334 SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 
adventure, who were ignorant of what had detained me ; they 
reprimanded me as they ought, and 1 promised faithfully 
never to quit them again. 
At nine o'clock we met upon the shore a large flock herded 
by young Moors. These shepherds sold us milk, and one of 
them offered to lend my father an ass for a knife which he 
had seen him take from his pocket. My father having ac- 
cepted the proposal, the Moor left his companions to accom- 
pany us as far as the river Senegal, from which we were yet 
two good leagues. 
There happened a circumstance in th& forenoon which had, 
like to have proved troublesome, but it turned out pleasantly. 
The steersman of the Medusa was sleeping upon the sand, 
when a Moor found means to steal his sabre. The French- 
man awoke, and as soon as he saw the thief escaping with 
his booty, rose and pursued him with horrid oaths. The 
Arab, seeing himself followed by a furious European, return- 
ed, fell upon his knees, and laid at the feet of the steersman 
the sabre which he had stolen ; who, in his turn, touched with 
this mark of confidence or repentance, voluntarily gave it to 
him to keep. During this scene we frequently stopped tg 
see how it would terminate, whilst the caravan continued its 
route. Suddenly we left the shore. Our companions appear- 
ing quite transported with joy, some of us ran forward, and 
having gained a slight rising ground, discovered the Senegal 
at no great distance from them. We hastened our march, and 
for the first time since our shipwreck, a smiling picture pre- 
sented itself to our view. The trees always green, with 
which that noble river is shaded, the humming birds, the red 
birds, the paroquets, the promerops, &c. who flitted among 
the long yielding branches, caused in us emotions difficult 
to express. We could not satiate our eyes with gazing on 
the beauties of this place, verdure being so enchanting to the 
sight, especially after having traveled through the desert. 
Before reaching the river, we had to descend a little hill co- 
vered with thorny bushes. My ass stumbling, threw me into 
the midst of one, and I tore myself in several places : but was 
easily consoled, when I at length found myself on the banks 
of a river of fresh water. Every one having quenched his 
thirst, we stretched ourselves under the shade of a small 
grove, whilst the beneficent Mr. Garnet and two of our offi- 
cers set forward to Senegal, to announce our arrival, and to 
get us boats. In the meanwhile some took a little repose, 
and others were engaged in dressing the wounds with which 
they were covered. 
