412 



prifon fliip, wjth feveral others of our coun* 

 trymen, where, being treated with great ri- 

 gour, and fed with a very fcanty allowance of 

 bad food, he entered into a confidential agree- 

 ment, with one of his fellow-prifoners, to con- 

 cert fome means of efcape ; and, one day, 

 feeing a boat, convenient for their purpofe, 

 come to the fliip, they ftepped over the 

 fide of the velTel, and defcending fuddenly 

 into it, as it lay alongfide, immediately threw 

 overboard three of the five negroes, who 

 were in it, and compelled the other two to take 

 up their oars, and aflfift in rowing them away. 



The fuccefs of this perilous enterprife 

 was equal to the boldnefs with which it was 

 undertaken. Thefentinels fired at them in 

 vain : being once clear of the fhip they 

 pulled the oars with vigour, and, encouraging 

 the blacks to their aid, were foon out of reach. 

 Neither boats, nor bullets were able to over- 

 take them : they were quickly at fea, in their 

 open fkifF, and, gladly, entrufted themfelves 

 to the mercy of the elements. The weather 

 favored them, and they foon made a port 

 of fafety in a Britiflx ifland. 



