Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/229

 Rh out to him that he would be very likely to bring upon himself the resentment of those in power, if he still persisted in refusing to assist a man who was so much and so deservedly esteemed by the Lord Lieutenant and the Council. She succeeded no better than before, and seeing the vessel under sail, she determined to follow by land, and keep it in sight as long as she could. The weather was clear, calm and mild. The Captain proceeded to the Island of Durzey, and found my wife waiting upon the promontory for the vessel to get opposite to it. She made a signal with her apron tied to the end of a stick, and a boat was dispatched to hear what she had to say. She had taken the precaution of borrowing a speaking-trumpet, and thus she was able to carry on conversation, from the cliff on which she stood, with those who were in the boat below.

After a great deal of bargaining, and many difficulties being raised and smoothed away, she at last persuaded them to agree to my restoration to liberty upon the payment of £100 sterling. During this discussion I was stretched on my pallet between decks, and I was in total ignorance of what was going forward.

My wife went away to borrow the money, and the Privateer waited off the Island of Durzey expecting her to return with it. She was unable to procure more than £30, the greater part of which was from Mr. Boyd, to whom I had paid it for rent only five days before we were attacked. Unable to raise more, she came back to the vessel with that sum, accompanied by our son Peter, several of our tenants, and our friend Mr. Hutchins of Bear Haven.

The Captain agreed to give me up on condition of his having the £30 she had brought with her, and retaining one