In The Dead Of Night The Centinels
On The Eastern Side Of The Cove Were Alarmed By The Voices Of The Indians,
Talking Near Their Posts.
The soldiers on this occasion acted with
their usual firmness, and without creating a disturbance, acquainted
the officer of
The guard with the circumstance, who immediately took
every precaution to prevent an attack, and at the same time gave orders
that no molestation, while they continued peaceable, should be offered them.
From the darkness of the night, and the distance they kept at, it was not easy
to ascertain their number, but from the sound of the voices and other
circumstances, it was calculated at near thirty. To their intentions
in honouring us with this visit (the only one we have had from them
in the last five months) we are strangers, though most probably it was either
with a view to pilfer, or to ascertain in what security we slept,
and the precautions we used in the night. When the bells of the ships
in the harbour struck the hour of the night, and the centinels called out
on their posts "All's well," they observed a dead silence, and continued it
for some minutes, though talking with the greatest earnestness and vociferation
but the moment before. After having remained a considerable time they departed
without interchanging a syllable with our people.
CHAPTER XVII.
Some Thoughts on the Advantages which may arise to the Mother Country
from forming the Colony.
The author of these sheets would subject himself to the charge of presumption,
were he to aim at developing the intentions of Government in forming
this settlement.
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