Another piece of news filled us with joy; the two boats which had not stranded on the coast as we had done arrived at the Senegal, after having experienced the most stormy weather.  Without losing a moment the governor had dispatched the Argus, and taken every measure to assist the shipwrecked people, and to go to the Medusa.  Besides, he had sent by land camels loaden with provisions to meet us, lastly, the Moors were desired to respect us, and to render us assistance:  so much good news revived us, and gave us fresh courage.

I learned also that Mr. Schmalz and his family, those very ladies, whom I had seen expose themselves with so much composure to the fury of the waves, and who had made me shed the only tears which our misfortunes had drawn from me, were well and in safety.  I should have been sorry to die without having learned that they were preserved.

When the three barrels were thrown into the sea we followed them with our eyes; we feared lest the current, instead of bringing them to the coast, should carry them into the open sea.  At last we saw, clearly, that they approached us.  Our Negroes and Moors swam to them, and pushed them to the coast, where we secured them.

The great barrel was opened:  the biscuit and cheese were distributed.  We would not open those of wine and brandy.  We feared lest the Moors, at this sight, would not be able to refrain from falling upon the booty.  We continued our march, and about half a league farther on, made a delicious feast on the sea-shore.  Our strength being revived, we continued our route with more ardour.

Towards the close of the day, the aspect of the country began to change a little.  The downs were lower:  we perceived, at a distance, a sheet of water:  we thought, and this was no small satisfaction to us, that it was the Senegal which made an elbow in this place to run parallel to the sea.  From this elbow runs the little rivulet called Marigot des Maringouins; we left the sea-shore to pass it a little higher up.  We reached a spot where there was some verdure and water, and resolved to remain there till midnight.

We had scarcely reached this spot, when we saw an Englishman coming towards us with three or four Marabous, or priests; they had camels with them; they were doubtless sent by the English Governor of Senegal, to seek for the shipwrecked people.  One of the camels, laden with provisions, is immediately dispatched; those who conduct it are to go, if necessary, to Portendic, to fetch our companions in misfortune; or at least to get some information respecting them.

The English envoy had money to buy us provisions.  He informed us that we had still three days march to the Senegal.  We imagined that we were nearer to it; the most fatigued were terrified at this great distance.  We slept all together on the sand.  Nobody was suffered to go to a distance for fear of the lions, which were said to haunt this country.  This fear did not at all alarm me, nor hinder me from sleeping pretty well.