ble, and would attempt it.

"Well, then, we must remain quiet for the present; all you have to do is
to fetch as much straw this way as you can by degrees: I expect they
will bring us something to eat before long."

We removed a large portion of the straw to the chancel; in half an hour
afterward the doors were opened and rations of bread were brought in.
What still more assisted our plans was, that the captain of the
privateer at the same time, very good-naturedly, brought a demijohn of
brandy, which he gave to Bramble.

Bramble thanked him through the interpreter, and told him that he would
get well drunk that night.

"Yes, drive away care, captain says," replied the interpreter.

Once more the doors were closed, and we had no chance of further
interruption.

[Illustration: JACK A PRISONER.--Marryat, Vol X., p. 349.]

By Bramble's direction, the mate, assisted by me and the boatswain,
cast loose the remaining bundles of straw and shook them down as beds
for the prisoners at the end of the church nearest to the door; and as
soon as they had eaten their bread, Bramble gave them all a portion of
the brandy, advising them to turn in soon, as we were to march very
early the next morning. We remained with them at first, having taken our
seats on the straw as if we also intended to repose. At last it became
dusk, and then dark; the prisoners settled themselves to sleep; we left
them and joined Bramble. Having arranged our straw so as to secure
ignition, and leaving the mate and boatswain down below, Bramble and I,
now that there was no chance of our being seen by the sentinels,
ascended the tower. It commanded a view of the town and harbor. We
looked down upon the main street--all was mirth and revelry; fiddling
and dancing and singing were to be heard from more than one house; women
in the street laughing, and now and then running and screaming when
pursued by the men.

"This is all right," observed Bramble; "in an hour or two you'll see how
quiet everything will be; but I shall not let them all go to bed before
I set fire, for there may be some difficulty in waking them. I don't see
that there's any lights down at the pier, where the vessels lie."

We stayed up there till about eleven o'clock, Bramble watching the
lights and sounds; and when he considered that they had sufficiently
decreased, he said, "Now we'll try it, Tom, and may success attend us!"

We descended and found the mate and boatswain anxiously wai