e labor can be lifted out, and it will leave a
hole large enough for us to get out of and go where we like."

Examination elicited a unanimous verdict in favor of making the attempt.
With no tools but a case knife we dug out the mortar on all sides of the
stone doing the work by turns and covering the stone by hanging up an
old blanket--which excited no suspicion, as it was at the head of one of
the iron bedsteads--whenever the Deputy or any of his men were likely to
visit us. In twelve days we completed the work, and could lift out the
stone. The hole was large enough to let a man through, and there was
nothing for us to do but to crawl out one after the other and drop down
a few feet into the yard. This yard was surrounded by a board fence that
could be easily surmounted. I intended to take the lead, after taking
off my irons (which I had learned to do, and indeed, did every day,
putting them on only when I was liable to be "inspected") and after
leaving these irons at the Deputy's door, I intended to put myself on
the Jersey side of the river as speedily as possible.

Liberty was within reach of every man in that room, and the night was
set for the escape. But one of the crowd turned traitor, and, under
pretence, of speaking to the Deputy about some matter, managed to be
called out of the room and disclosed the whole. The man was waiting
transportation to prison to serve out a sentence of ten years, and,
with the chance of escape before him, it seemed singular that he should
reveal a plan which promised to give him liberty; but probably he
feared a failure; or that he might be recaptured and his prison sentence
increased; while on the other hand by disclosing the plot he could
curry favor enough to get his term reduced, and perhaps he might gain a
pardon. Any how, he betrayed us. The Deputy came in and found the stone
in the condition described, and forthwith we were all removed to the
dungeon, or dark room, and kept there on bread and water for twelve
days. We heard afterwards that our betrayer did get five years less than
his original sentence for subjecting his comrades in misery to twelve
days of almost indescribable suffering. We were not only in a totally
dark and frightfully filthy hole, but we were half starved, and the
Deputy daily took delight in taunting us with our sufferings.

At the end of the twelve days we were taken back to the old room where
we found the stone securely fastened in with irons. Moreo