Taking up this position, he had a fairer aim at me, and levelled his musket, saying, "_Descendez, ou je tire_." Still I continued immoveable, for I knew not what to do.

I shut my eyes, however; the musket shortly afterwards was discharged, and, whether from fear or not I can hardly tell, I lost my hold of a sudden, and down I came.

I was stunned with the fall, and thought that I must have been wounded, and was very much surprised, when, instead of the gendarme, O'Brien came up to me, and asked whether I was hurt.

I answered, I believed not, and got upon my legs, when I found the gendarme lying on the ground, breathing heavily, but insensible.

When O'Brien perceived the gendarme level his musket at me, he immediately dropped from the bough, right upon his head; this occasioned the musket to go off, without hitting me, and at the same time, the weight of O'Brien's body from such a height killed the gendarme, for he expired before we left him.