DEPARTURE OF THE CORSAIR. 49 



That same day Alloy was replaced in the command of 

 the fortress by the Irish Colonel of the Ultonian regi- 

 ment ; the corsair left for a fresh cruise, taking away 

 Pablo Blanco ; and I became once more the roving mer- 

 chant from Schwekat. 



From the windmill, where we underwent our quaran- 

 tine, I could see the tricoloured flag flying on the fortress 

 of Figueras. The reconnoitring parties of the cavalry 

 came sometimes within five or six hundred metres ; it 

 would not then have been difficult for me to escape. 

 However, as the regulations against those who violate 

 the sanitary laws are very rigorous in Spain, as they pro- 

 nounce the penalty of death against him who infringes 

 them, I only determined to make my escape on the eve 

 of our admission to pratique. 



The night being come I crept on all-fours along the 

 briars, and I should soon have got beyond the line of 

 sentinels who guarded us. A noisy uproar which I 

 heard among the Moors made me determine to reenter, 

 and I found these poor people in an unspeakable state of 

 uneasiness, thinking themselves lost if I left ; I therefore 

 remained. 



The next day a strong picquet of troops presented 

 itself before the mill. The manoeuvres made by it in- 

 spired all of us with anxiety, but especially Captain 

 Krog.* " What will they do with us ? '' he exclaimed. 

 " Alas ! you will see only too soon," replied the Spanish 

 officer. This answer made every one believe that they 

 were going to shoot us. What might have strengthened 

 me in this idea was the obstinacy with which Captain 

 Krog and two other individuals of small size hid them- 



* This appears to be an oversight, as in a preceding page M. Arago 

 described the fortunate release of Captain Krog from this captivity. 



3 



