4i)2 Narrative of an Escape from the [Nov. 



rolled in, the vessel floated, and we hove her out to within about four fathoms of 

 her buoy. Whitehurst and myself being ready to cut the other hawser, and hoist 

 the sail, Hunter went to the helm, when he found the rudder was not shipped, 

 but lying on the poop. We instantly ran aft, and got it over the stern ; but the 

 vessel pitched so heavily, that it was not possible to ship the lower pintle. We 

 were now apprehensive of the total failure of the attempt; for to go to sea with- 

 out a rudder would have been madness, and, being nearly under the battery, we 

 were in momentary expectation of being fired into. Several minutes were passed 

 in this state of anxiety and danger, still persevering in the attempt to ship the 

 rudder; but at length finding it impossible without a guide below, and feeling that 

 our only hope was dependant upon the success of this important effort, in the 

 excitement of the moment Ijumped overboard : at the same instant, the vessel 

 springing a little ahead, and the sea washing me astern, it was not without the 

 greatest exertion I could swim up to get hold of the stern-post. Hunter, seeing 

 that I was dashed from her by every wave, threw me a rope : this I made fast round 

 my waist, and then, with some trouble, succeeded in shipping the rudder. The 

 effort of swimming and getting on board again, although assisted by my comrades, 

 so completely exhausted me, that I lay on my back for some time, incapable of 

 moving a limb; but, at length, rallying, I went forward to help hoist the foresail, 

 whilst Hunter cut the hawser, >.nd then ran to the helm. The sail was no sooner 

 up than the vessel sprang off, as if participating in our impatience, and glorying in 

 our deliverance. Such, however, is the uncertainty and vanity of all human pro- 

 jects, that at the very moment when we believed ourselves in the arms of liberty, 

 and our feelings were worked up to the highest pitch of exultation, a violent 

 shock suddenly arrested our progress. We flew aft, and found that a few fathoms 

 of the starboard quarter hawser having been accidentally left on board, as it ran 

 out a kink was formed near the end, which, getting jambed between the head of 

 the rudder and the stern-post, had brought the vessel up all standing. The knife 

 was instantly applied; but the hawser was so excessively taut and hard that it was 

 scarcely through one strand ere the increasing squall had swung her round off 

 upon the beach. At this critical juncture, as the forlorn hope, we jumped out to 

 seize another vessel, which was still afloat; when Winderkins, seeing a body of 

 men running upon the top of the sand-hills, in order to surround us, gave the 

 alarm. We immediately made a resolute rush directly across, leaving our knap- 

 sacks, and every thing but the clothes on our backs, in the vessel. The summit 

 was gained just in time to slip over on the other side unseen. We ran along the 

 hills towards the village for about a hundred yards, when, mistaking a broad ditch 

 for a road, I fell in, but scrambled out on the opposite side. Mansell,'who was 

 close at my heels, thinking that I had jumped in on purpose, followed : this 

 obliged the others to jump also. Having regained the * Cat,' we related the heart- 

 rending disaster to Madame Derikre." 



The immediate consequence of this unhappy adventure is, as may be 

 supposed, to render the condition of Mr. Boys and his friends ten times 

 more wretched and desperate than ever. Their old quarters, of course, 

 can no longer be tenable; and they at once make for the woods, where 

 they remain for three days, " wet to the skin," from the constant bad 

 weather, and with the extremities of their garments " solid boards of ice." 

 At length, on the third night, their small stock of provisions being entirely 

 exhausted, want compels them to revisit the cabaret; where they learn 

 from Madame Derikre the results of their unlucky enterprise. 



" We set out at eleven o'clock, and, reaching a neighbouring wood about one 

 a. m., halted to listen being apprehensive that, if any article had been found in 

 the vessel to create suspicion of the * Cat,' that gens-d'armes would be laying in 

 ambush ready to butcher us. It was arranged that Whitehurst and Hunter should 

 remain under the hedge of the orchard, whilst I approached the house; and in the 

 event of my meeting with such numbers as to render their assistance unavailing, I 

 was to give the alarm ; and they were to fly, regardless of me. With firm, yet 

 cautious step, I advanced, crept through a gap in the hedge, and entered the 



