Passage to Marseille Page #5

He's alive.

Probably survivors

from some torpedoed ship.

Hard starboard.

- Hard starboard.

- Hard starboard.

Slowly.

Stop. Lower a boat.

Let go of the grapple lashings.

Hurry.

Faster, faster.

Hurry.

Easy with them, men.

Pretty far gone.

I needed that.

We've been without food for 20 days.

Without water for five.

Then I won't plague you

with questions right now.

Put these men in the aft house.

- Set up the extra cots.

- Aye, sir.

- Open up that door.

- Come on. Easy now.

Tell Cook to bring them some broth.

Then let them sleep.

And you might ask the men

if they can spare them some clothes.

Aye, sir.

Captain Malo, what is your opinion

of these fellows? Are they French?

One of them is, at least. But what would

they be doing in an Indian canoe?

They are not seamen, that's plain.

If we're off the African coast,

I'd wager 10-to-1 that they were deserters

from one of our disciplinary battalions.

Don't you say so, Major?

No, I do not.

Since we're not off the African coast,

your reasoning lacks something

of being brilliant.

Learn to examine the facts, man.

Use your eyes.

Captain Freycinet,

perhaps you can do better.

If you want the facts, you'd better let

the men explain for themselves.

I will, and hear a pack of lies.

You condemn them without a hearing?

Isn't that unfair?

No, it is not unfair,

because I know who they are.

- You mean you've seen them before?

- No, I never saw them before this morning.

But that is immaterial, since I have

certain modest deductive powers.

Lenoir was on the right track, though he

lacked the logic to carry it through.

These fellows have

the convict look about them.

Some of them may have served in the

disciplinary battalions, but not recently.

Gentlemen, beyond a shadow of a doubt,

they are fugitives from Devil's Island.

From Cayenne? lmpossible.

We are at least 1,500 miles from Cayenne.

Do you mean to tell me they have made

such a voyage in that small open canoe?

You don't know these fellows, Malo.

The type, I mean.

I was stationed in Cayenne

a dozen years ago.

I learned the smell of the convict.

A more depraved and desperate set

of scoundrels cannot be found.

No matter what your opinion,

I suggest we hear

what they have to say for themselves.

As you wish.

I shall be amused at their lies

and by exposing them.

- We'll see, gentlemen.

- Thank you.

- Good evening.

- Good evening, sir.

Come to attention, you men.

You, too.

Haven't you been taught to stand

in the presence of officials?

No.

Never mind. This is a free ship

and not an armored compound.

I think we can all be seated.

Thank you, sir.

Well, you men seem

to be a long way from home.

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