And I Had Not One Single Bead, Nor Any Other Article Of
Value In My Possession, To Purchase Victuals For Myself Or Corn For
My Horse.
About daybreak, Johnson, who had been listening to the Moors all
night, came and whispered to me that they were asleep.
The awful
crisis was now arrived when I was again either to taste the blessing
of freedom or languish out my days in captivity. A cold sweat
moistened my forehead as I thought on the dreadful alternative, and
reflected that, one way or another, my fate must be decided in the
course of the ensuing day. But to deliberate was to lose the only
chance of escaping. So, taking up my bundle, I stepped gently over
the negroes, who were sleeping in the open air, and having mounted
my horse, I bade Johnson farewell, desiring him to take particular
care of the papers I had entrusted him with, and inform my friends
in Gambia that he had left me in good health, on my way to Bambarra.
I proceeded with great caution, surveying each bush, and frequently
listening and looking behind me for the Moorish horsemen, until I
was about a mile from the town, when I was surprised to find myself
in the neighbourhood of a korree belonging to the Moors. The
shepherds followed me for about a mile, hooting and throwing stones
after me; and when I was out of their reach, and had begun to
indulge the pleasing hopes of escaping, I was again greatly alarmed
to hear somebody holloa behind me, and looking back, I saw three
Moors on horseback, coming after me at full speed, whooping and
brandishing their double-barrelled guns.
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