SaiPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 327 
to others, and pretending- that the Moors, who walked up and 
down among their flocks, and cried from time to time, to keep 
away the ferocious beasts, had already given the signal for 
pursuing and murdering us. Instantly a general panic seized 
all our people, and they wished to set off forthwith. My fa- 
ther, although he knew well the perfidy of the inhabitants of 
the Desert, endeavored to assure them we had nothing to fear, 
because the Arabs were too much frightened by the people 
of Senegal, who would not fail to avenge us if we were in- 
sulted; but nothing could quiet their apprehensions, and we 
had to take the route during the middle of the night. The 
Moors being soon acquainted with our fears, made us all kinds 
of protestations ; and seeing we persisted in quitting the camp, 
offered us asses to carry us as far as the Senegal. These beasts 
of burden were hired at the rate of twelve francs a day, for 
each head, and we took our departure under the guidance of 
those Moors who had before conducted us to the camp. 
Amet's wife being unwell, he could not accompany us, but re- 
commended us strongly to our guides. My father was able to 
hire only two asses for the whole of our family ; and as it 
was numerous, my sister Caroline, my cousin, and myself, 
were obliged to crawl along, whilst my unfortunate father fol- 
lowed in the suite of the caravan, which in truth went much 
quicker than we did. 
A short distance from the camp, the brave and compassion- 
ate Captain Begnere, seeing we still walked, obliged us to ac- 
cept of the ass he had hired for himself, saying he would not 
ride when young ladies, exhausted with fatigue, followed on 
foot. The king afterward honorably recompensed this wor- 
thy officer, who ceased not to regard our unfortunate family 
with a care and attention I shall never forget. 
During the remainder of the night we traveled in a man- 
ner sufficiently agreeable, mounting alternately the ass of 
Captain Begnere. 
At five in the morning of the 11th of July we regained the 
sea-shore. Our asses, fatigued with the long journey among 
the sands, ran instantly and lay down among the breakers, in 
spite of our utmost exertions to prevent them. This caused 
several of us to take a bath we wished not: I was myself 
held under one of the asses in the water, and had great diffi- 
culty in saving one of my young brothers who was floating 
away. But, in the end, as this incident had no unfortunate is- 
sue, we laughed, and continued our route, some on foot, and 
some on the capricious asses. Toward ten o'clock, perceiv- 
