sembarked with the same ruthless brutality with which we had been
dragged to their ship. They landed us on a precipitous and rocky
shore, and leaving us a few rations, saluted us in derision with their
caps and bidding farewell to the noble patriots, as they called us.
Our anguish, at that moment, can hardly be conceived. We were outcasts
in a strange land; we were friendless and penniless, with a few
rations thrown to us as to dogs. The sun had now set, and we were in
an agony of despair.

"Our only hope rested in the mercy of a kind Providence, and with
hearts too full for utterance, we knelt down with one accord and
silently besought the Lord of Hosts to vouchsafe to us that pity and
protection which he gives to the most abject of his creatures. Never
was a more heartfelt prayer wafted to God's throne. When we arose,
hope, once more smiling to us, irradiated our souls and dispelled, as
if by magic, the gloom that had settled in our hearts. We felt that
none but noble causes lead to martyrdom, and we looked upon ourselves
as martyrs of a saintly cause, and with a clear conscience, we lay
down to sleep under the blue canopy of the heavens.

"The dawn of day found us scattered in groups, discussing the course
we were to pursue, and our hearts grew faint anew at the thought of
the unknown trials that awaited us.

"At that moment, we spied two horsemen approaching our camp. Our
hearts fluttered with emotion. The incident, simple as it was, proved
to be of great importance to us. We felt as if Providence had not
forsaken us, and that the two horsemen, heralds of peace and joy, were
his messengers of love in our sore trials.

"We were not mistaken, petiots. When the cavaliers alighted, they
addressed us in English, but in words so soft and kind, that the sound
of the hated language did not grate on our ears, and seemed as sweet
as that of our own tongue. They bowed gracefully to us, and introduced
themselves as Charles Smith and Henry Brent. 'We are informed,' said
they, 'that you are exiles, and that you have been cast penniless on
our shores. We have come to greet you, and to welcome you to the
hospitality of our roofs.' These kind words sank deep in our hearts.
'Good sirs,' answered Rene Leblanc, 'you behold a wretched people
bereft of their homes and whose only crime is their love for France
and their devotion to the Catholic faith,' and saying this, he raised
his hat, and every man of our party did the same. 'We th