glided silently up a ladder into the loft above. The
old farmer, having sent the girls to bed, lifted off the boiling pot,
which by accident he placed at the foot of the ladder; then putting out
the light, and covering the fire, he retired again to bed. When all was
still and quiet, Young, with shoes in hand, stole down the ladder, and
landed in the pot! Although badly burned, he escaped in some degree by
having his stockings on. He left his tracks on the floor, but got out of
the house unobserved. He had 'put his foot in it' in good earnest; and
mounting his horse, he bade a final adieu to the old farmer and his
family.

Winter was now pretty well advanced, and many suffered for the want of
clothing. After considerable delay, however, a small portion was sparingly
dealt out, but was accepted by those only who stood in the utmost need.
The cause was, that the agent or contractor, having a quantity of garments
on hand, over what had been a sufficient supply for some English convicts,
who had been confined here at some former period, they were now offered to
us, but were rejected by all who could do without them. Those who did
receive them, cut a curious figure! I can almost imagine one standing
before me now, dressed in a jacket and trowsers of bright yellow cloth;
and as they were served out indiscriminately, the consequence was, that
large stalwart men were crammed into trowsers which looked more like
breeches, and jackets with sleeves terminating at the elbows; and small
men with jackets, the sleeves of which dangled far below the hands, and an
extra length of pantaloons turned up to the knees; the whole figure
surmounted by a knit-woollen cap, resembling an inverted wash-basin;
coarse brogans completed the costume. Just pause a moment, reader, and
contemplate the figure!

What with starving and freezing, many became ill, and had to be removed to
the hospital. This was what all dreaded; and the consequence was, they
were so far gone before they went, that they survived but a short time
after getting there, although it was understood that the physician was a
skilful and humane man, and did all in his power to alleviate their
distress. I was taken very ill with the dysentery. I know of no disease
which brings a man down more rapidly. Two or three days weakened me so
much that I could scarcely move; and with it came a despondency of mind
that was almost insupportable. I had been for years a wayfarer in strange
lands, b