never desert her. But some devil, in order
to spread the ashes of bitterness through the long path of my
after-life, suggested to me that now, as the frigate had sailed for some
time, there could be no danger in taking one last look at her; indeed,
the thought of doing so took the shape of a duty.

I stole out of bed, and crept softly round to the front of the house.
The place where the gallant ship had rode at anchor for so many weeks
was vacant--all was still and lonely. I walked on to a higher spot;
and, far distant among the sinuosities of the romantic entrance to the
harbour, my eye caught, for a moment, her receding pennant. I,
therefore, concluded that everything was safe--that I was cut off and
for ever, from my country.

A little qualm of remorse passed through my bosom, and then I was
exceeding glad. The morning was fresh, and the air invigorating, and I
determined to walk down to the beautiful minutely-sanded beach, and
enjoy the refreshment of the sea-breeze just sweeping gently over the
bay. To do this, I had to pass over a shoulder of land to my left. I
gained the beach, and stood upon it for some minutes with folded arms.
This particular walk had been so long debarred to me, that I now enjoyed
it the more. I was upon the point of turning round, and seeking the
nest where I had left my dove sleeping in conscious security, when, to
my horror, I beheld the _Eos'_ pinnace, full-manned and double-banked,
the wave foaming up her cutwater, and roaring under her sixteen oars,
rapidly round the rocky hummock that formed the eastern horn of the
little bay. Her prow soon tore up the sand; and the third-lieutenant, a
master's mate, and the officer of marines, with four privates, leaped
ashore immediately.

For a few moments I was paralysed with terror, and then, suddenly
springing forward, I ran at the top of my speed. I need not say that my
pursuers gave chase heartily. I had no other choice but to run on
straight before me; and that, unfortunately, was up a rocky, rugged side
of a steep hill, that rose directly from the beach, covered with that
abominable vegetable, or shrub, the prickly pear. I was in full view;
and, being hailed and told that I should be fired upon if I did not
bring to, in the space of a short three minutes, before I was out of
breath, I was in the hands of my captors--a prisoner.

I prayed--I knelt--I wept. It was useless. I have scarcely the courage
to write what then took pla