Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/102

 “But vain were our hopes. The city was recaptured by the former Pasha, and the unsuccessful party were flying in all directions. The following day, a large body of them came down to the beach abreast the ship, and begged of our watering party to protect them from the fury of their pursuers. This was of course refused: we had no right to interfere in their disputes; and I determined neither to involve his Majesty’s flag, nor to expose our operations to interruption or failure, through the resentment of a Pasha, whose government extends along so large a portion of the coast. Exhausted, however, as the fugitives were by fatigue, hunger, and wounds, I could not resist their importunity for a little bread, and for surgical assistance. But the refreshments that we sent were accompanied with advice, to escape while there was yet time, into the woods, where cavalry could not pursue them; and in that case, with an offer of sufficient bread to carry them out of the province. They replied, that to escape would be impossible; there were no roads open to their retreat; a price was set upon their heads; the want of success had now rendered all the inferior Aghas hostile; and that their religion taught them to rely upon God for their deliverance, or to submit without repining to their fate.

“Some hours after, a large sailing launch was seen drifting out to sea, without any person on board: our boats towed her alongside, and as the horse-patroles of the victorious party were already descending; into the plain, I proposed to these poor wretches to victual that vessel, to repur the oars and sails, and to embark there in her, ready for the land-breeze at night.

“This also they declined – none of them were seamen; they knew not how or where to steer; and if their hour was come, they preferred dying like men, with arms in their hands on shore, to being murdered by the cannon of the Pasha’s cruisers, by whom they must ultimately be overtaken.

“Things remained in this state till the next morning, when one of the Pasha’s armed ships was seen rounding the cape; and the party of cavalry, which had, till then, been checked by the appearance of our frigate, now crossed the river, and surrounding at some distance that part of the beach which was occupied by the fugitives, seemed only to wait the approach of the above vessel to close upon their victims. This was the crisis of their fate. That fate depended upon me. Cold and calculating prudence forbade ne to interfere; but, I could not stand by, and see them butchered in cold blood!

"My decision once made, there was not a moment to be lost. Our boats were despatched, and in a few minutes I had the satisfaction of rescuing sixty fellow-creatures from immediate slaughter .”

