I had sincerely hoped to prove of service when I usurped the slave's place in the boat; instead, I am an encumbrance, a weakling whom you must protect at the risk of your own lives.

Fortunately it is not yet too late to leave you free; it cannot be many miles back to New Orleans, and the current would bear me swiftly downward.

I have loyal friends in the town to hide the daughter of Lafreniere, should the Spaniards wage war against a woman, and surely some means would open whereby I might make the shores of France.

Perhaps I should be there in advance of you.

What say you, Messieurs, to such proposal?
Would it not be best ?" The indignant feeling which swept me as I listened to this speech hardly needs dwelling upon.