Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 02.djvu/179

Rh At times I congratulated myself on the happiness of consoling such a noble mind.

A west wind kept us a long time off the Scilly Islands. We were obliged to steer for New Eng- land. What inquiries we made on every coast! What time and toil were thrown away! At length, a northeast wind arising, we steered for Maryland. There, it was said, John and his companions had taken refuge.

The fugitives had sojourned on the coast more than a month, and had astonished the whole colony by indulgences in luxury and debauch, till then unknown in that part of the world. Then they disappeared, no one knew where.

We advanced into the bay, intending to go to Baltimore for fresh information.

On the way we found, to the right, a very handsome house. It was low, but convenient and neat, placed between a spacious barn and a large stable, the whole enclosed by a garden, well stocked with fruits of the country. It belonged to an old man, who invited us to alight at his retreat. He did not look like an Englishman; his accent showed us he was a foreigner. We anchored and went on shore. The old man welcomed us cordially, and