t on to Valparaiso as English prisoners.
Only Captain Cheap and Mr. Campbell were recognised as officers, as they
had saved their commissions, and they were sent to St. Jago, while John
Byron and Mr. Hamilton were kept in prison. However, when they were
released they were permitted to rejoin the others at St. Jago, and found
them living with a Scotch physician named Don Patricio Gedd.

When Dr. Gedd heard of the four English prisoners, he had begged the
President to allow them to live at his house.

This was granted, and during the two years they lived there with him, he
treated them most hospitably, and would hear of no return being made for
his kindness.

Mr. Campbell changed his religion while they were at St. Jago, and left
his companions.

At the end of two years the President sent for them, and told them that
they were at liberty to leave the country in a French ship bound for
Spain.

Accordingly, in the end of December 1744, they sailed in the frigate
bound for Conception, where she was to join three more French ships that
were homeward bound.

On October 27 they reached Cape Ortegal, and after lying at anchor there
for several days they were taken to Landernan, where they lived on
parole for three months, until an order came from the Court of Spain to
allow them to return home by the first ship that sailed. After arranging
with the captain of a Dutch lugger to land them at Dover they embarked
in her and had a very uncomfortable passage.

[Illustration: Byron rides past the turnpikes]

When they got well up Channel they found the Dutchman had no intention
of landing them at Dover, as he was making his way up off the coast of
France. In the midst of their indignation at this breach of faith, an
English man-of-war appeared to windward, and bore down upon them. This
was the 'Squirrel,' commanded by Captain Masterton. He at once sent them
off in one of his cutters, and they arrived at Dover that afternoon.

They agreed to start for London the next morning. Captain Cheap and Mr.
Hamilton were to drive in a post-chaise, and John Byron was to ride. But
when they came to divide the little money they had left, it was found
there would be barely enough to pay for horses. There was not a farthing
left for John Byron to buy any food he might want on the way, nothing
even to pay for the turnpikes. However, he boldly cheated these by
riding as hard as he could through them all, and paid no attention to
the shouts of