14 



MADEIRA. 



to my torments. I conceived that they were 

 descending from the uncovered ceiling in my- 

 riads, upon their unhappy prey. Resistance 

 was vain — I could find no safety but in retreat. 

 I determined to seek refuge upon a sofa in the 

 drawing-room, and seizing one of the sheets, I 

 first shook it with all my might, to dislodge the 

 enemy, and then throwing it round me, fled 

 from the field of blood, groping my way as 

 softly as I could in the dark, to the drawing- 

 room. 



I had made sufficient noise, however, to 

 disturb a servant in an adjoining apartment. 

 Believing me to be a robber, he entered the 

 drawing-room immediately after me, armed 

 with a cudgel, a lighted candle, and accom- 

 panied by a huge dog. As the light was 

 thrown upon a bloody spectre in a white sheet, 

 his step was suddenly arrested, and he seemed 



