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the Spanish army, then laying at Ceuta, with provisions. While on the island, the troops experienced a scarcity of water, and the Captain asked who would volunteer to fetch some from the African shore. James Guidney offered himself, and was requested to choose eleven others to accompany him. These twelve men reached the coast in safety, in a man-of-war's launch, and having filled a dozen casks with water from a mountain torrent, towards evening, were rowing back to the island, when suddenly a white squall arose. Very large hailstones poured down, and the waves-rising mountains high, swamped the boat. The men then pulled off their clothes and jumping into the sea, made for the shore they had just left, which was a mile distant. Ten Africans, armed with loaded muskets, passing the spot at the time, seized these naked men as they arrived one after the other, and each took one man prisoner. James Guidney and another being left behind, immediately ran towards the sea, and jumping in, swam to Paraxil, which was only a quarter of a mile from the African coast, in a direct line. They reported the loss of the men to the Captain, but they were never sent after, and nothing more was heard of them.
In 1809, James Guidney was transferred to the
