Page:Memoirs of Baron Hyde de Neuville; outlaw, exile, ambassador; (IA memoirsofbaronhy01hyde).pdf/129

Rh He had undertaken to provide us with two Indians as guides, under pretext of a voyage of two or three days up the river; but, at the last moment, they drew back. How could we replace them? There was not a sailor amongst us, We should be rushing to certain death. “Never mind,” exclaimed Pichegru, “better be devoured by sharks, than perish here; as for me, nothing shall change my resolution, though [ should have to escape by swimming.” Not one of those who had formed the project of fight, hesitated to link his fortune with that of Pichegru.

‘Our doubts were finally set at rest by an event which can only be attributed to the protection of Divine Providence. We had fixed the beginning of June for our departure. On the morning of the 1st, while shooting near the sea, we saw a privateer from Cayenne capture a large schooner, after a few cannon shot. The wind and currents were against the privateer, which was obliged to cast anchor at the mouth of the river, We thought no more of the incident, but, in the evening, We saw six strangers coming towards us. One of them advanced, and told us that he was the Captain of the schooner captured that morning, and that they had made him go on land with his crew until the wind changed; then he asked if he were not speaking to the French exiles, and which of us was Pichegru. He, at once, threw himself into Pichegru’s arms, and told him that he had come to this coast in order to carry him and his companions away; and that he had brought with him letters from our relations to prove his words, but they were hidden on board the captured schooner.

‘This generous man was an American, Well known at Bordeaux, Captain Tilly. We could not recover from our surprise and admiration; a foreigner daring to risk his fortune, his very life, to save us! ‘The Captain's disaster was a great benefit to us. It offered us the pilot we had been vainly seeking for two months. But we were terrified at the thought of the treatment �