if to a
party to halt, I advanced, with my servant, towards them. They
were dressed in sailors' jackets and trowsers, and rose on my
approach, taking off their hats with much civility. On joining
them, I demanded to be informed whether they were not Englishmen,
and deserters from the fleet, stating that I was in search of two
persons very much answering their description. They assured me
that they were Americans, and no deserters, begging that I would
not take them away; a request to which, after some time, I
assented. They then conducted me into the house, where I found
an old man and three women, who entertained me with bread,
cheese, and new milk. While I was sitting here, a third youth,
in the dress of a labourer, entered, and whispered to one of the
sailors, who immediately rose to go out, but I commanded him to
sit still, declaring that I was not satisfied, and should
certainly arrest him if he attempted to escape. The man sat down
sulkily; and the young labourer coming forward, begged permission
to examine my gun. This was a request which I did not much
relish, and with which I, of course, refused to comply; telling
the fellow that it was loaded, and that I was unwilling to trust
it out of my own band, on account of a weakness in one of the
locks.

I had now kept up appearances as long as they could be kept up,
and therefore rose to withdraw; a measure to which I was
additionally induced by the appearance of two other countrymen at
the opposite end of the hamlet. I therefore told the sailors
that, if they would pledge themselves to remain quietly at home,
without joining the American army, I would not molest them;
warning them, at the same time, not to venture beyond the
village, lest they should fall into the hands of other parties,
who were also in search of deserters. The promise they gave, but
not with much alacrity, when I rose, and keeping my eye fixed
upon them, and my gun ready cocked in my hand, walked out,
followed by my servant. They conducted us to the door, and stood
staring after us till we got to the edge of the wood; when I
observed them moving towards their countrymen, who also gazed
upon us, without either advancing or flying. The reader will
readily believe, that as soon as we found ourselves concealed by
the trees, we lost no time in endeavouring to discover the direct
way towards the shipping; but plunging into the thickets, ran
with all speed, without thinking of aught except