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me, whom they denounced as a spy, no punishment in their opinion 

 could be too ignominious. On the return of the soldier, the corporal 

 thought proper to release M. Godefroy, who took our boat to cross 

 the port to Monte Video with the intention of procuring an order 

 for our liberation; but they had scarcely sailed when a gust of wind 

 arose, and as he and the two boys he had with him could not 

 manage the sails, they were nearly overset, and after considerable 

 danger were, picked up by a ship in the road. Meanwhile Captain 

 Collet and I remained in strict custody, and at every syllable of 

 complaint we uttered, the corporal brandished his sabre over our 

 heads, roared out for the guard, and vociferated the most oppro- 

 brious language against the English. Thus threatened at every mo- 

 ment v/ith assassination, we withdrew into a corner of the room, and 

 quietly waited until the officer on guard arrived, when we were con- 

 ducted in great form, between two men with drawn swords, into the 

 room where he sat to receive us. Nothing could exceed my joyful 

 surprise at recognizing in the officer an excellent and worthy friend, 

 whom I had often visited at his chacara or farm, and who had 

 given me repeated proofs of his liberal disposition and intelligent 

 mind. His surprize exceeded mine ; for instead of plunderers or 

 spies, such as report had described us, he found an American mer- 

 chant and a prisoner at large under bail. He was deeply grieved 

 and ashamed at the treatment we had met with, liberated us im- 

 mediately, mounted us on his own horses, and appointed a trusty 

 person to attend us to Monte Video, where we arrived at eight in 

 the evening. The disappointment of the corporal appeared as deep 

 as his rage had been violent ; and the recollection of his conduct 

 operated on us as a warning against persons of his class, who rarely 

 see an opportunity of doing mischief to a stranger without a strong 

 inclination to avail themselves of it. 



During the time I was at large, I had leisure to acquire some 

 knowledge of Monte Video. It is a tolerably well-built town, 

 standing on a gentle elevation at the extremity of a small peninsula, 



