came,” says he, “and whispered to me that they were all asleep. The
awful crisis was now arrived when I was again either to taste the
blessings of freedom, or languish out my days in captivity. A cold
sweat moistened my forehead as I thought of the dreadful alternative,
and reflected that one way or the other, my fate must be decided in
the course of the ensuing day. But to deliberate was to lose the only
chance of escaping. So taking up my bundle, I stepped gently over the
negroes who were sleeping in the open air; and, having mounted my
horse, I bade Johnson farewell, desiring him to take particular care of
the papers I had intrusted him with, and inform my friends in Gambia
that he had left me in good health on my way to Bambarra. I proceeded
with great caution, surveying each bush, and frequently listening and
looking behind me for the Moorish horsemen, until I was about a mile
from the town, when I was surprised to find myself in the neighbourhood
of a korree, belonging to the Moors. The shepherds followed me for
about a mile, hooting and throwing stones after me; and when I was out
of their reach, and had begun to indulge the pleasing hope of escaping,
I was again greatly alarmed to hear somebody halloo behind me; and
looking back I saw three Moors on horseback, coming after me at full
speed, whooping and brandishing their double-barrel guns: I knew it was
in vain to think of escaping, and therefore turned back and met them;
when two of them caught hold of my bridle, one on each side, and the
third, presenting his musket, told me I must go back to Ali.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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