86 



THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



Marvellous 

 Escape 



Death and 

 Darkness 



sternation. My companions lay flat on the seat and in 

 that posture endeavoured to avoid the coming blow. I 

 had presence of mind enough to perceive that the gun 

 was pointed in such a manner that those who lay flat 

 woiild receive its contents ; and I sat as upright as pos- 

 sible, but being chained, could not quit my station. In 

 this manner I awaited death, which I had scarce any 

 hope of escaping. My eyes were fixed upon the gunner, 

 who with his lighted match fired one piece after another. 

 He came nearer and nearer to the fatal one. I lifted my 

 heart to God in fervent prayers. Never had I felt such 

 assurances of divine mercy, whether life or death awaited 

 me. I looked steadily at the gunner as he applied the 

 lighted match. What followed I only knew by the 

 consequences. The explosion had stunned me ; I was 

 blown as far as my chain would permit. Here I re- 

 mained, I cannot say how long, lying across the body of 

 the lieutenant of the galley, who had been killed some 

 time before. At last, recovering my senses and finding 

 myself lying upon a dead body, I crept back to my seat. 

 It was night, and the darkness was such that I could see 

 neither the blood that was spilled, nor the carnage 

 around me. I imagined that their former fears still 

 operated upon my companions ; and that they lay on 

 their faces to avoid the no longer threatening danger. I 

 felt no pain from any wound and believed myself un- 

 injured. 



^' I remained in a tranquil state for some moments, and 

 even began to be amused with the motionless silence of 

 my fellow slaves, who, I supposed, were still lying as 

 they first threw themselves. Desirous to free them from 

 their terrors, I pushed the one next to me. ' Rise, my 

 boy,' said I, 'the danger is over.' I received no an- 

 swer. I spoke louder ; all was silence and Egyptian 

 darkness. 



"Isouf, a Turk, had often boasted that he never knew 

 what fear was. He was a remarkable fellow for his truth 



