id it? It was
almost like being stopped by a highwayman. He says, "Your money or
your life." My mistress's demand was, "Marriage or your life." There
was but one hope, which was to escape that very night, and take my
chance in the woods, and so I resolved to do.

I did not go in till dark; my mistress was in her own room; the two
convicts were sitting by the fire. I took my seat by them, but did not
speak, except in a whisper, telling them that their mistress was not
well, and that we had better go to bed, and not talk. They stared at
me at the idea of the mistress being ill; they had never known her to
complain of any thing since they resided with her; but the hint was
sufficient. They went to bed, and so did I with my clothes on,
watching the crevices of the door of her room to see if her lamp was
out. In about half an hour the little thin beams through the chinks of
her door disappeared, and then I knew that she had gone to bed. I
watched two hours more before I ventured to stir. The convicts were
both snoring loud, and effectually drowned any slight noise I might
make in moving about. I went to the locker, secured all the cold meat
for provision, took down one of the muskets and ammunition-belts, and
having put the latter over my shoulders, I then took the musket in my
hand and crept softly to the door of the cabin. Here was the only
difficulty; once out, but five yards off, and I was clear. I removed
the heavy wooden bar, without noise, and had now only to draw the
bolt. I put my finger to it, and was sliding it gently and
successfully back, when my throat was seized, and I was hurled back on
the floor of the cabin. I was so stunned by the violence of the fall,
that for a short time I was insensible. When I recovered, I felt a
great weight upon my chest, and opening my eyes, found my mistress
sitting upon me, and giving orders to the convicts, one of whom had
already lighted the lamp.

"For mercy's sake, get off my chest," said I, in a faint voice.

"Yes, I will, but not yet," replied my mistress. "Now, James, hand
them to me."

James handed some chains to his mistress, who, turning round as she
sat on my body, made the manacle at the end of the chain fast round my
ankle. This went with a snap-spring, which could not be opened
without a key belonging to it. At last she rose off my body, and I
could breathe free. She then called to the convicts, saying,

"Go both of you into the tobacco-shed, and wait there ti