I had
already gained the beach, when in consequence of the waves breaking on
the shore, there was great difficulty in embarking. Fearing that Elise
might receive some harm should I attempt to hold her while getting into
the boat, I committed her to the charge of a seaman, an officer he
seemed of some sort, who told me he was going off with us. A
considerable number of other people were about to embark in the same
vessel, and were crowding down to the edge of the water, when there was
a cry that the dragoons were advancing towards us. I in vain attempted
to reach the boat. Other people were crowding in, and the seamen,
afraid that some accident would happen from her being overloaded, shoved
her off into deep water. In vain I entreated that Elise might be
restored to me, or that I might be taken on board.

"`The dragoons! the dragoons!' shouted the people all around me.

"`Come, madame, this is no place for you!' I heard a person say close
to me. He seized my arm, and almost dragged me along the beach. `I
know of a place near here where you can be concealed,' he said. `I will
conduct you to it; there is no time to lose.'

"Again I entreated him to look for Elise.

"`That will be useless,' he answered: `she is in God's hands, and He
will preserve her! You can do nothing now.'

"He forced me on; and I could not indeed help feeling the justice of his
remarks.

"Assisted on by him we reached some rocks, amid which he worked his way,
even though it was dark, showing that he was well acquainted with the
spot. After going on for some time longer, I found that we were in
front of a small cave.

"`Go in there,' he said, in a low voice. `It is large enough to contain
many people; and I have stored it with food for such an emergency as
this.'

"The stranger then told me that he was the Protestant pastor of the
neighbouring district, and that, though compelled to quit his church, he
still ministered in secret among his former flock, who supplied him with
food, and warned him of the approach of danger. He had devoted himself
to assisting those Protestants who, less fortunate than himself, came to
that part of the coast.

"`I am aware,' he said, `that at any moment I may be discovered; and yet
I feel that I am called to this work. God in His mercy has thought fit
to preserve me from the hands of my persecutors!'

"Supplied with food and other necessaries by this brave and good man, I
remained for several day