Page:Life and unparalleled voyages and adventures of Ambrose Gwinnett (1).pdf/4

 Anne’s ships lying in the harbour, the English being then at war with the French and Spaniards; besides whieh, I found this was the day for holding the half-yearly fair, so that the town was filled to sueh a degree, that a bed was not to be had for love or money. I went seeking a lodging from house to house to no purpose, till, being quite spent, I returned to the public-house where I had first made inquiry, desiring leave to sit by, their kitchen-fire, to rest myself until morning.

The publican and his wife where I put up happened, unfortunately for me, to be acquainted with my brother and sister; and finding, by my diseourse, that I was a relation of theirs, and going to visit them, the landlady presently said she would endeavour to get me a bed, and, going out of the kitchen, she shortly after called me into a parlour that led from it. Here I saw, sitting by the fireside, a middle-aged man, in a night-gown and eap, reekoning money at a table. "Unele," said the woman, as soon as I entered, "this is a brother of our friend, Mrs Sawyer; he eannot get a bed anywhere, and is tired after his journey; you are the only one that lies in this house alone, will you give him a part of yours?" To this the man answered, that she knew he had been out of order, that he was bled that day, eonsequently, a bedfellow eould not be very agreeable. However, said he, rather than the young man should sit up, he is weleome to sleep with me. After this, we sat a while together; when, having put his money, in a canvass bag, into the pocket of his night-gown, he took the eandle, and I followed him to bed.

How long I slept I cannot exaetly determine, but I eonjectured it was about three o’eloek in the morning, when I awakened with the colie, attended with the most violent gripes. I attributed this to some baeon and ebbage I had eaten the former day for dinner, after whieh I had drunk a large draught of milk. I found my ehum awake as well as myself. He asked