not let out that evening they
would liberate him before morning.

I, of course, could not join them, but Soper and Coal were very eager to
lend a hand. I persuaded them, however, to come back with me to our
ship after I had made all the inquiries I could for Jack without
success.

Miles and Coal brought the news, and what was to be done on board, and
several of our men declared that they would join, as much for the sake
of the spree as influenced by a regard for Captain Rogers.

As evening drew in, a number of boats put off from all the American
ships, and from several of the English, for the imprisoned skipper was
much liked, not only by his own men, but by the captains and mates of
nearly all the whaling ships. He was a great friend, too, I found, of
Captain Hawkins. When the captain came on board again, he gave any of
us leave to go that chose. I don't say we were right, but when I found
the second mate about to lead a party of our men, Jim and I offered to
go with them, and away we pulled for the _William and Eliza_.

We found her surrounded by boats, carrying well-nigh two hundred men,
the whole being under the command of an American captain.

We waited till nearly midnight, when the order was given to shove off.
We could not tell whether the authorities on shore knew anything of what
was about to take place.

We carried a number of scaling ladders, with stout ropes and hooks. The
first who got up with the ladders were to fix on the hooks, so that the
others might swarm up, and we might all mount the walls together.

We had no firearms, only axes, blubber-spades, and spears. We pulled
in, forming a long line abreast, as silently as possible. On reaching
the shore, two hands were left in each boat, and the rest of us rushed
up to the fort to fix the ladders.

It took but a few seconds before we were all at the top, and down we
leaped into the fort.

Nearly the whole of the garrison were asleep. When they found the place
full of men some of them ran away and hid themselves, and others dashed
out at the gate. We soon found the room in which Captain Rogers was
shut up. The door was broken open and he was set free. Not wishing to
have a disturbance with the natives, we hurried back with him the way we
came, and before long were on board again. The captain made us a
speech, and thanked us for setting him free, and we returned to our
respective ships. I don't know that any notice was taken of the af