The novels of Charles Brockden Brown, consisting of Wieland;or, The transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The secret witness. Clara Howard; or, The enthusiasm of love. With a memoir of the author.

226 JANE TALBOT.
was thwarted both by compassion and by policy, and it
was resolved to set my brother ashore on the first inhospitable land they should meet, and retain Montford to
assist them in the navigation of the vessel, designing
to destroy him when his services should no longer be
necessary.
This scheme was executed as soon as they came in
sight of an outlying isle or dry sand-bank on the eastern
coast of Japan. Here they seized the two unsuspecting
youths, at daybreak, while asleep in their berths, and,
immediately putting out their boat, landed my brother
on the shore, without clothing or provisions of any kind.
Montford petitioned to share the fate of his friend, but
they would not listen to it.
Six days afterwards, they lighted on a Spanish ship
bound to Manilla, which was in want of water. A party
of the Spaniards came on board in search of some supply
of that necessary article.
On their coming, Montford was driven below and disabled from giving, by his cries, any alarm. The sentinel
who guarded him had received orders to keep him in that
situation till the visitants had departed. From some
impulse of humanity, or mistake of orders, the sentinel
freed him from restraint a few minutes earlier than had
been intended, and he got on deck before the departing
strangers had gone to any considerable distance from the
ship. He immediately leaped into the sea and made for
the boat, to which, being a very vigorous swimmer, he
arrived in safety.
The mutineers, finding their victim had escaped, endeavoured to make the best of their way, but were soon overtaken by the Spanish vessel, to whose officers Montford
made haste to explain the true state of affairs. They
were carried to Manilla, where Montford sold his vessel
and cargo on very advantageous terms. From thence,
after many delays, he got to Batavia, and from thence
returned home.
I have thus given you, my friend, an imperfect account
of their misfortunes. I need not add that no tidings has
been received, or can reasonably be hoped ever to be received, of my brother.