Christmas was now drawing near. The day before Christmas day, the Americans contrived to get well supplied with wine from a barrel they found below. As they had no funds, I bought my messmates some apples and a turkey, so that on the morrow they were quite taken up with feasting. We also had a great many visitors that day; many of them were ladies, and the officers got a chair out, which Captain Carden had rigged up, to lift ladies on board. It was made from an old hogshead, in the following manner. One head was knocked out and the barrel scooped out in front; a seat was then inserted, with a flag thrown over the whole; so that when it was lowered into a boat alongside, the lady had but to step in and throw the flag round her feet; in a trice, the chair was whipt upon deck by the halyards, when the lady could step out with perfect ease. This contrivance afforded a great deal of amusement, and kept the officers busily occupied in waiting upon their lady visitors. Now then, thought I, is my time for escape, or not at all. I had already made a friend of the American boatswain, Mr. Dawson, who promised to carry my clothes to New York, if I got clear. So, looking over the ship’s side, I saw a small colored boy in a boat. “Can you tell me,” said I, hailing him, “where I can get some geese and turkeys on shore for our officers?” “I guess you can at some of the houses,” responded the lad. “Well, then,” I continued, “will you set me ashore? I want to get some for our officers.” To this he replied, “Yes, if you will go and ask my master, who is on board your ship.” This was a damper on my young hopes, since it was not likely that his master would give permission. I went below, somewhat disconcerted. There I met a boy named James Day, two years younger than myself. I told him I was going to run away, and urged him to go with me. He declined at first, saying, “I have no money to pay my expenses.” “But I have money,” returned I, “and as long as I have a shilling, you shall have half of it.” “Besides,” continued he, “I am afraid we cannot get away without being caught, and so get a thorough flogging.” “Never mind that,” said I; “I have contrived that business. The boat’s waiting to set us ashore. Come along, Jim; don’t be frightened; ‘Nothing venture, nothing have,’ you know. Come, come, here’s the boat alongside.” At length he consented; we returned to the ship’s side, and told the boy his master was willing, provided he would make haste. We jumped into the boat, and were soon hurrying towards the shore, full of the hope of freedom.