“It was with difficulty I could keep my temper, but I made no reply. I was watched with a vengeance. This low-bred ruffian seemed to have a vast delight in inflicting indignities and insults upon any one he conceived an aristocrat by birth. He thought I was one of the Coulancourt family, and the most degrading duties were given me to perform. I could have no redress. No matter how degrading the tasks, I performed them, because I knew the wretch would inflict an indignity I could scarcely survive. However, all attempts at escape were put an end to by our being sent to the coast of Africa, with the fifty gun frigate Experiment, two other ships, and two brig corvettes. We sailed on an expedition against the town of Sierra Leone. Fortunately for me, our brutal and half-mad commander drank himself into a fit of delirium tremens, and remained confined to his cabin, under the care of the surgeon, till we arrived, after a boisterous voyage, off the coast, and shortly after the ships commenced a heavy fire upon the town, which offered no resistance whatever. The second day the British ensign was hauled down as a token of surrender; nevertheless, the two frigates kept up an incessant fire into the streets of the town, as we afterwards heard, killing and wounding many. At length it was resolved to land. I was rejoiced to hear this, for come what would, I resolved to escape, and take my chance of fortune. Our little squadron was commanded by a Monsieur Theodore Allemand. Each ship told off a certain number, and as luck would have it, I formed one from our ship. We had already lost many men by the pestiferous climate, and had many sick; amongst the sick was our captain, or I do not think I should have formed one of the landing party. Our surgeon was of opinion that the captain would not live, and the first lieutenant, who would take the command if he died, felt rather anxious that he should not; the crew would not, however, have gained much by the exchange. Everything being prepared, the men told off into the boats. We pulled in for the town, and a miserable-looking place it appeared. Before the boat’s keels touched the beach the town was totally abandoned by its inhabitants; so that when we entered, the officers were not able to restrain the men, and, with a loud shout, away they went, breaking into the houses, plundering and destroying everything, even setting fire to the houses. Watching my opportunity, I dashed out through the back window of a large house, threw away my musket, and made directly for the woods. When I reached cover, regardless of reptiles or wild beasts, I threw myself into a thicket, and then fell, somewhat exhausted by the run I had had. From where I was I could see the smoke of the burning town, for they wantonly set fire to the church, the company’s warehouses, and all the buildings belonging to the English residents. As I lay hid in this kind of jungle, I began to think what I should do; where had the inhabitants fled to, where procure food. It was the month of September. As I lay, perfectly still, I suddenly caught the sound of voices not very far from me. I listened, and became convinced I heard females speaking. The jungle was extremely thick and entangled. As I cautiously moved on towards the sounds, I distinctly heard a man’s voice, and even distinguished the words, ‘Don’t be alarmed; it’s nothing.’ ‘Ah!’ said I, joyfully, ‘here are some of the English inhabitants of the town, hiding.’ So I sprang up, and, without hesitation, pushed my way through the bushes, and, thrusting aside a dense mass of vegetation, a man started up, presented a pistol, and fired without a word of warning.
“This was rather an uncourteous mode of salutation, but as it only knocked my hat off, and raised the skin of my head, I was well satisfied; but, thinking I might be favoured with a second, I called out, ‘I am English—a fugitive from the French ships.’
“‘Why the deuce didn’t you say so?’ said the man; ‘I might have killed you.’
“I now, to my surprise, found myself face to face with the party hiding; besides the man there were two females, Europeans, and two black girls. The man was attired in a light European dress made of cotton; he advanced towards me with a drawn sword in his hand, whilst the females, two young and lovely girls, stood half-frightened, half-bewildered. The Englishman said—
“‘It was very foolish, young man, for you to burst in upon us so rashly. Knowing the rascally Frenchmen were plundering and firing the town, I mistook you, as well I might, seeing your dress, for one of them. If I had mortally wounded you, and then found out my mistake, it would have made me miserable.’
“I easily perceived by his manner and tone that the stranger was decidedly a gentleman. I begged to apologise, stating that my family had suffered in France during the worst days of the revolution; that I had been imprisoned, and afterwards forced to serve on board a man-of-war, but was determined not to fight against my countrymen, and that the moment I landed with the party attacking the town, I fled.
“‘Cursed set of cowardly buccaneers!’ said the stranger. ‘Come, I am rejoiced, since you are an Englishman, and no harm has happened, that I can give you shelter. Come here, Cherry, my girl,’ turning to the two timid but really lovely girls, that stood gazing at me with surprise. One of the girls came timidly forward, and then her father, for such the stranger was, said—‘Do you think we may trust this young man, and let him share our shelter? he’s an Englishman, though somewhat like one of those buccaneering Frenchmen in attire.’
“The young girl blushed, saying—‘Oh, yes, father, I should surely do so. What else but to seek safety could bring him here?’
“‘Thank you, miss,’ said I, ‘for your good opinion; I assure you, you shall never repent any kindness shown me. I have hitherto suffered from tyranny and oppression, but kindness I have rarely experienced.’
‘Well, girls, he shall have my protection, though those cursed Frenchmen have knocked down our house, and left us only the canopy of heaven for a roof; besides, we must get out of this place before night, or some hungry lion may possibly intrude. So come, sit down; I do not think there is the slightest chance of the enemy penetrating further than the town, so you are safe enough. I see clearly you are, or were, in a better station of life than your dress denotes. You will have time enough to tell me all about yourself. I have an intelligent negro watching the movements of the French; when he comes back and reports that they have returned on board their ship, we will think of moving.’ So we all seated ourselves on the dried grass in heaps, gathered by the two black attendants. These two natives were far from ugly, though certainly not provided with a superfluity of garments.