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and drove it as far as Paola； a little seaport situated ten miles
from Cosenza。 Consequently the vessels were anchored for the night
of the 5th of October in a little indentation of the coast not worthy
of the name of a roadstead。 The king； to remove all suspicion from
the coastguards and the Sicilian scorridori； ＇Small vessels fitted up
as ships…of…war。＇ ordered that all lights should be extinguished and
that the vessels should tack about during the night； but towards one
o'clock such a violent land…wind sprang up that the expedition was
driven out to sea； so that on the 6th at dawn the king's vessel was
alone。
During the morning they overhauled Captain Cicconi's felucca； and the
two ships dropped anchor at four o'clock in sight of Santo…Lucido。
In the evening the king commanded Ottoviani； a staff officer； to go
ashore and reconnoitre。 Luidgi offered to accompany him。 Murat
accepted his services。 So Ottoviani and his guide went ashore；
whilst Cicconi and his felucca put out to sea in search of the rest
of the fleet。
Towards eleven o'clock at night the lieutenant of the watch descried
a man in the waves swimming to the vessel。 As soon as he was within
hearing the lieutenant hailed him。 The swimmer immediately made
himself known： it was Luidgi。 They put out the boat； and he came on
board。 Then he told them that Ottoviani had been arrested； and he
had only escaped himself by jumping into the sea。 Murat's first idea
was to go to the rescue of Ottoviani； but Luidgi made the king
realise the danger and uselessness of such an attempt； nevertheless；
Joachim remained agitated and irresolute until two o'clock in the
morning。
At last he gave the order to put to sea again。 During the manoeuvre
which effected this a sailor fell overboard and disappeared before
they had time to help him。 Decidedly these were ill omens。
On the morning of the 7th two vessels were in sight。 The king gave
the order to prepare for action； but Barbara recognised them as
Cicconi's felucca and Courrand's lugger； which had joined each other
and were keeping each other company。 They hoisted the necessary
signals； and the two captains brought up their vessels alongside the
admiral's。
While they were deliberating as to what route to follow； a boat came
up to Murat's vessel。 Captain Pernice was on board with a
lieutenant。 They came to ask the king's permission to board his
ship； not wishing to remain on Courrand's； for in their opinion he
was a traitor。
Murat sent to fetch him； and in spite of his protestations he was
made to descend into a boat with fifty men； and the boat was moored
to the vessel。 The order was carried out at once； and the little
squadron advanced； coasting along the shores of Calabria without
losing sight of them； but at ten o'clock in the evening； just as they
came abreast of the Gulf of Santa…Eufemia； Captain Courrand cut the
rope which moored his boat to the vessel； and rowed away from the
fleet。
Murat had thrown himself on to his bed without undressing； they
brought him the news。
He rushed up to the deck； and arrived in time to see the boat； which
was fleeing in the direction of Corsica； grow small and vanish in the
distance。 He remained motionless； not uttering a cry； giving no
signs of rage； he only sighed and let his head fall on his breast： it
was one more leaf falling from the exhausted tree of his hopes。
General Franceschetti profited by this hour of discouragement to
advise him not to land in Calabria； and to go direct to Trieste； in
order to claim from Austria the refuge which had been offered。
The king was going through one of those periods of extreme
exhaustion； of mortal depression； when courage quite gives way： he
refused flatly at first； and there at last agreed to do it。
Just then the general perceived a sailor lying on some coils of
ropes； within hearing of all they said； he interrupted himself； and
pointed him out to Murat。
The latter got up； went to see the man； and recognised Luidgi；
overcome with exhaustion； he had fallen asleep on deck。 The king
satisfied himself that the sleep was genuine； and besides he had full
confidence in the man。 The conversation； which had been interrupted
for a moment； was renewed： it was agreed that without saying anything
about the new plans； they would clear Cape Spartivento and enter the
Adriatic； then the king and the general went below again to the lower
deck。
The next day； the 8th October； they found themselves abreast of
Pizzo； when Joachim； questioned by Barbara as to what he proposed to
do； gave the order to steer for Messina。 Barbara answered that he
was ready to obey； but that they were in need of food and water；
consequently he offered to go on； board Cicconi's vessel and to land
with him to get stores。 The king agreed； Barbara asked for the
passports which he had received from the allied powers； in order； he
said； not to be molested by the local authorities。
These documents were too important for Murat to consent to part with
them； perhaps the king was beginning to suspect： he refused。 Barbara
insisted； Murat ordered him to land without the papers； Barbara
flatly refused。
The king； accustomed to being obeyed； raised his riding…whip to
strike the Maltese； but； changing his resolution； he ordered the
soldiers to prepare their arms； the officers to put on full uniform；
he himself set the example。 The disembarkation was decided upon； and
Pizzo was to become the Golfe Juan of the new Napoleon。
Consequently the vessels were steered for land。 The king got down
into a boat with twenty…eight soldiers and three servants； amongst
whom was Luidgi。 As they drew near the shore General Franceschetti
made a movement as if to land； but Murat stopped him。
〃It is for me to land first；〃 he said； and he sprang on shore。
He was dressed in a general's coat； white breeches and riding…boots；
a belt carrying two pistols； a gold…embroidered hat with a cockade
fastened in with a clasp made of fourteen brilliants； and lastly he
carried under his arm the banner round which he hoped to rally his
partisans。 The town clock of Pizzo struck ten。 Murat went straight
up to the town； from which he was hardly a hundred yards distant。 He
followed the wide stone staircase which led up to it。
It was Sunday。 Mass was about to be celebrated； and the whole
population had assembled in the Great Square when he arrived。 No one
recognised him； and everyone gazed with astonishment at the fine
officer。 Presently he saw amongst the peasants a former sergeant of
his who had served in his guard at Naples。 He walked straight up to
him and put his hand on the man's shoulder。
〃Tavella；〃 he said； 〃 don't you recognise me？〃
But as the man made no answer：
〃I am Joachim Murat； I am your king；〃 he said。 〃Yours be the honour
to shout 'Long live Joachim！' first。〃
Murat's suite instantly made the air ring with acclamations； but the
Calabrians remained silent； and not one of his comrades took up the
cry for which the king himself had given the signal； on the contrary；
a low murmur ran through the crowd。 Murat well understood this
forerunner of the storm。
〃Wel