o do for his own sake. But I thought also that I might get away
myself. It would be a long yarn if I was to tell you all our plans, and
all the tricks we had to play to get out of prison. At last, however,
we managed to get free and stand outside the walls of the town. He
could talk French like a Frenchman, but I could not say a word. We were
both dressed as countrymen--he of the better sort, and I, as a lout,
born deaf and dumb. This did very well for some time, and whether or no
the country people suspected us I cannot say, but I rather think they
did, though many of them were very kind to Englishmen, and would gladly
have helped them to escape if they dared. We worked our way north,
travelling by unfrequented paths, or, when we had to take to the high
road, going on generally at night. We got into high spirits, thinking
that all would be right. This made us careless, when one day, just as
we were leaving the town, a party of their abominable gendarmes pounced
upon us. The captain showed great surprise, and wondered why they
should lay hold of two innocent people. This was of no use, however.
They soon showed him they knew who we were, and we were marched back to
prison, looking very foolish, and the next morning sent off, with
several other prisoners, to the place we had escaped from. There we
were kept closely shut up. It was very hard and very cruel in them,
just because we wanted to get our liberty. I made several other
attempts, for I was determined to get free if I could. Life was worth
nothing away from my wife and child. At last I succeeded with two
others--an officer and another man. We reached the coast, cut out a
small boat, and were making our way across the Channel when we were
picked up by a man-of-war. It had come on to blow very heavy. Our boat
was swamped alongside, and, as she was outward bound, we had to go away
in her. I entered on board. We took several prizes, and I filled my
empty pockets with gold. I was one of the prize crew of the first
man-of-war we took worth sending home, and at last I once more set foot
on the shores of England. As soon as I was free of the ship I came down
here. There you have my history; I will tell you more particulars
another day. It may serve, however, to convince you that I am no ghost,
or that if I am, I am a big liar, saving your pardons, ladies, and that
is what Dick Burton never was. Besides, I have an idea that my wife
believes me, at al