38 LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 



about twenty miles up the river Demerara, at the house of a gentle- 

 man who knew how to pity those in distress, when a negro came 

 into the room, and informed us that a tent-boat with four oars was 

 approaching. I looked out of the window, and saw the officers of 

 justice in it. Not a moment was to be lost. I directed our outlaw 

 to go through the back-door into a field of standing canes. But so 

 great was his perturbation, that he jumped out of the window ; and, 

 in lieu of taking over a bridge close at hand, he ran through a filthy 

 trench, nearly up to the arm-pits in water. It was not more than 

 half-flood tide in the river ; and, on this account, the officers could 

 not land at the house without walking up a square log of wood 

 which had been placed on the mud, and formed part of the stelling, 

 or wharf, for the accommodation of those who land when the water 

 is low. On this log I took my stand, and disputed the passage with 

 the officers of justice. They could not pass without forcing me up 

 to the middle in mud, or making me retrace my steps up the log. 

 When I thought there had been time enough allowed for the fugitive 

 to make his escape, I returned to the house, they following close on 

 my steps, and entering into it immediately after me. Not having 

 succeeded in the object of their search, they returned to the boat, 

 muttering curses in Dutch as they re-crossed the threshold. 



" The next day a warrant arrived, ordering me to appear immediately 

 at Government House. Although I did not know the Governor 

 personally, I was pretty well acquainted with his character ; and I 

 was aware that there was only one way for me to act. So I resolved 

 at once to take him on his weak side, if so it might be called. On 

 my name being announced, he came into the hall. Whilst looking 

 at me full in the face, he exclaimed, in a voice too severe to last 

 long, * And so, sir, you have dared to thwart the law, and to put 

 my late proclamation at defiance ? ' * General,' said I, ' you have 

 judged rightly ; and I throw myself on your well-known generosity. 

 I had eaten the fugitive's bread of hospitality when fortune smiled 

 upon him ; and I could not find in my heart to refuse him help in 

 his hour of need. Pity to the unfortunate prevailed over obedience 

 to your edict ; and had General Carmichael himself stood in the 

 shoes of the deserted outlaw, I would have stepped forward in his 

 defence, and have dealt many a sturdy blow around me, before 



