ATTEMPT ON THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 277 
that, and be gone. If ever thou hast the impudence to appear 
in my hut again, I will shoot thee, to punish thy audacity." 
He retired, vowing that he would have his revenge on me for 
the manner in which I had treated him. Fearing that he 
would give way to the excess of his fury, I slept but little. 
Our hut was in the middle of woods; during the night I 
heard a noise made by some one trying to thrust a gun 
near my head, through the straw which formed the walls of 
my hut ; I awoke Boukari, who was fast asleep, and armed 
myself with my «un ; we threw open our door, and saw some 
men, who fled into the wood. Boukari seeing the danger we 
had just incurred, and that there was a design against my life, 
intreated me to quit this place as speedily as possible ; I would 
not then give him a positive answer, apprehensive lest, by his 
confiding my project to some indiscreet Negroes, we might 
run the risk of being stopped. The next day I contemplated 
my horrible situation with afli'ight ; alone with my guide in 
the midst of the woods, debilitated by sickness, far distant 
from any frequented road, in the hands of assassins, flight 
appeared impossible ; besides, the inhabitants of the village, 
certain that I should soon expire, sent their children round 
my hut, who threw stones at me, overthrew the water, or took 
away my provisions ; they carried their vexations one day to 
such a pitch, that I fired my gun amongst these wretches ; 
the shot did not take eftect, for my arms wanted strength to 
preserve the level. 
