

UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 173 



of a pimenta tree, which overhung the hut, to 

 revive me by its smell ; but it reminded me too 

 strongly of the dwelling at San Pedro, which I 

 had begun to love, and of my dear husband, 

 whom perhaps I should never see again. My 

 thoughts flew from that to my former home on 

 Ulleswater, and then still farther back, to the 

 home of my youth, and to those dear parents 

 whose over-affection for me had been their only 

 fault. Alas ! thought I, how will they feel, 



if . But this train of bitter reflections was 



suddenly interrupted by loud yells, which ap- 

 peared to be rapidly approaching, I was pre- 

 paring to meet my fate with resignation, when 

 my two poor negro hosts quickly placed me in 

 a corner of the hut, and, covering me over with 

 reeds and palm leaves, made a sign of silence. 

 An immense crowd surrounded the hut, and I 

 heard many loud and angry voices inside ; but it 

 was Nanina for whom they asked ; she was the 

 object of their pursuit; and full of revengeful 

 eagerness in their inquiries about her, they did 

 not observe the suspicious heap of reeds. 



They were not half an hour gone, when poor 

 Nanina arrived, looking quite worn down by 

 fatigue. She had gone to obtain intelligence, 

 and having heard of the insurgents' visit to the 

 hut, and fearing their return, she came to 

 remove me to a place of greater safety. How or 

 when we arrived there I can scarcely recollect ; 



Q 3 



