Page:Life, strange voyages, and uncommon adventures of Ambrose Gwinett.pdf/5

Rh I called several times, but receiving no answer, took it for granted he had withdrawn into some adjoining closet for his private occasions. I there fore went to bed and again fell asleep.

About six o'clock I arose, no body yet being up in the house. The gentleman was not yet returned to bed, or if he was, had again left it. I drest myself with what haste I could, being impatient to see my sister; and the reckoning being paid over night, I let myself out at the street door.

I will not trouble you with a relation of the kindness with which my sister and her husband received me. We breakfasted together and I believe it might be about eleven o'clock in the fore-noon, when standing at the door, my brother-in-law being by my side, we saw three horsemen galloping towards us. Soon as they came up, they stopt, and one of them lighting, suddenly seized me by the collar said, "You are the king’s prisoner." I desired to know my crime. He said I should know that as soon as I came to Deal, where I must immediately go with them. One of them told my brother, that the night before I had committed a murder and robbery.

Resistance would have proved as vain as my tears and protestations of my innocence: in a word, a warrant was produced, and I was carried back to Deal, attended by three men; my brother, with another friend, accompanying us, who knew not what to say, or how to comfort me.

Being arrived in town, I was immediately hurried to the house where I had slept the preceding night, the master of which was one of the three men that came to apprehend me, though in my first hurry I did net recollect him. We were met at the door by a crowd of people, every one crying, "Which is he? Which is he?" As soon as