her off into deep water. In vain I entreated that Elise might be restored to me, or that I might be taken on board. "`The dragoons! the dragoons!' shouted the people all around me. "`Come, madame, this is no place for you!' I heard a person say close to me. He seized my arm, and almost dragged me along the beach. `I know of a place near here where you can be concealed,' he said. `I will conduct you to it; there is no time to lose.' "Again I entreated him to look for Elise. "`That will be useless,' he answered: `she is in God's hands, and He will preserve her! You can do nothing now.' "He forced me on; and I could not indeed help feeling the justice of his remarks. "Assisted on by him we reached some rocks, amid which he worked his way, even though it was dark, showing that he was well acquainted with the spot. After going on for some time longer, I found that we were in front of a small cave. "`Go in there,' he said, in a low voice. `It is large enough to contain many people; and I have stored it with food for such an emergency as this.' "The stranger then told me that he was the Protestant pastor of the neighbouring district, and that, though compelled to quit his church, he still ministered in secret among his former flock, who supplied him with food, and warned him of the approach of danger. He had devoted himself to assisting those Protestants who, less fortunate than himself, came to that part of the coast. "`I am aware,' he said, `that at any moment I may be discovered; and yet I feel that I am called to this work. God in His mercy has thought fit to preserve me from the hands of my persecutors!' "Supplied with food and other necessaries by this brave and good man, I remained for several days in the cave. He had a sad account to give me of the fate of most of the fugitives who had been unable to get on board the vessel. Some were cruelly sabred by the dragoons, even though crying for quarter. Others--men, women (young and old), and children-- were lifted up on their horses, and carried off at full speed to the neighbouring town, where they were thrown into the dungeons already crowded with prisoners.