They swam round the fort, got upon the beach and made their way into a mass of thick under brush, burrowed into the ground, burying themselves completely up, and there they lie; the day was just beginning to dawn. Hardly had it become light, when they heard the cry of the soldiers in search of them. It so happened, that there were no traces left of their entrance into this brushwood, or in all probability, they would have been discovered. On the following night, when all was still, they very cautiously crawled out, weak and nearly famished for want of water. They concluded to separate and each to do the best he could for himself. He made his way to the water side, having taken neither food nor water for ten days, and was so weak that he could scarcely crawl.
He came to a hut, where was an old Spanish woman, and from her he obtained water and some plantains, with which he was much revived. It was dangerous to remain here; for if her husband should come home, and find him, he would in all probability inform against him for the sake of the reward, which is always paid for the apprehension of prisoners who have deserted, lie started off, continuing his course along the beach; but it < cured to him, that if his track was discovered, they would surely be after him. So he went aside into the bushes, and shortly came across the trunk of a tree that was very dry and light, and about ten feet long.
As soon as it was dark, lie contrived to get it into the water; and got upon it and committed himself into the hands of his Maker. The wind was oft' shore, and by paddling with his hands, and keeping very steady, by daylight he found himself near the island. He said that during the whole night the sharks were around him in all directions; he expected every moment to be dragged off and devoured. But God protected him, and he reached the island in safety, and at first was unable to stand. But after lying a few hours, his strength returned, and he began to look around, and to his great joy he found that the rocks were covered with periwinkles, and other kinds of shell-fish, and a short way up the hill was a running spring of excellent water.
He now felt secure, as the island was uninhabited, and he could hide himself away in a hundred caverns where no mortal man could find him, and if the spring held out, he could live there many years. But he felt sure that Divine Providence would open the way for his escape in his own time and in his own way. " When I saw your ship come to an anchor, and the boat come this way, I felt that my trouble was over." By this time we had reached the frigate. We took the man to the first lieutenant, related how we had found him, and left him to tell his own story. He was taken below, shaved, washed, and clothed, and when he appeared on deck again, I immediately recognized him as an old acquaintance in Gibraltar.
His name was John Laird, a Scotchman by birth, and had been a merchant in Gibraltar, dealing principally in hardware, and it was from his store that the United States ships were supplied with articles in that department. He had been unsuccessful in Gibraltar, and took passage for Valparaiso to try his fortune in Chili. On his arrival there he found a Chilian privateer fitting, which held out great inducements for adventurers " to make a great deal of money in a very short time." His story however, was the sequel of his adventure. As he was well educated, he was appointed purser's steward of the frigate; performed his duty faithfully, proved himself a gentleman, and remained on board the ship until she was paid off in Boston.
One day while the midshipmen were walking through a street in Panama, and just as they were passing an apothecary shop, they were addressed in English, by a young man who appeared to be the shopkeeper. They went in, and as there was no one there but himself, he told them that he was a prisoner, and had been taken in a Chilian ship-of-war, by a Spanish frigate, and that the old Spaniard who owned the establishment had hired his services from the government, and was also responsible for his safe keeping. He was a fine, likely looking young man, and immediately engaged the sympathy of the midshipmen in his favor, and they at once hit upon a plan for his escape, winch was, that they were to come on shore the next day, with an extra suit of midshipman's uniform, which just before sunset he was to put on, and pass out of the gate with them, as an American midshipman.