( H ) 



The danger being over, one of the company who 

 had frequently been on the point of Gripping, in 

 Order to betake himfelf to fwimming, took upon 

 him to cry out with all his force, but with a tone 

 which mowed there was ftill a palpitation at his 

 heart, that I had been in a great fright. Perhaps 

 he fpoke truer than he thought of; all this was, 

 however, nothing but guefs-work •, and efpe- 

 cially to ward off the reproaches they were begin- 

 ning to make me, and in order to perfuade others 

 there was no danger, I had always preferved a tole- 

 rable good countenance. We frequently meet with 

 thofe falfe bravos, who, to conceal their own ap- 

 prehenfions, endeavour to make a diverfion by ral- 

 lying thofe who have much better courage than 

 themfelves. In the mean time, Madam, were I to 

 believe in omens, here was fufficient to form a bad 

 augury of a voyage I was going to undertake for 

 above three thoufand leagues by fea, and to fail in 

 a canoe of bark on two of the greateft nvers in the 

 world, and on lakes almoft as large, and at lean; 

 full as tempeiUious as the Pontus Euxinus, or the 

 Cafpian fea. 



The Loire continued to be full as un tractable all 

 the reft of the day, fo we flept at Large ts \ our of- 

 ficers, who had their Lieutenant de Roy at their 

 head, were civil men enough, and extremely agree- 

 able company. They were, moreover, very religi- 

 ous, and they gave one proof of it, which was far 

 from being doubtful. There was a kind of adven- 

 turer that had joined them at Paris, who was half 

 wit, half petit Maltre ; as tar as Orleans he had 

 kept tolerably within bounds, but the moment we 

 were embarked, he began to break out a little, and 

 by degrees, came to talk on religious matters in a 

 Very libertine manner. I had the fatisfa&ion to fee 



that 



