The Hurricane in St. Vincent. 77 
treaties, persuasions, and threats, I would in the depth 
of the night hear in the cellar beneath me the 
sound of the steel and flint striking a light ; and then 
the perfumes of the pipe ascending through the crevices 
of the floor, conveyed to me the certainty that my wishes 
had been disregarded. If they heard the least sound 
of footsteps approaching, all was at once hushed and 
still, the light immediately extinguished ; and when I 
declared my determination to make an example of 
those who persisted in striking a light where they were 
surrounded with planks, staves and shingles on every 
side, they stoutly and with the greatest sang froid denied 
that there ever had been one, though the place was at 
the same time filled with such a strong odour of tobacco, 
as left no doubt of the fa6l. On one occasion I per- 
ceived through the crevices of the door a glimmering 
light, I approached cautiously and listened, but all was 
still, I warily opened the door and looked around. 
Sable forms and dark features laid around me in deep 
slumber. In the distance was a glimmering taper, and 
extended at length by it was an old woman, now over- 
powered with sleep. As I approached I saw that the 
light proceeded from two wicks placed in the melted 
tallow at the bottom of the candlestick. They were 
burnt low, and only within two inches of some 
chips of wood and close to a heap of boards and 
planks. I was thunderstruck at the destruction that 
menaced us, but my presence of mind did not forsake me. 
I took the candlestick in one hand and placing the other 
before the light so that I might be able to retrace my 
steps without stumbling with it among so many in- 
flammable materials, I cautiously sought the door and 
