e Corsicans, and imbued with
that feeling of cold-blooded and demoniacal ferocity which developed
itself during the Reign of Terror, rendering that period of French
history for ever infamous, were of course those from whom I had most to
fear. But the Corsicans, their naturally excitable temperament raised
to frenzy by the atrocities of the French, rendered suspicious by
frequent treachery, and impetuously rushing into a system of the most
hideous reprisals, were almost equally dangerous, their creed being that
he who was not with them must necessarily be against them; and their
proceedings with regard to suspected persons were rumoured to be of the
most summary character. Lastly, there were the brigands, composed
principally of the very dregs of Corsican society, a community made up
of all the criminality in the island, thieves, murderers, escaped
convicts, and outcasts of every description, utterly destitute of the
faintest spark of honour, patriotism, _or_ humanity, preying upon friend
and foe alike, and outstripping both in deeds of fiendish cruelty. As I
thought these matters over, it seemed to me that my only safety lay in
the most careful avoidance of every human eye, pursuing my journey
during the dead of night, and lying _perdu_ throughout the day.

A walk of two or three hundred yards along the main road brought me to
the "turning-off" on the right, which I was directed to follow in order
to gain the chateau. It appeared to be quite a by-road, so narrow that
there seemed scarcely room for two vehicles to pass, and it was in a
most wretched condition, the surface being ploughed into deep broad
ruts, and completely cut up by the feet of cattle.

It led apparently through the heart of an extensive forest, the trees of
which, uniting their branches overhead, must have veiled the way in
semi-obscurity even at noon-day. When I turned into it--at about two
o'clock a.m.--the starlit sky gave just sufficient light to enable me to
pursue my way along the main road; but by the time I had penetrated a
couple of hundred yards into this by-path, I was enveloped in a
perfectly Egyptian darkness. By degrees, however, my vision became
accustomed to the gloom, and I stumbled on over the uneven ground for a
distance of some twelve miles, when daylight began to appear through the
leafy canopy overhead, and prudence suggested to me the desirability of
forthwith seeking some safe hiding-place wherein to pass the day and
take