172 TRAVELS IN THE 
protested, he would rather forfeit his wages, than go any far- 
ther. He told me that Daman had agreed to give him half the 
price of a slave for his service, to assist in conducting a coffle 
Of slaves to Gambia, and that he was determined to embrace 
the opportunity of returning to his wife and family. 
Having no hopes therefore of persuading him to accompany 
me I resolved to proceed by myself. About midnight I got 
my clothes in readiness, which consisted of two shirts, two pair 
of trowsers, two pocket-handkerchiefs, an upper and under 
waistcoat, a hat, and a pair of half boots ; these, with a cloak, 
constituted my whole wardrobe. And I had not one single bead, 
nor any other article of value in my possession, to purchase vic- 
tuals for myself, or corn for my horse. 
About daybreak, Johnson, who had been listening to the 
Moors all night, came and whispered to me that they were 
asleep. The awful crisis was now arrived, when I was again 
either to taste the blessing of freedom, or languish out my days 
in captivity. A cold sweat moistened my forehead, as I thought 
on the dreadful alternative, and reflected, that, one way or the 
other, my fate must be decided in the course of the ensuing 
day. But to deliberate, was to lose the only chance of escaping. 
So taking up my bundle, I stepped gently over the Negroes, 
who were sleeping in the open air, and having mounted my 
horse, I bade Johnson farewell, desiring him to take particular 
care of the papers I had entrusted him with, and inform my 
friends in Gambia that he had left me in good health, on my 
way to Bambarra. 
I proceeded with great caution ; surveying each bush, and 
