Читать книгу Old Convict Times to Gold Digging Days - William Derricourt - Страница 20

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Now while carrying rations from the jetty I had espied a boat belonging to the island with a lantern in it. The lantern was always lighted up at night, and a sentry kept guard on the embankment above opposite the barracks. I resolved to seize the boat and make for the mainland, which I was told by some of the men was straight across the water, and at no great distance. I consulted no one, but I made up my mind as to the course I would steer, and how, by keeping more out to sea, I would avoid the neck of the Peninsula, where I had before come to grief. I had saved about an inch of tobacco, and with this bought an extra dinner of bread and meat, which, as I was on the afternoon shift, I carried with me. Returning from work I dropped out of the ranks and hid myself behind a great clump of ferns. I then got rid of my irons, the ankle rings of which I had already taken care to oval when down the shaft, and, when all was quiet, I crawled along under cover of the embankment until opposite the boat. While on my way I found a stick about twelve feet long and crooked at one end, which I took with me to steady myself, as I had to wade in the water nearly up to my chin. Low down as I was I could watch the movements of the sentry above. When I came to the boat I stuck the long stick firmly into the sand and hung the lantern on the crook. I then quietly unmoored the boat, let the painter drop into the water, and dragged her along the sand to the jetty. I still kept under cover, going almost up to the coal jetty. When I thought I had passed the sentry at the men's huts, I got in, laid out the oars and began to pull out. I knew I should not be missed for an hour as washing and supper would take up that time, and the roll would only be called after supper was over. Accustomed as I had been as a lad to canal boats I had not much difficulty in managing the one that I had taken, and when once started I pulled with might and main. The night was very dark as I headed seaward. I kept the Salt Water River astern, Impression Bay, Cascades, the Sounds, and Rabbit Island on my right, and the fatal Peninsula on my left. Up to Rabbit Island I knew my whereabouts; beyond that I was perfectly strange. The further I rowed out the rougher the water became, and a whale boat such as this being something out of my experience on canals, I was in some danger of losing my oars, and so becoming helpless. By care and steady work I gradually got along better and became more confident. At Lung Point, which I safely passed, there was a constable stationed, but he did not see me.

I kept on pulling all night, with only short rests, and in the morning spied land and made for shore, thinking it to be the mainland. I pulled in and fastened my boat to a large boulder. I then prepared to hide all traces of the means by which I had made my flight. I spent about half an hour in collecting and gathering heavy stones and pieces of rock, which I piled up in either end of the boat, leaving an empty space in the middle. This done, at the expense of cutting my bare feet fearfully in walking over the rocks, I looked about for the heaviest stone I could lift, and dashed it into the boat in the empty space that I had left between the bow and stern. It crashed through the planking, smashed some of the ribs and the boat went down in deep water.

Feeling safer after this was done, I looked about for a place of shelter, and found a large crevice between the rocks partly covered with long, rough grass. I ate the meat I had brought with me, and, creeping between the rocks, lay down. I could not sleep for a long time, being too cold and wet. At last I dropped off, and was wakened when it was broad daylight by hearing a great noise as of a bell ringing. I could not make it out at first, but, by degrees became fully aware that it was no dream, but really the ringing of a bell such as used to summon us at the mines. I was fearfully frightened, and could not form the least idea where I was. I could see the dreaded Peninsula a long way off, and hoped I was on the mainland. On the rock I found a large mutton-fish, a good way off from where I had sunk the boat. While knocking it off the rock, I was again frightened by the barking of a dog on the hill above me. I hurried back to my hiding place, and trembling awaited what might happen. Two men, apparently the owners of the dog, probably thought the brute had scented a kangaroo. They followed it straight to the place where I was and urged it in, standing with long sticks ready for when the game should break cover. When I came out they made off, astonished and frightened, calling the dog after them. I fled in another direction, but, going round the island, for such I soon found it to be, I met a whole tribe of grey jackets headed by an overseer. There was now no chance of escape. The leader soon spied me, and said, "Why, you're the bolter from the mines. We saw 39 all round on the semaphores, and knew someone was out. Come on, you're only out of the frying-pan into the fire." I went along with him, and found that I had landed near a newly-formed probation station. The new chums stared, and seemed to wonder prodigiously at my magpie dress and bare feet.

When I was brought before the superintendent I had to make a clean breast of it and admit that I was the man who was wanted. The superintendent asked me about my want of boots, and I told him that was to a great extent the cause of my bolting, as I should not be due for another pair for about two months. He ordered me to one of the huts, and sent me a new pair of shoes. One of the men brought me meat and bread and some skilly, and gave me a bag so that I could carry with me all I could not eat. I was then put in a boat with an officer and four men and rowed to Lung Point, on the Peninsula. From Lung Point I was returned to the mines, passing on the right of the semaphore on Mount Stuart. At the mines I was put in a cell, and, half an hour afterward, I was sent to join my three old comrades in harness. Next morning I was had up before Captain Bartley, and with slight form of trial sentenced to receive 100 lashes. A man sentenced to 100 lashes was dealt with publicly in the presence of the doctor and all hands. Other amounts up to three dozen were administered privately in the cook-house yard. While I was standing in the yard waiting to be tied up, the sentry pacing backward and forward gave me a charge of powder and a bullet, telling me to swallow the powder and keep the bullet between my teeth during the flogging.

In due time I was strapped up spread-eagled on the triangles, my three mates standing in front of me. If a man, while receiving his hundred strokes, shouted out through pain, he was looked upon, as a "sandstone" or "soft crawler." Knowing this I would have suffered cutting in pieces without a cry. While the flogger was fixing me up he asked me quietly, "Is there any hangings to it?" meaning had I anything to give him to lay it on lightly.

I answered "Yes," and he said, "All right," and buckled to his work. The first few falls of the cat were enough to take my breath away and to draw my blood freely, although comparatively lightly laid on. The superintendent, a Mr. Cook, stood by, now and then bawling, "Do your duty." One blow falling heavily and on a tender part—across the loins—caused me to catch a hasty breath and my bullet slipped down my throat. In spite of this, however, I began singing as loudly as I could the well-known and appropriate song:—

"If I had a donkey what wouldn't go,

Do you think I'd wallop him? Oh dear no."

When all was over I was taken to the yard among the men, carrying with me my jacket and an extra ration of bread which I had received, and out of bravado taken to the triangles. I afterward in the cell got one of my mates name E——— to wash my back, dry it with a rough towel, removing the clotted blood, and apply cloths soaked in salt water. Soon after, when the roll was called, it came to be our shift, and I and my three mates were sent below.