Arago. This friend hastened to his rescue, provided with a disguise, in which the astronomer hastily attired himself, and the two departed. So little time had they to spare, that they actually met the rioters shortly afterwards, who, however, did not recognize Arago, as he spoke Majorcan perfectly. The cries of "Treason!" "Death!" from the people, only too plainly indicated the fate which awaited them if they had been discovered. Fortunately Arago afterwards, by the assistance of some of the crew, was enabled to obtain possession of the precious instruments and records of his scientific labours which he had been compelled to leave behind.
The flight from the peak of Galago proved to be only the commencement of a series of adventures as startling as anything which has been conceived by writers of romance. The captain of the vessel having refused to convey him back to France, he was glad to accept the offer of the commander of the island to retain him as a prisoner in the fortress, where he continued for some months in considerable danger. It is said that some fanatical monks devised a scheme for murdering the prisoner, but Arago had a firm friend in his comrade M. Rodriguez, a Spanish astronomer, who never forsook him during this time of peril. It was to the kind efforts of Rodriguez that he finally owed his release, with permission to go to Algiers, where they arrived in August 1808. Here the French consul provided the two astronomers with false passports, transforming them into two strolling merchants from Hungary, with which they at length set sail for France. They had actually arrived within sight of Marseilles, when a new misfortune befel them. A Spanish corsair from Palamos suddenly made
