76 TlMEHRI. 
worked hard, cheered on by the buckras ; and poor 
CARMICHAEL who himself went about almost demented 
came to me again and again to thank me for the efforts 
I was making on his behalf. In about an hour we had so 
narrowed our square, or rather circle, which form it now 
assumed, that it became a little mound beneath which the 
embers were buried. No signs of fire remained, though as 
a precautionary measure, it was deemed advisable to ap- 
point two watchmen for the night. After some refresh- 
ment we remounted our horses, well pleased at what we 
had effected in so short a time. A night or two after, 
another fire broke out on a different estate, but as it was 
only a cottage it began to subside before my horse could 
be saddled. These repeated alarms made me use every 
precaution at home. Whenever I awoke in the night, I 
started up, threw my dressing gown around me, and 
assuming my large straw hat, with a stick or cutlass in 
hand, (to seize or frighten any depredators I might dis- 
cover) I took my solitary rounds. Imagine to yourself a 
tall figure, with a loose robe, broad hat and glittering 
cutlass proceeding by moonlight, clambering over broken 
materials, traversing at one time the long line of sugar 
works, at another ascending the hill, pacing amidst the 
ruins of my own mansion, or with folded arms standing 
on the platform round which my gallery ran, whilst all 
beneath were reposing in silence, the rays of the moon 
falling on the ruined buildings and the incongruous 
masses of trees, stones, thatch and wood which seemed 
to defy the efforts of men to restore them to order in any 
reasonable period. These were my regular rounds 
every night, once or twice, to ascertain that all 
was safe. Yet sometimes in spite of all my en- 
