Had he penetrated our state,
perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our
diminished numbers, and diminished strength, as would have emboldened them
to become more troublesome. Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance.
His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant, like that
of any other person, but the ration of a week was insufficient to have
kept him for a day. The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever it could be
procured, and a little Indian corn, which had been reserved was ground
and appropriated to his use. In spite of all these aids, want of food
has been known to make him furious and often melancholy.
There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his escape,
which he effected in the night of the 3rd instant. About two o'clock
in the morning, he pretended illness, and awaking the servant who lay
in the room with him, begged to go down stairs. The other attended him
without suspicion of his design; and Baneelon no sooner found himself
in a backyard, than he nimbly leaped over a slight paling, and bade us adieu.
The following public order was issued within the date of this chapter,
and is too pleasing a proof that universal depravity did not prevail
among the convicts, to be omitted.
The governor, in consequence of the unremitted good behaviour
and meritorious conduct of John Irving, is pleased to remit
the remainder of the term for which he was sentenced to
transportation. He is therefore to be considered as restored
to all those rights and privileges, which had been suspended
in consequence of the sentence of the law. And as such,
he is hereby appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon
at Norfolk Island.
CHAPTER VII
Transactions of the Colony in June, July, and August, 1790.
At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate, and on the evening
of the 3rd of June, the joyful cry of "the flag's up" resounded
in every direction.
I was sitting in my hut, musing on our fate, when a confused clamour
in the street drew my attention. I opened my door, and saw several women
with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks,
congratulating each other, and kissing their infants with the most passionate
and extravagant marks of fondness. I needed no more; but instantly
started out, and ran to a hill, where, by the assistance of a pocket glass,
my hopes were realized. My next door neighbour, a brother-officer,
was with me, but we could not speak. We wrung each other by the hand,
with eyes and hearts overflowing.
Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his boat
down the harbour, I begged to be of his party.
