IN PRISON--MY JAILER GIVES ME UNPLEASANT INFORMATION--SUFFERINGS FROM MY
WOUND--I ASK FOR A SURGEON--THE DOCTOR APPEARS--PLAN FOR ESCAPING--THE
DOCTOR AGAIN COMES TO ME--THE JAILER INFORMS ME THAT I AM TO BE
STRANGLED--VISITED BY A FRIAR, WHO PROVES TO BE AN OLD FRIEND--ESCAPE--
REACH THE "FLYING FISH"--JOINED BY THE DOCTOR AND PADRE--VOYAGE UP THE
ORINOCO--LAND AT ANGOSTURA--PROCEED ON IN A CANOE--SCENES ON THE RIVER--
ADVENTURE WITH PECCARIES--TURTLE-CATCHING AT NIGHT--HUNT FOR TURTLES'
EGGS--MODE OF OBTAINING OIL FROM THEM--ALLIGATORS AND VULTURES--LAND AND
PROCEED TO THE CAMP.
In spite of the kindness I was receiving from the governor, I could not
help recollecting that I might at any time be led out and shot, or be
put to death in a more ignoble way. My wound, too, did not heal; and at
last I tried to persuade the jailer to take a message to the governor,
requesting that I might be attended by a surgeon. The man shrugged his
shoulders,--observing that he believed no surgeons were to be found in
the place, and, as far as he could judge, a father-confessor would be a
more fitting visitor.
"You think, then, that I am about to die?" I asked.
"To tell you the truth, senor, I believe that if you don't die of your
wound, you will, very shortly, in some other way," he replied, giving a
sardonic grin. "General Morillo is expected here. He is sure to order
a jail delivery, as we cannot take charge of more than a certain number
of prisoners; and it is said that we shall soon have a fresh arrival of
captured rebels."
This information was not very consolatory; it made me doubly anxious to
get well, that I might try to effect my escape, so I again pressed the
jailer to obtain the favour I asked. He consented; and next day, when
he visited my cell, he told me that the commandant had sent into the
town to ascertain if a surgeon was to be found, and if so that he would
be allowed to visit me. The jailer, however, again urged me to see a
confessor, in case I should die. I did not say that I certainly should
not confess to him if he came, but merely remarked that I would prefer
having a surgeon; who might at all events let me know should he think my
case hopeless--and if not, try to cure me.
Some days passed by; and my wound remained in the same state as before,
causing me much suffering. At last, one forenoon the door opened, and
instead of my jailer, whom I had expected, I saw a tall figure, with a
cloak over his shoulders, and a slouched hat, standing in the doorway.
"Here is the surgeon come to do what he can for you," said the jailer,
who put his head in behind the stranger. "Take my advice, and as soon
as he is gone let me bring the father-confessor to you.--He will be of
most service in the end. Now, senor surgeon, you will not be long about
it."
"I may take half an hour, or possibly an hour," answered the stranger,
in execrably bad Spanish.
I knew the voice,--it was that of Doctor Stutterheim. I had difficulty
in restraining myself from jumping up and shaking him by the hand; but I
had sense enough to wait till the jailer had closed the door and
retired.
"Why, Barry, my boy--Barry! it is you, then! I thought it must be, from
the account I heard," said the doctor in a low voice as he approached
me.
"I am indeed Barry, my kind friend," I exclaimed, stretching out my
hand. "How did you manage to discover me?"
"Because I looked for you, Barry," answered the doctor. "We heard at
the camp that a young officer carrying despatches had been captured; and
when, after a time, you did not turn up, I resolved to endeavour to find
out where you were imprisoned. `Where there's a will there's a way,'
and I soon ascertained in what direction you had gone. As it was not
known that I had been with the patriots, I reassumed without difficulty
my character of a travelling philosopher, and managed at length to reach
this place. I at once gave out that I was ready to exercise my skill on
any sick people who desired to recover from their maladies, of every
sort and description; and as I demanded very small fees, I soon had
numbers flocking to consult me. I made inquiries of all who came, and
thus learned that a young Englishman, whom I knew must be you, was shut
up in the castle. I was turning over in my mind various plans for
getting access to you, when I heard that the commandant was inquiring
for a surgeon. I presented myself before him, and from what he told me
I had no longer any doubt that it was you he wished me to visit. He
observed that I might try to heal your wound, though he believed that it
was of little use, as you would probably be taken out and shot in a few
days. I would not have told you this unless I had hoped, in the first
place, to cure you, and then to enable you to escape--as I have
determined in some way or other to do. Now let me examine your wound."
The doctor at once set to work; but I need not describe his mode of
operation. Though I at first suffered some pain, I ultimately felt more
comfortable than I had done for a long time. He then gave me some
medicines to strengthen me, and promised that he would obtain leave from
the commandant to send me some better food, without which his remedies
would be of little use.
While he was dressing my wound he talked over various plans by which I
might effect my escape. "I believe, Barry, that a golden key will not
answer. It may be dangerous to employ it. You must endeavour to get
out there," he said, pointing up to the window. "If one of those iron
bars can be removed, you will have no difficulty in squeezing through.
I can bring a file in my instrument-case the next time, as the cutting
through those bars may prove a tedious business. But let me see! Your
bedstead is of iron, and by wrenching off the side-rail you will have
the means of working much more rapidly than with a file."
"But how shall I reach the window?" I observed.
"Turn your bedstead up on end, and you will have a ladder well fitted
for your object," he replied. "You must begin to-night, for you may not
have much time to lose. Replace it at daylight; and if you have not
succeeded, go to work again directly the jailer has left you at night.
You will find yourself, I hope, strong enough for that; and before I
come again to-morrow, I hope to have made some arrangements to
facilitate your escape after you have got out of prison. I will report
unfavourably of your case, so that your guards may probably relax their
watch over you, and not suspect you of endeavouring to escape."
After we had had a little more conversation the jailer appeared, and
inquired whether the doctor was ready to go.
"I should be glad to remain longer with my poor young patient," he
answered, shaking his head as he looked at me. "His is a desperate
case; you ought to have sent for me two weeks ago."
As may be supposed, I waited with anxiety till night came. Though I was
still somewhat weak, as soon as the jailer had gone his last round I
rose from my couch, and managed to break off a piece of iron, as the
doctor had advised. I then placed the bedstead against the wall, in a
position which enabled me to stand on it so that I could work at the
bars. Next I looked out to ascertain where the sentries were posted,
and was thankful to see that none were opposite my cell window. By
working away into the masonry, I found that I could clear one of the
bars out of its socket, both above and below. The particles of stone
and mortar which I dug out, I carefully brushed off into my hand and
placed on the ground where my bed stood. By morning, to my great joy, I
found that the bar moved, and that it could be wrenched out without much
difficulty.
As dawn broke I replaced my bedstead, hiding the place where I had
broken out the piece of iron with the bedclothes. I then got in, and,
overcome with my exertions, was soon asleep.
When the jailer appeared, he placed a small basket of provisions, in
addition to the usual prison fare, on my table.
"I thought I was right," he said, looking at me. "You are paler than
yesterday. The doctor has done you no good. You had better let me send
for a confessor. But, before long, he will be sure to come. Prisoners
of your rank are never sent out of the world without a visit from him."
"When he comes, I will do my best to satisfy him," I answered,
evasively; and the jailer, with a shake of the head, took his departure.
Later in the day the doctor appeared. "Your young prisoner requires a
severe operation," he observed, as he entered. "I won't ask you to
wait, as I can perform it alone; but you need not be in a hurry to
return."
Without looking to see whether the jailer had gone away, he approached
me, and in a rough voice told me to show him my wound. He then dressed
it as he had done before, and whispered,--"It is going on favourably;
but we must not let the commandant know that. I have good and bad news
to give you; good if you manage to make your escape, but otherwise bad.
I yesterday met an old friend of yours, who commands a schooner which
has come in here under English colours. Finding him a bold, dashing
fellow, I told him that a young Englishman in whom I was interested was
shut up in prison, and would very likely be put to death if not rescued.
When I mentioned your name, he exclaimed,--`I know him well! He came
out with his uncle not long ago from England. I will run every risk to
save the lad's life. With my brave fellows we might take the castle by
surprise, and, before the Spaniards could collect to oppose us, carry
him off.' I talked the matter over with Captain Longswill, and
dissuaded him from following the plan he proposed, feeling sure that it
would be much safer for you to try and effect your escape as before
intended. Finally, the captain agreed to get a plan of the fort and
surrounding ground, that you might be the better able to direct your
course should you succeed in getting out of prison. The next day he
brought it to me--and here it is;" and the doctor put a paper carefully
folded up into my hand. "Study it well," he added, as I unfolded it;
"on the night that you may fix, a boat will be sent in to this point,
where she can lie concealed among the rocks. If you can manage to drop
from the ramparts on to the sand, you may make your way to the spot
without much risk of being observed. Remark this place: the sea has
thrown up a bank of sand which is very soft, and will assist to break
your fall. Should you by any chance be recaptured, Captain Longswill
will land with his crew and storm the fort, and attempt to set you free.
I have given him a plan of the interior as far as I can make it out, so
that he will know where to find you. _Nil desperandum_; keep up your
courage, and all will go well. Perhaps, too, I may have an opportunity
of giving a narcotic to some of your guards. Several of the fellows
have come to me complaining of being sick, and I will be very liberal of
my medicines,--depend on that."
I thanked the doctor heartily for the interest he took in me, and told
him that I was convinced it would be far better for me to try and escape
secretly, than be the cause of bloodshed--as many lives would probably
be sacrificed.
The doctor was at last obliged to summon the jailer to let him out. He
shook his head as the man appeared.
"The poor young Englishman is in a bad way," he whispered, pretending to
wish that I should not hear what he said; "you should give him more
food, to afford him a chance of recovering."
"It matters very little," answered the man; "a day or two hence it will
probably be much the same to him whether he is well or ill."
"It is my business to get him well," observed the doctor; "after that, I
have nothing more to say on the subject. If your general chooses to
shoot or strangle him, that is no affair of mine--though I should be
sorry to see so fine a youth put to death."
Saying this, the doctor walked out, and the jailer closed the door
behind him. I wished, after what I had heard, that I had arranged to
try and escape that very night; and I determined that the next time the
doctor came we should fix the time for making the attempt.
As soon as it was dark I set to work on the bar, and managed to get it
completely out of its socket, so that I could move it in a moment
without making any noise. I then put my bed to rights, and getting in,
went to sleep.
So sound were my slumbers, I did not awake till I found the jailer
leaning over me, and shaking me by the shoulders. I looked up, and
asked him what was the matter.
"Only that I have come to tell you that you are to be put to death
to-morrow--which is a very unpleasant announcement," he answered.
"However, the commandant, being a religious man, will send a padre to
you, that you may confess to him, and prepare yourself for your
inevitable fate."
"Am I to be shot?" I asked, in a tone as full of alarm as I could
assume.
"No," he answered. "A new machine has just arrived from Spain, called a
garotte. From what I hear, it is a very clever invention. You will
only have to sit down in a chair which has a hollow in the back, and a
piece of wood which is also hollowed out comes in front; then, by
turning a large screw, the two are pressed together till the windpipe is
stopped up. In consequence, you will cease to breathe; but do not be
alarmed, you will find it very easy, if not agreeable. You will
afterwards be cut up, and the portions of your body will be exposed in
various parts of the town, to show our brave soldiers how traitors are
treated; but that will be a matter of indifference to you, I suppose. I
only mention it that you may give a full description to your friends of
what is to happen, to whom I would advise you to write during the day.
You will be furnished with paper and ink for the purpose. In the
meantime, the padre will visit you, and you will be wise to make a clean
breast to him."
The man spoke with a sardonic grin on his countenance, which would have
been very trying had I not fully expected to disappoint him. Leaving me
an ample supply of provisions, he went away, chuckling at my fancied
alarm.
As soon as he closed the door, I got up and made a capital breakfast,
and then prepared to receive the padre whenever he should come. My
chief fear was that the doctor might not be allowed again to visit me,
and that I should lose the opportunity of fixing a time with Captain
Longswill for making my escape. I did not wish to offend the padre; at
the same time, I determined not to make a confession of any sort to him.
He might prove a kind-hearted man; and if so, I would spend the time of
his visit in trying to get him to intercede for me.
I had just finished my meal, when a friar with a cowl over his head
entered the cell.
"I can give you half an hour, senor padre. That will be long enough to
shrive the young Englishman," observed the jailer, as he closed the
door.
"You are in a bad case, my son, I fear," said the monk as he approached
me.
I knew the voice, though the cowl, in the gloom of the cell, prevented
me from seeing my visitor's features.
"What, Padre Pacheco!" I exclaimed. "My dear padre! how could you have
risked your safety by coming here?"
"For your sake, Barry, I would go through much greater danger," he
answered. "I followed you to this place, being resolved to attempt your
liberation; and I have heard all about you from our friend the doctor.
It being reported that you and others are to be put to death to-morrow,
on finding that he would not be allowed to visit you again I boldly came
to the prison, letting the jailer suppose that the commandant had sent
for me to shrive you. He at once admitted me; and here I am to tell you
that your friend the English captain will send a boat in to-night at
eleven o'clock, when all the garrison, with the exception of the guards,
will be asleep. The doctor will come to visit his patients late in the
day, and will then find out who is to be on guard, and will do his best
to give them sleeping potions, so that you may boldly pass between them
and scramble over the wall. I do not, therefore, consider that you will
have to run any great risk."
The padre talked on in a low voice. When I expressed my fears that he
would compromise his own safety, he answered that as soon as he knew
that I had escaped he intended to get away, if possible, on board the
_Flying Fish_, and that he had engaged a boat to take him off. This
much relieved my mind.
We were still conversing when we heard the jailer turn the key in the
lock. On this the padre got up and went towards the door. "He has made
as good a confession as I could have expected," he observed to the
jailer as he went out; "I hope, my friend, you will be as prepared to
die, when your time comes, as he is."
I was after this left alone for the greater part of the day; and towards
evening the jailer brought me some more food. I was very thankful to
see his back as he went out, and heartily trusted that I might never set
eyes on him again.
I could only calculate the time by hearing the guards changed. At last,
believing that it was nearly eleven o'clock, I prepared for my
adventure. Putting up my bedstead as before, I climbed to the window,
from which I noiselessly removed the bar; then getting outside, I
replaced it, and dropped a height of ten feet or so into a sort of inner
ditch. It was perfectly dry, and as the ground was hard I felt somewhat
shaken; but recovering myself, I crawled along till I could mount the
bank at a spot whence I could observe the sentries on either side. One,
as he did not move, had, as I hoped, taken the doctor's potion; but the
other still walked backwards and forwards, evidently wide-awake. At
last he sat down, and as I watched him I saw that he was overcome with
drowsiness. I at once crept across the intervening space, and gained
the top of the wall without being seen. Glancing downwards, the height
appeared considerable; but hesitation might prove my destruction, so
throwing myself over, I dropped a height of not much under thirty
feet,--happily alighting on the soft sand which the doctor had told me
of.
I had still some distance to run along the beach: on I went, hoping that
the two sentries would not awake till I had gained the shelter of some
rocks. I then stopped an instant to ascertain whether I was taking the
right direction. There was sufficient light to enable me to discern the
point where the boat was to meet me. No noises proceeded from the fort.
I made my way among the rocks with caution, to avoid the risk of
slipping down and hurting myself; and at length, to my infinite
satisfaction, I heard Captain Longswill's voice.
"All right, Barry," he said; "we are here. Give me your hand, and I
will show you the boat."
Never did I more thankfully grasp a man's hand; and in a few seconds I
was seated in the stern-sheets of his boat, and we were pulling off for
the _Flying Fish_, which lay in the offing.