Sleep alone, but the most distressing sleep possible, had nearly caused my destruction.  It was at two or three o’clock in the morning that it seized me, I slept as I walked.  As soon as they cried halt I let myself fall upon the sand and was plunged into the most profound lethergy.  Nothing gave me more pain than to hear at the expiration of a quarter of an hour “up, march.”

I was once so overcome that I heard nothing, I remained stretched upon the ground while the whole caravan passed by me.  It was already at a great distance when a straggler happily perceived me; he pushed me, and at last succeeded in awaking me.  But for him I should doubtless have slept several hours.  If I had awoke alone in the middle of the desert, either despair would have terminated my sufferings, or I should have been made a slave by the Moors, which I could not have borne.  To avoid this misfortune I begged one of my friends to watch over me, and to waken me at every stage, which be did.

On the 10th of July towards six o’clock in the morning, we were marching along the sea coast, when our guide gave us notice to be upon our guard and to take our arms.  I seized my knife; the whole party was collected.  The country was inhabited by a poor and plundering race of Moors, who would not have failed to attack those who had loitered behind.  The precaution was good, some Moors shewed themselves on the downs; their number encreased and soon exceeded ours.  To move them, we placed ourselves in a line holding our swords and sabres in the air.  Those who had no arms waved the scabbards, to make them believe that we were all armed with muskets.  They did not approach.  Our guides went halfway to meet them.  They left one man and retired:  the Moors did the same on their side.  The two deputies conversed together for some time, then each returned to his party.  The explanation was satisfactory, and the Moors soon came to us without the least distrust.

Their women brought us milk which they sold horribly dear; the rapacity of these Moors is astonishing, they insisted on having a share of the milk, which they had sold us.

Mean time we saw a sail advancing towards us:  we made all kinds of signals to be perceived by it, and we were convinced that they were answered.  Our joy was lively and well founded:  it was the Argus brig which came to our assistance.  She lowered her sails and hoisted out a boat.  When it was near the breakers a Moor threw himself into the sea, carrying a note which painted our distress.  The boat took the Moor on board and returned with the note to the captain.  Half an hour afterwards the boat returned laden with a large barrel, and two small ones.  When it reached the place where it had taken in the Moor, the latter threw himself into the sea again to bring back the answer.  It informed us that they were going to throw into the sea a barrel of biscuit and cheese, and two others containing brandy and wine.