pade in the court, which we hid, that it too might
serve as a weapon. Besides this, the sailors, on the night when we
made the attempt, were to arm themselves with some long poles, which
had been used in drying our clothes.

After we had finished our preparations, we noted carefully, whenever
we took a walk, the road and footpath which led to the mountains. On
the twenty-third of April, having gone farther than usual, we induced
our attendants, under the plea of curiosity, to show us a temple,
which lay directly in the way we must take in our flight. Whilst we
were gathering, as usual, leeks and herbs for our own use, we observed
accurately the whole neighborhood, and then set out on our way home.
When we arrived there, we went to bed. A half an hour before midnight,
two of the sailors, who had taken a couple of knives from the kitchen,
which adjoined our rooms, slunk into the garden just after the guard
had made the twelfth round, and hiding themselves under the steps,
began digging a hole under the hedge, whilst we put a bundle of
clothes into each of their beds, that it might appear as if they were
still there.

After they had happily finished their task, without being discovered,
we all went out, and one after the other crept through the hole. When
it came to my turn, I stumbled, but got through, striking my knee,
however, as I did so, against a small post, which was nearly buried in
the ground. The blow was violent, but the pain soon disappeared. We
now found ourselves in a very narrow footpath, between the hedge and
the wall of the fort, which we followed, and after some trouble,
reached the principal street of the town. We hastened along, keeping
among the trees, and at the end of a half hour found ourselves at the
foot of a high mountain, which we were obliged to ascend.

VII.

We immediately began to climb up the hill, and endeavored, as far as
possible, by means of the stars, our only guides, to direct our course
due north. By the time we had reached the first eminence, I felt a
stinging pain in my knee, which suddenly swelled up so much, and put
me into such agony, that I could proceed only with the greatest
difficulty. My companions, therefore, to my great vexation and
concern, were obliged to halt every little while, that I might recover
myself, and ease my injured limb.

Our intention was to reach, before daybreak, that portion of the hill
which was covered with trees, in order to secure ourselves