LIFE IN THE GALLEYS 



85 



is another Hugueuot ou board this galley,' said I, 'who Preferring 

 is every way more worthy of the office than myself. He 

 is au old mau, broken down by labour, he is unable to 

 work at the oar, and even stripes can get but little service 

 from him. I am yet able to endure ; grant him this place, 

 and let me still continue at the oar. ' The captain seemed 

 doubtful whether he understood me. ' I know who he 

 means,' said the comite, 4t is old Bangillon.' 'Let him 

 be brought,' said the commander. Ban^illou was brought 

 forward, bowed down by age and labour, his venerable 

 head covered with white hair. The comite acknowl- 

 edged that, excepting inability of strength, he had no 

 faults, and was respected for his integrity by every one. 

 It is unnecessary to go into the details. He was ap- 

 pointed to the office, and the young Amadee returned to 

 the oar. ' How weak was my virtue ! ' he exclaims ; 

 ' though it enabled me to resign the office to this vener- 

 able minister (for such he was, once), it could not restrain 

 bitter emotions. I felt my face bedewed with scalding 

 tears of regret, as I once more commenced my hard 

 labour. But when, a short time after, I beheld the 

 venerable Ban^illon losing the emaciated and distressed 

 appearance he had worn, smiling benignantly on me, and 

 imploring for me the blessing of heaven, I no longer 

 murmured ; I was rewarded for my sacrifice.' " 



When Amadee had been a slave for seven years his Gaiiey in 

 galley, together with several others, engaged in a strug- 

 gle with an English frigate. After describing the first 

 part of the battle, he goes on to say : ' ' We have seen 

 how dexterously the frigate placed herself alongside of 

 us, by which we were exposed to the fire of her artillery, 

 charged with grape-shot. It happened that my seat, on 

 which there were five Frenchmen and one Turk, lay just 

 opposite one of the cannon, which was charged. The 

 two vessels lay so close, that, by raising my body in the 

 least, I could touch the cannon with my hand. A 

 neighbourhood so terrible filled us all with silent con- 



Battle 



