The
neighbourhood of these rice swamps is generally extremely unhealthy. At
length we got on board the Firebrand, drenched to the skin, to a late
dinner, after which it was determined by Captain Transom--of which
intention, by the by, with all his familiarity, I had not the smallest
previous notice--that I should cross the island to Jacmel, in order to
communicate with the merchant--ships loading there; and by the time I
returned, it was supposed the Firebrand would be ready for sea, when I
was to be detached in the Wave, to whip in the craft at the different
out ports, after which we were all to sail in a fleet to Port Royal.
"I say, skipper," quoth Mr Bang, "I have a great mind to ride with Tom
what say you?"
"Why, Aaron, you are using me ill; that shaver is seducing you
altogether; but come, you won't be a week away, and if you want to go, I
see no objection."
It was fixed accordingly, and on the morrow Mr Bang and I completed our
arrangements, hired horses, and a guide, and all being in order, clothes
packed, and every thing else made ready for the cruise, we rode out
along with Mr S----(we were to dine and sleep at his house) to view the
fortifications on the hill above the town, the site of Christophe's
operations when he besieged the place; and pretty hot work they must
have had of it, for in two different places the trenches of the
besiegers had been pushed on to the very crest of the glacis, and in one
the counterscarp had been fairly blown into the ditch, disclosing the
gallery of the mine behind, as if it had been a cave, the crest of the
glacis having remained entire.
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