HLI Chronicle 1914 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

130 HIGHLAND LIGHT INFAN'l'RY CHRONICLE.carried me along with them to their hospitablehome, for so it proved to me.. They had nofamily, and were both very delicate, and, sofar as I could learn, had few relations. Theirwhole establishment consisted of three slaves(one man and two women), who were verykindly treated. I had now changed from aprison to a con.tfortable home; but beforebeing permitted to sit at table it becamenecessary to instruct me in the principles ofChristianity. Accordingly a Padre (their confessor)attended the house daily for some time.He commenced with telling me that theEnglish were fine-looking people, good sol·diers and seamen, but withal they were anation of heretics and enemies of Christianity.He then pointed out the beauties of the RomanCatholic religion, and, after enumerating ahost of saints, concluded by telling me thatnone would be eternally saved but RomanCatholics. I was then instructed to say theLord's Prayer, creed, "Ave Maria," and alsoto make the sign of the Cross. I thought therewas no harm in learning the Lord's Prayerand creed in the Spanish language. AfterI had learned these different articles, whichI soon did, I was declared fit to be baptisedand enrolled among Spanish Christians. Ihad by this time by study and practicelearned a considerable part of their language.I was now to be baptised, take the oath ofallegiance, become a Catholic and a subjectof Spain. I told them I had taken the oathof allegiance to the King of Great Britain,that I was bound to maintain his laws, andnothing would induce me to betray my country.They told me that to destroy the principlesof Protestants was to build up the true Churchand serve God. I told them that the peopleof England had liberty to think and chooseany principle of religion they may think best,and that there were many principles of religionin England, and that all expected to behappy. I had now lived six months with thisexcellent family, and had everything the heartcould wish, and had acquired some knowledgeof the customs and manners of the people,and I have every reason to believe that thepeople with whom I lived were interested inmy future happiness and prosperity. Theyhad a niece, a pretty brown lady, who fre·quently visited the house and seemed to bemuch interested in my welfare. She told methat her uncle had no family, that he had alarge landed property, and in the event of hisdying it would fall into the hands of thosewho had already too much, and that from herown knowledge she was certain that by metaking the oath of allegiance I would un·doubtedly receive part of her uncle's property.This was no doubt a snare laid for me, but.Iwas prepared to avoid it. By this time theGovernor of the place had received intelligenceof the defeat of the English in an attempt toretake Buenos Ayres, and at the same time,agreeably to the articles of capitUlation, tosend home the English prisoners as soon aspossible. This brought matters to the point.The domestic circle was formed. The oldPadre sat president. I was told the attemptto retake Buenos Ayres by the English hadfailed, how their General and his army weremade prisoners, and how foolish it was forme to attempt to run the chance of a longand dangerous passage to England when Ihad it in my power to live in peace and com·fort. I told them I had only one choice left.My kind benefactor and his amiable ladythen told me that all I had to do in order tomake me happy was to take the oath ofallegiance to his Catholic Majesty, be baptised,and become a subject of Spain, and theywould share their prosperity with me, andeverything else that I could wish for. Ithanked them kindly, and told them I hadsworn allegiance to one Sovereign, and thatit was out of my power to betray my country.The temptations to remain in South Americawere very strong. It took a great effort toresist them, and I must confess I was morethan once like King Agrippa with Paul­I was almost persuaded to become a Spaniard.The prisoners were very healthy. Only onedied, and the inhabitants latterly becamemuch attached to them-so much so thatthey supplied them gratis with every kindof fruit the place afforded. They insinuatedthemselves so far into the favour of theprisoners as to cause a great number of themto desert and betray their country. I nowparted with my kind benefactor Don PedroBertaren and his amiable lady Maria Gracia,whom I sincerely loved, and now, after a lapseof forty-two years, I still remember them witha grateful heart. We were all assembled,and commenced our long and dreary marchacross Lapampa, nothing extra occurring,and after a march of twenty-eight days safelyarrived at Buenos Ayres, dropped downLa Plata in lighters, went on board Britishtransports in Monte Video harbour, set sailfor old England-the land of liberty-andafter a quick and agreeable passage castanchor in the cove of Cork, and landed justin time to gather fresh laurels in the Peninsula.(To be continued.)