Thus, handcuffed and pinioned, and bound with a rope, the ingenious horse-stealer, by another effort of his unfailing ingenuity, akin to his mock-sickness, in the gaol, had effected a second escape from his keepers, leaving it as a matter of choice, whether to institute a hopeless search for him in darkness of the night, or sit down in sullen consultation on what plan they had best pursue in the morning. Nothing could exceed the chagrin of Putnam and Watson on finding themselves robbed of their prisoner, except the confusion which filled myself and the gaoler on the knowledge of his unexampled and noted escape from the gaol. To pursue him in the night, which was unusually dark, and rainy besides, was both hopeless and vain; it was therefore thought best to inform the sheriff in the morning of what had taken place, and receive his advice as to future proceedings. In the morning, accordingly, Mr. Putnam proceeded to Kingston, and on communicating the news to the sheriff, received a supply of money, with orders to pursue the road to St. John, while the sheriff, with two men, proceeded to Mr. Bailes’. There they received information that Smith had changed his course, and crossing the Oaknabock Lake in the night, was directing his course towards Fredericton again. It will be remembered that previous to his escape, while a prisoner at Mr. Bailes’, he made particular enquiries whether there were any ferries on the way to Saint John, on this side the river. At this time it would seem that he had looked upon his scheme as successful, and evidently directed those enquiries concerning the road with a view to mislead, while it was his policy to return upon the course which would be judged the most unlikely of all he should take. But to return to our story. He came to the lake the same evening he had got clear of Mr. Watson and the rope, and there urged as a reason of his haste in crossing the lake in the night, that he was on his way to Fredericton to purchase land, and that he had arranged it with Putnam and Watson, who had gone to Kingston with the thief, to take him up in their canoe on their return, and was to meet them at the intervale above, early the next morning. This well varnished and characteristic story procured him a speedy passage over the lake, and now our adventurer is in undisputed possession of the country, at liberty to choose which way he should turn his face.