EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



next neighbour ; but this concefTion had no other efFe6t 

 than to increafe the wrath of my fierce adverfary, who, 

 apparently niiftaking it for pufillanimity, became over- 

 bearing and fcurrilous, in which he was feconded by all 

 the other Swifs and Germans without exception. I faid 

 no more, and having tore away a wing of a boiled bird 

 called powefe, that flood before me (which bird had 

 been (liot by one of the rangers) I devoured it with little 

 ceremony, and left the table, with a determination to 

 fupport my character or die. Thus refolved, I firft 

 went to the hut of a fick foldier, whofe fabre I borrowed 

 (my own being broken) on pretence of going out to cut a 

 few fticks ; after this I went in queft of Mr. Meyland, 

 and found him contentedly fmoking his pipe by the wa- 

 ter-fide, looking at one of his friends who was angling. 

 Having tapped him on the flioulder, I haft:ily told him, be- 

 fore the other, that now if he did not fight me that inftant 

 like a gentleman, I was determined to take revenge ano- 

 ther way, with the flat of my fabre, where he flood. He 

 at firft declared that he had only meant a joke, and Teem- 

 ed for peace ; but perceiving that I perfifted, he with 

 great Jcmg froid knocked the tobacco- aflies from his 

 pipe againfl the heel of his Ihoe; then having brought 

 his fabre, we walked together without feconds about half 

 a mile into the wood : here I flopt the captain fliortj^ 

 and drawing my weapon, now defired him to ftand on 

 his defence ; this he did, but at the fame time obferv- 

 ed, that as the point of his fword was broken off", we 

 v/ere unequally armed ; and lb indeed we were, his being 

 Vol. I. H h 3 flill 



