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and could not ride. He treated this very lightly, and urged me with 

 great earnestness to mount at all events. Considering at this 

 moment that money was of little value in comparison with my life 

 and liberty, I offered to give him two ounces of gold if he would 

 perform a piece of service for me, which I would explain to him 



. through my room window at midnight. He still used every argu- 

 ment to persuade me immediately to set out, but finding that I per- 

 sisted in alledging my indisposition as an excuse, he at length 

 acceded to my proposal. Having reached my chamber, I wrote to 

 a magistrate in Monte Video, who, I knew, would, if he had sur- 

 vived the assault of the town, send an order for my liberation. 

 Having finished writing, the man appeared at the window according 

 to agreement ; I gave him the letter, charged him to convey it 

 to Monte Video, and presenting him with two ounces of gold, pro- 

 mised him another ounce if he should bring me an answer. He 

 departed unknown to any of our good family, and on the fifth day 



- following, in the forenoon, returned, to my inexpressible joy, with 

 a paper signed by Sr. Francisco Juanico, the magistrate to whom I 

 had written, stating that I was free, and ought immediately to pro- 

 ceed thither. On receiving this welcome intelligence I hastened to 

 Mr. Martinez, and joyfully embracing him, gave him the paper to 

 read ; after examining its contents, he observed, that it was nothing 

 official, but would avail me as a reasonable pretext for going away, 

 to which he cordially acquiesced. He immediately ordered three 

 Peons and a trusty old Creolian to accompany me, with twenty- 

 five horses, that we might perform the journey with greater expe- 

 dition. The best dinner was provided which the time would allow, 

 and while partaking of it I received the sincerest congratulations 

 on my liberation from my worthy host and his amiable lady. I 

 then took an affectionate leave of every branch of this good family^ 

 expressing my warm acknowledgments of the many obligations they 

 had conferred on me. Having joined my guides, we each mounted 

 a . horse, and, at three in the afternoon, set off at full speed, driving 



