SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 365 
After the tempest had eeased, we endeavored to mend our 
huts a little, but we could not effect it, and were obliged to 
remain all day under the wrecks of our cottage. Such, how- 
ever, was the manner in which we spent nearly all our days 
and nights. In reading this recital, the reader has but a feeble 
idea of the privations, the sufferings, and the evils, to which 
the unfortunate Picard family were exposed during their stay 
in the island of Safal. 
About this time my father was obliged to go to Senegal. 
During his absence, the children discovered that the negroes 
who remained with us had formed a scheme of deserting dur- 
ing the night. Caroline and myself were much embarrassed 
and undecided what course to pursue to prevent their escape ; 
at last, having well considered the matter, we thought, as 
Etienne would be in the plot, we had no other means of pre- 
venting their escape but by each of us arming ourselves with 
a pistol, and thus pass the night in watching them. We bound 
our canoe firmly with a chain, and seated ourselves, the better 
to observe their motions. About nine in the evening the two 
negroes came to the banks of the river, but having discovered 
us, they feigned to fish, really holding in their hands a small 
line ; but on coming nearer to them, I saw they had no hooks. 
I desired them to go to bed, and return on the morrow^ to fish. 
One of them came close to our canoe, and threw himself into 
it, thinking he could instantly put off; but when he found it 
chained, he left it quite ashamed, and went and lay down with 
his comrade. I set off to look for Etienne, whom we sus- 
pected to have been in the plot, and told him of the design of 
the two negroes, and prayed him to assist us in watching them 
during the night. He instantly rose, and taking my father's 
gun, bade us sleep in quiet, whilst he alone would be sufficient 
to overcome them ; however, they made no farther attempt 
that night, hoping, doubtless, to be more fortunate another 
time. Next day I wrote to my father to return to Safal be- 
fore night, for that we were on the eve of losing the remain- 
der of our negroes. He returned in the evening, resolving 
never again to quit our cottage. He interrogated the negroes 
concerning their design of desertion, and asked them what 
excuse they had to plead. " We are comfortable here," re- 
plied one of them, " but we are not in our native country : our 
parents and friends are far from us. We have been deprived 
of our liberty, and we have made, and will make still farther 
efforts for its recovery." He added, addressing himself to 
my father, " If thou, Picard, my master, wert arrested when 
31* 
