POST-CAPTAINS OF 1821.
261
“This continued during the months of February, March, April, May, and June, at the expiration of which the commandant had the kindness to allow me to go up into a room, Adhere there were already twelve more. This indulgence, he had the courtesy to say, was in consequence of my good conduct. Messrs. Tuthill, Ashworth, and Brine, were of the number; the latter wore his rope as I did, and was the only person of the party, then in the room, who knew I had one. We became daily more intimate from this confidence in each other; and after a vast number of fruitless endeavours, on the 17th July 1808, the term of our slavery appeared to be drawing to a conclusion: I was on that day told in confidence by one of the seamen, that a party had thoughts of breaking out that night from the souterrain – that he was one of them, and he informed me who the other principal people were. I began to regret having ever left the cave. However, I imagined there was a probability of getting down to them for the night. I accordingly wailed on the heads of the party, during their breathing time, and requested they would have the goodness to allow me to visit them that evening, without intimating my motives. They stared; and it immediately struck them, that I had a knowledge of their project. I therefore did not hesitate telling them the truth. They assure! me, they could not permit my coming down to them, as it had been already fixed, that none of those upstairs were to he admitted: their reason was, that they supposed it might cause suspicion, as it would be necessary to obtain the marèchal de logis’s leave, before any of us could get below. I felt greatly mortified at their resolution. They were locked down at the usual hour (6 o’clock), and I told them at parting, that I had still hopes of spending the evening amongst them. After they had been locked down, the marèchal de logis generally quitted the fort for some time, and I watched until I saw him go out, which was about half-past six: – At seven[1] we were to be locked up in our room. I therefore lost no time, went instantly to the guard, whose name was Buché, and told him, I had been invited to celebrate the anniversary of a friend’s birth-night in the souterrain, and that he would oblige me greatly by allowing me to descend. He hesitated; but when I observed ‘What apprehensions can you possibly be under? am I not more secure below, than up stairs?’ he then granted it. I immediately apprized Messrs. Tuthill, Ashworth, and Brine, my companions in the above mentioned room, of what I had done; when they also persuaded the guard to allow them to join in celebrating the birth-night. I was afraid that their applying would cause suspicion, and prevent even my being allowed; however it did not. As we approached the cave, the noise which was made to prevent the working of saws, chisels, and other tools from being heard, convinced me they had already commenced their operations. Some wire singing, others shouting, dancing, and their dogs barking. Before seven we were amongst them, having taken a few necessaries
- ↑ In summer they allowed us to remain until seven.
