453 



holfter, with whom we had been gnefts for the 

 night, 



The party formed a motley group, con- 

 filling of Dutch planters, Britifh officers, and 

 naked Africans marching acrofs an immenfe 

 wafte furrounded with wild woods, under a 

 fcorching and vertical fun, with M. Fenner 

 our friendly condu&or, feated upon a prancing 

 mule, leading the way as commander at the head 

 of the fqnadron. His grotefque figure and 

 appearance would have highly diverted you ; 

 for, worthy man, he was not barely a Hollan- 

 der on horfeback — but a gros culottes dreffed in 

 a white coat and broad brimmed hat, capering 

 upon a little fiender mule, and in danger of fal- 

 ling off at every ftep : indeed it was evident to 

 the whole corps, that if they fhould venture to 

 move quicker than the Dutch pas grave^ their 

 leader would foon fall in the rear : — nor had 

 we gone far before the predi&ion was verified ; 

 and our decanted conductor took a foft feat 

 - on the parterre ; leaving Mademoifelle mulet 

 to kick her heels in air acrofs the wide favan- 

 na. Finding that our chief had fallen without 

 being wounded, the whole troop was quickly 

 engaged in a chafe acrofs the wide plain, toover- 

 GG3 



0 



