was spoken on either aide, when Johnson began a slow conversation upon various subjects, that lasted ten minutes, during which time, the British officers stood within the hut to avoid detection, knowing that strong French night guards were constantly prowling along shore, particularly in the creeks and bays where a landing could be effected.
A pause now took place, and at the end of about a quarter of an hour. Captain Willoughby heard Johnson whisper something to the owner of the hut, who immediately got up, discovered his other visitors for the first time, and, followed by his wife and children, walked quietly to the boat without any interruption.
Captain Willoughby’s anxiety during the whole of this curious negociation was naturally very great, knowing as he did that a French guard could not be many hundred yards distant, and bearing in mind that Johnson, whose family and connections lived amongst the enemy, had neither deserted to the British, nor yet committed himself so far as to endanger his own life, should he betray the trust then reposed in him. From the time of their pulling in to land, until they were again seated in the yawl, Lieutenant-Colonel Keating and Captain Willoughby did not address a word to one another.
On the following day, in consequence of the information obtained from the black villager, a descent was made at St. Gilles; but after capturing the battery there without resistance, and storming a second in their advance upon St. Luce, the British commanders found that the latter town was crowded with regular troops and militia, and that, although it might possibly have been carried by assault, even complete success would not have justified them in attempting to do so, as they must have sacrificed many lives in order to obtain their object. Lieutenant-Colonel Keating and Captain Willoughby therefore reluctantly abandoned the attempt, and contented themselves with the destruction of the above mentioned batteries (containing four long 10-pounders and 9 twelves), a guard-house, and a new public building. We should here remark, that the battery taken by storm was first entered by Captain Willoughby, at the head of his gig’s crew.
