ESCAPE OP CONVICTS. 137 



guard, stopped the horses, and succeeded in 

 fastening both coachman and guard with cords 

 and straps. While this was going on, they stated 

 that they did not intend to injure them or rob 

 the coach, but were determined at every hazard 

 to regain their liberty. While this scene was 

 going on in front of the coach, five other con- 

 victs seized the keeper behind, and rifling his 

 pockets obtained the keys of the hand- 

 cuffs. 



The confusion outside was the signal to the 

 remaining convicts within ; instantly the keeper 

 was laid hold of and confined, and, bavins; g^ot 

 possession of his handcufi'-keys also, they lost 

 no time in manacling him. The convicts then 

 descended, and began endeavouring to extricate 

 themselves from their fetters, a work which 

 occupied them some time, and in which, notwith- 

 standing their violence and ingenuity, they made 

 very little progress. 



While thus engaged, they were suddenly 

 alarmed by the noise of a coach approaching, 

 and immediately rushed to the fields. As the 

 night was exceedingly dark, they succeeded 

 in making their escape before the " Alliance," 

 Liverpool coach, came up, by which time the 

 guard and coachman had extricated themselves, 



