Such was the history of the treacherous Spanish attack which destroyed the settlement of the Marmousette. Our first care was to learn how the party we had met in with were armed, and great was our delight to find that the Indians carried two guns apiece, nearly all the muskets in the village having been brought into the woods. Besides there was abundance of ammunition. After a short consultation, it was determined to take the canoe, and although our number would somewhat overload her, to cross to the other side of the bay, where we had more security against being molested. Having therefore carefully looked to our pieces, we clambered down the bank, and standing by the canoe, unanimously invested Stout Jem with the command of the expedition. As the Indians used the paddles most dexterously, they were set to work to propel us, and with Stout Jem for steersman, we set out. On our way I began to experience a drowsiness, which I had before felt, but immediately checked. Now, however, the sensation, amounting indeed to one of impending stupor, began again to overpower me. My chin fell upon my chest, and I had little snatches of disturbed sleep, in which curious confused ideas, and odd combinations of words and things, seemed to float into my brain, and which, when I started up again, which I would do every minute, fled away like phantoms, so that I could not for my life remember what I had been dreaming of the moment before. All this time I was inwardly urged to speak, I seemed to have nothing to say, but still something forced my tongue and lips to move, and all at once I called out— ‘Is that a black corby on the thorn-bush near the boat’s grapnel?’ At this extraordinary speech, the Englishmen in the canoe turned sharp round to me, and Stout Jem asked what I meant. At his voice all the dreamy sensations left me, and I felt myself blushing up to the roots of my hair, and wondering what I had said, for I remembered not a word. ‘Here,’ said Stout Jem, kindly, ‘swallow this, my good boy;’ and he held me a great flask of spirits. ‘You have been breathing over-much marsh fog on an empty stomach, but you’ll live to pay off Jack Spaniard yet.’ I took the flask and held it to my head, when suddenly the greasy leathern bottle appeared to swell and lengthen, until it seemed a puncheon which I held. A curious nervous feeling came crawling over my limbs, and my breath grew thick, and my eyes dim. The first taste of the brandy banished these sensations, and the cordial marvellously restored me. ‘You must eat somewhat when we go ashore,’ said Nicky. ‘I am ravenous; and then we will consult on what we can do to take our revenge.’ ‘No, no; no eat,’ said Blue Peter, the Mosquito Indian; ‘sleep mosh, sleep good, smoke pipe, and sleep cool and long.’