depart. Clubin had already decided on the 

 measures he would adopt to enable him to enjoy his ill-obtained 

 wealth in a foreign country, without exciting a suspicion of his 

 evil deed. The " Durande " was to leave St. Malo the next day, 

 on her return trip to Guernsey with passengers and cargo. 

 Weather-wise mariners predicted a fog, and urged Clubin not to 

 leave port ; but he resolutely disregarded their advice, and put to 

 sea, placed a bottle of brandy in the secret hiding-place used by 

 his tippling steersman, who fell into the trap and got drunk ; and 

 when the expected fog came on, the austere and puritanical 

 captain sent him fonvard with a reprimand, and, to the admiration 

 and satisfaction of the passengers, took the helm himself, and 

 went on at full steam for his destination. There were some on 

 board who thought he was running a great risk in not slackening 

 speed ; and one passenger, a Guernsey man, felt sure that they 

 were not in their right course, and told the captain that more 

 than once, when the fog had lifted a little, he had recognised the 

 land a-head as a point called the " Hanois." But Clubin kept 

 straight on ; for this was just the spot where he had deliberately 

 determined to run the vessel ashore. In a few minutes she 

 struck. The boat was got over the side and launched, passengers 

 and crew took their places in her, and then all waited for the 

 captain. But the devoted man refused to leave his vessel. He 

 would do his duty to the last, and sink with her ; and so, finding 

 persuasion useless, they were obliged to put off without him; 



