Page:California Digital Library (IA recollectionsofe00abeliala).pdf/249
sign none must venture forth, unless they made up their minds to be taken prisoners, and confined for the night in the first guard house they came near. A consultation was held, and the most daring of the party declared the risk of returning home must be run; amongst the boldest of these was my father; and, being under his command, my mother and sister, with myself, and a large proportion of the guests, mounted their horses and set forward. The night was star-light, but the road so bad and unfrequented, that though for a long while the sentries placed about the heights were eluded, our way was lost. I shall never forget the scrambling and tumbling about, the horses feet tripping under them every moment, over loose stones. At length, my father hailed a light, which appeared at a short distance before us—a most unlucky circumstance. He was answered by a sentry presenting his musket, and demanding "Who goes there?" "A friend," says my father. "Advance,