90 
SHIPWRECK OF THE 
which he had thrust with force into a cleft of the rock. The 
sea broke several times over him, and even threw him upon a 
dry rock, where he had only a small arm of the sea to cross, 
in order to arrive at the shore. To assist him in reaching it, 
he endeavored to seize a plank from the wreck, that was near 
him, but failed. At length, by means of an oar, he gained a 
rock communicating with the mainland. 
He was seized and stripped by the Moors on the shore, who 
cut off all his clothes, even to his shirt, and otherwise ill treat- 
ed him. While some were thus engaged, others in great 
numbers threw themselves into the sea, in expectation of a 
rich booty. The steward, who held Mademoiselle de Bourk 
in his arms, made a sign to two of these barbarians, who ap- 
proached him, and when they Avere within four paces, he 
threw her to them with all his might ; they caught her, and 
laying hold of her, one by an arm and the other by a leg, 
they conveyed her to the shore, where they took away only 
one of her shoes and stockings as a token of servitude. The 
steward, who confirmed ail the circumstances of this fatal 
event, has repeatedly declared, that while he held her in his 
arms, upon the approach of the barbarians, she said to him, 
with an air superior to her years, " I am not afraid that those 
people will kill me, but I am apprehensive that they will at- 
tempt to make me change my religion ; however, I will rather 
suffer death than break my prom-ise to my God." He con- 
firmed her in this generous sentiment, declaring that he had 
taken the same resolution, in which she earnestly exlioilexi 
him to persevere. 
The maid servant and the footman then threw themselves 
into the water, where they were received by the Moors, who 
assisted them in crossing the aim of the sea, and conducted 
them to the shore, where they stripped them quite naked. 
The steward having committed himself to the mercy of the 
waves, and making use of a cord to assist him in getting from 
rock to rock, was met by a Moor, who likewise stripped him 
before he arrived at the shore. 
In this deplorable and humiliating state they were at first 
conducted to some huts on the nearest mountain. They v/ere 
hurried forward by blows, along rugged roads, which tore 
their feet. The servant maid, in particular, was to be pitied, 
the poor girl being almost covered with blood from the wounds 
she had received in scrambling over the rocks. Each of 
them had beside a burthen of wet clothes, and they were 
obliged to carry the young lady by turns. Having arrived, 
