306 THE BLACK CARIES. 



from small shot, nor could their fortress be fired, it being of stone ; 

 in short, they were impregnable to such foes. The attack had al- 

 ready cost the banditti thirty of their bravest men, and at this period 

 of incertitude they were suddenly and unexpectedly attacked in the 

 rear by Belgrave and his party, who rushed on shouting and dis- 

 charging their pistols. The enemy were struck with panic. Savages 

 lose all courage when surprised ; and the Caribs, in spite of all the 

 efforts of their Gallic allies, fled in every direction, pursued by the 

 negroes, and fired on from the mill their victory was complete. 



On examining the house, it was found that the brigands had at- 

 tempted to fire it in several directions, but fortunately had failed. 

 However, the chest, containing a valuable quantity of gold, jewels 

 and papers, was missing ; this, though a heavy calamity to Belgrave, 

 was but slight compared with what he suffered that night. A party 

 of negroes, sent to recal the females, found Mustapha stunned from 

 a blow with the butt-end of a musket, and the child was taken away. 

 The poor bereaved father was distracted at this most bitter blow ; 

 and his friends, justly conceiving that to attempt consoling him 

 would be to mock his agony, called on him to revenge his murdered 

 wife and child. No sooner was this proposed than he started, and 

 inquired for Mustapha. But Mustapha, on recovering from the blow, 

 had vowed to deliver the infant if alive, or perish in the attempt, and 

 had disappeared, taking the direction of the routed enemy. At this in- 

 stant, a party of Seton's Rangers came in search of the brigands ; to 

 which Belgrave immediately attached himself, to go in pursuit of the 

 enemy. 



The greater part of that night and the next morning was spent in 

 tracing them ; at length they surprised or rather intercepted them 

 on the Balisle estate, near Wallilaboe Bay ; the brigands occupied 

 one precipice, and the rangers another, elevated 30 feet above them. 

 Between these there was a deep defile, at the bottom of which ran a 

 dark rapid stream. From the top of the precipice occupied by the 

 Caribs to the stream was at least 150 feet, and there was but one 

 steep descent, so narrow as to be capable of admitting but one 

 person at a time. The brigands had been encountered during the 

 night and routed by a company of grenadiers of the 95th regiment, and 

 many had thrown away their muskets, to enable them the more quickly 

 to retreat. The troops were following them up, and were then close 

 upon their rear ; while the rangers commanded their position, and 

 from their greater elevation were enabled to keep up a deadly fire. 

 Escape for the wretches appeared hopeless ; when at the instant a 

 gigantic Carib approached the edge of the precipice, and holding 

 Belgrave's infant in his hand, exclaimed 



" If we are not allowed to descend this rock, I will dash the child 

 to pieces; one more shot," said he, holding the infant over the 

 terrible abyss, " and I'll keep my word." 



" My child !" exclaimed Belgrave in agony for he perceived the 

 grenadiers close on their rear, who might sign the fate of his infant 

 by firing. At this instant the report of a pistol-shot was heard, and 

 the Carib who held the child staggered back and fell ; but ere that had 

 well taken place, the faithful Mustapha (who was concealed in the 



