sians, no doubt, were
ashamed of being defeated in an attempt so perfidious.

I since have learnt that Frederic, no doubt by the false representations
of Reimer, was highly irritated, and what afterwards happened proves his
anger pursued me through every corner of the earth, till at last I fell
into his power at Dantzic, and suffered a martyrdom most unmerited and
unexampled.

The Prussian envoy, Goltz, indeed, made complaints to Count Bestuchef,
concerning this Dantzic skirmish, but received no satisfaction. My
conduct was justified in Russia, I having defended myself against
assassins, as a Russian captain ought.

Some dispassionate readers may blame me for not having avoided this
rencontre, and demanded personal satisfaction of Lieutenant N---. But I
have through life rather sought than avoided danger. My vanity and
revenge were both roused. I was everywhere persecuted by the Prussians,
and I was therefore determined to show that, far from fearing, I was able
to defend myself.

I hired the servant of the lieutenant, whom I found honest and faithful,
and whom I comfortably settled in marriage, at Vienna, in 1753. After my
ten years' imprisonment, I found him poor, and again took him into my
service, in which he died, at Zwerbach, in 1779.

CHAPTER X.

And now behold me at sea, on my voyage to Riga. I had eaten heartily
before I went on board; a storm came on; I worked half the night, to aid
the crew, but at length became sea-sick, and went to lie down. Scarcely
had I closed my eyes before the master came with the joyful tidings, as
he thought, that we were running for the port of Pillau. Far from
pleasing, this, to me, was dreadful intelligence. I ran on deck, saw the
harbour right before me, and a pilot coming off. The sea must now be
either kept in a storm, or I fall into the hands of the Prussians; for I
was known to the whole garrison of Pillau.

I desired the captain to tack about and keep the sea, but he would not
listen to me. Perceiving this, I flew to my cabin, snatched my pistols,
returned, seized the helm, and threatened the captain with instant death
if he did not obey. My Russians began to murmur; they were averse to
encountering the dangers of the storm, but luckily they were still more
averse to meet my anger, overawed, as they were, by my pistols, and my
two servants, who stood by me faithfully.

Half an hour after, the storm began to subside, and we fortunately
arrived th