CHAPTER NINE CONTAINING INCIDENTS VERY SURPRIZING.
The captain declared he would, without delay, proceed to the townbefore him; in which resolution he was seconded by all the crew;but when I could not be persuaded, nor was I able to travel anyfarther before I had rested myself, my old friend protested hewould not leave me, but would stay behind as my guard; and, when Ihad refreshed myself with a little repose, he would attend me tothe town, which the captain promised he would not leave before hehad seen us.
"They were no sooner departed than (having first thanked myprotector for his care of me) I resigned myself to sleep, whichimmediately closed my eyelids, and would probably have detained mevery long in his gentle dominions, had I not been awaked with asqueeze by the hand by my guard, which I at first thought intendedto alarm me with the danger of some wild beast; but I soonperceived it arose from a softer motive, and that a gentle swainwas the only wild beast I had to apprehend. He began now todisclose his passion in the strongest manner imaginable, indeedwith a warmth rather beyond that of both my former lovers, but asyet without any attempt of absolute force. On my sideremonstrances were made in more bitter exclamations and revilingsthan I had used to any, that villain Wild excepted. I told him hewas the basest and most treacherous wretch alive; that his havingcloaked his iniquitous designs under the appearance of virtue andfriendship added an ineffable degree of horror to them; that Idetested him of all mankind the most, and could I be brought toyield to prostitution, he should be the last to enjoy the ruins ofmy honour. He suffered himself not to be provoked by thislanguage, but only changed his manner of solicitation fromflattery to bribery. He unript the lining of his waistcoat, andpulled forth several jewels; these, he said, he had preserved frominfinite danger to the happiest purpose, if I could be won bythem. I rejected them often with the utmost indignation, till atlast, casting my eye, rather by accident than design, on a diamondnecklace, a thought, like lightning, shot through my mind, and, inan instant, I remembered that this was the very necklace you hadsold the cursed count, the cause of all our misfortunes. Theconfusion of ideas into which this surprize hurried me preventedmy reflecting on the villain who then stood before me; but thefirst recollection presently told me it could be no other than thecount himself, the wicked tool of Wild's barbarity. Good heavens!what was then my condition! How shall I describe the tumult ofpassions which then laboured in my breast? However, as I washappily unknown to him, the least suspicion on his side wasaltogether impossible. He imputed, therefore, the eagerness withwhich I gazed on the jewels to a very wrong cause, and endeavouredto put as much additional softness into his countenance as he wasable. My fears were a little quieted, and I was resolved to bevery liberal of promises, and hoped so thoroughly to persuade himof my venality that he might, without any doubt, be drawn in towait the captain and crew's return, who would, I was very certain,not only preserve me from his violence, but secure the restorationof what you had been so cruelly robbed of. But, alas! I wasmistaken." Mrs. Heartfree, again perceiving symptoms of the utmostdisquietude in her husband's countenance, cryed out, "My dear,don't you apprehend any harm.--But, to deliver you as soon aspossible from your anxiety--when he perceived I declined thewarmth of his addresses he begged me to consider; he changed atonce his voice and features, and, in a very different tone fromwhat he had hitherto affected, he swore I should not deceive himas I had the captain; that fortune had kindly thrown anopportunity in his way which he was resolved not foolishly tolose; and concluded with a violent oath that he was determined toenjoy me that moment, and therefore I knew the consequence ofresistance. He then caught me in his arms, and began such rudeattempts, that I skreamed out with all the force I could, though Ihad so little hopes of being rescued, when there suddenly rushedforth from a thicket a creature which, at his first appearance,and in the hurry of spirits I then was, I did not take for a man;but, indeed, had he been the fiercest of wild beasts, I shouldhave rejoiced at his devouring us both. I scarce perceived he hada musket in his hand before he struck my ravisher such a blow withit that he felled him at my feet. He then advanced with a gentleair towards me, and told me in French he was extremely glad he hadbeen luckily present to my assistance. He was naked, except hismiddle and his feet, if I can call a body so which was coveredwith hair almost equal to any beast whatever. Indeed, hisappearance was so horrid in my eyes, that the friendship he hadshewn me, as well as his courteous behaviour, could not entirelyremove the dread I had conceived from his figure. I believe he sawthis very visibly; for he begged me not to be frightened, since,whatever accident had brought me thither, I should have reason tothank heaven for meeting him, at whose hands I might assure myselfof the utmost civility and protection. In the midst of all thisconsternation, I had spirits enough to take up the casket ofjewels which the villain, in falling, had dropped out of hishands, and conveyed it into my pocket. My deliverer, telling methat I seemed extremely weak and faint, desired me to refreshmyself at his little hut, which, he said, was hard by. If hisdemeanour had been less kind and obliging, my desperate situationmust have lent me confidence; for sure the alternative could notbe doubtful, whether I should rather trust this man, who,notwithstanding his savage outside, expressed so much devotion toserve me, which at least I was not certain of the falsehood of, orshould abide with one whom I so perfectly well knew to be anaccomplished villain. I therefore committed myself to hisguidance, though with tears in my eyes, and begged him to havecompassion on my innocence, which was absolutely in his power. Hesaid, the treatment he had been witness of, which he supposed wasfrom one who had broken his trust towards me, sufficientlyjustified my suspicion; but begged me to dry my eyes, and he wouldsoon convince me that I was with a man of different sentiments.The kind accents which accompanied these words gave me somecomfort, which was assisted by the repossession of our jewels byan accident so strongly savouring of the disposition of Providencein my favour.