now listened to our entreaties, and loosening our bonds,
greatly relieved us, enabling us to proceed on our way with renewed
strength.

After walking for about three hours longer, we arrived at a little
village, which is situated on the shores of the strait separating
Kumachir from the island of Jesso. Here we were led into a house, and
rice bread offered us, but as our appetites were entirely gone, they
took us into another room, and made us lie down near the walls, so
that none of us could communicate with the others. The ropes by which
we had been led along, they tied to iron spikes, which were driven
into the floor, and they drew off our boots, and again tied our legs
as before. When our guards had thus disposed of us to their entire
satisfaction, they seated themselves in the middle of the apartment,
round a pan of coals, and began to drink tea and smoke tobacco. One
would imagine that men might rest in peace even among lions, if they
were bound as we were, but the Japanese did not seem to consider
themselves safe even now, for they carefully examined our bonds every
quarter of an hour or so.

Letters were very often brought to the captain of our guards, which he
read attentively, and then communicated their contents to his
companions. They conversed, however, in such a low tone of voice, that
we saw very well they feared our hearing what they said, though on
that subject they might have made themselves perfectly easy, for we
did not understand a single word of the Japanese language. Towards
midnight they made preparations for departure. A wide board was
brought in, to the four corners of which ropes had been attached;
through these ropes a pole was put, by means of which they raised it
from the ground. They now laid me on the board, and carried me away,
which made us fully believe that they were going to separate us, and
that we now saw each other for the last time. We, therefore, took
leave of each other like dying men, our eyes filled with tears. The
farewell of the sailors, which they sobbed aloud, cut me to the heart,
for I felt that my imprudence was the cause of all their misery. I was
carried to the shore, and laid on a mat in a large boat, and to my joy
and surprise they brought down my comrades, one after the other, and
laid them near to me. This was so unexpected, and so gratifying, that
for a moment I almost forgot my sufferings. They then covered me and
my companions with moss, and an armed guard hav