The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-12-04

streets without meeting any one whom we could
venture to ask. One discovered who we were
partly ny guess, and when | perceived that he
ana, made virtue of necessity, and informed
him who was. He told me he was magis-
trate, but as | had been so frank with him, and
thinking Il supposed from his looks) that he
might not escape scathless in contest with u.s.
ne toid me TO go our ways, and pledged his
word OF honor that, as we confded in him, he
would give no alarm. A young gentleman who
accompanied him, pledged himself also. We
left him-passed the sentinel at Sir John Col
borne's door who challenged us. We advanced
boldly and he, installing us from our caps and
cIoaks 10 be some of his own officers, carried
arms to us as we passed.
NOT relying implicitly on the promise given
US ny the Canadian tory gentleman, we chang
ell our course, and Il few moments walk brought
us to one OF the gates Of the city, Il believe
Hope Gate.l We passed through and got into
the Lower Town, where, after little wandering
about, we met with poor Canadian who, at
that hour of the night, was returning from his
work he carried Il lantern with him. / accost-
ed him, and enteIed with him into she'd
where he laid his tools. had no trouble to pre-
vail on him TO take me TO our friends. lie said
he would willingly risk his life in the services of
those who risked so much for his poor coun-
try.
lie took us to the house Of gentleman in ST.
ROCKS, who received us with kindness, and went
himself along with Mr. ID. to bring the boys, but
before they got TO the gates Of the town, the a.
arm OF our escape had been given and all were
shut, and no pc rson could get either out or in
until NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and police were station
eel at The gates and securing the streets in all
directions. General Mcdonnell and staff, as
well as all the other military officers, rush
ing through the streets, and lanes like mad men
-spurring their chargers, and as the poor man,
who had got inside, said, knocking the fire from
the stones of the streets with the heels of their
and IL
diers.
The next morning The two poor fellows, who
were stiflened and cold, crept out of their hid |
ing places, and crawled into a tavern, where
they had not been long before they were discov-
ed aud taken, while were concealed by our
trends, and the most active search was made
for us, and reward by the officers Of the
guards and by Lord Durham, ($300O,) was of:
tered for our apprehension but they might
have saved themselves the trouble, for those
with whom we were, and many of who knew
our place of conceament, Though in the poor
or and lower walks of life, could not be bought.
We suffered of course much by the manner IN
which we were hidden, for the first week, and
so not was the pursuit, that one night between 8
o'clock IN the evening and one in the morning, |
Mr. Dior we were separated for the first two
days-had to change his quarters five times, and
when the pursuit was the keenest-police and
soldiers taking up every one that either short
or tailor who wore glasses, or who were blind |
opening the collins of the dead--examnlng
all the old women they met with-we passed
through the streets disguised in as simple man
ner as possible and eluded their search. On the
Monday morning we escaped we went to the
house of respectable family where we were
treated as If belonging to them nor did we
leave them until we were ready to take the road
We could see the placards on the houses giving
a description or our persons anu offering the re-
ward, and hear every day the numerous reports
that were circulated concerning u.s. how we
were seen at some place, and how we were lying
SICK at another across the lines, &c. sc. When
the excitement had somewha, subsidized, and nu-
merous guards which were placed at the differ
ent thorough fares of the city, and the roads
leading out of it, were somewhat relaxed from
useless vigilance, we thought it then time to
start and as we had partially recovered from I
ourllamenoss, and were fit to undergo the fatigue
OF the journey, Saturday night the 3D. of Novem- I
Der, we fixed tor the occasion. Good horses 81
a guide were furnished us by kind riends--well |
armed with swords and pistols, we crossed the
river at Point Levy, where we mounted the {
horses that were at an appointed place awaiting I
US. we mounteti-and | will say four more 4
determined men never before took that road ,
we travelled ny night and slept 10y day. On
Tuesday morning little daylight we crossed c
the lines, where our hearts bounded with Joy at 5
the sight of the sign post Of the eagle and stars
advising lis that we were now in the State of c
Halne-that we had gained the haven that had !
been so long by us ardenty desired. As We
Gould not keep The direct route all the way, to
AVOID places where guards were stationed, we t
were obliged to take more circuitous routes, I
which almost doubled the distance and al q
though we dashed boldly forward, and were Il
ready to face any force that could be ought at
the instant against us, yet we were never met
ny any guard, nor were we challenged by sin r
gle individual We were obliged to pass not q
places where we knew guards 4
were placed to intercept us but onward we n
pushed, while they, with their accustomed Wig e
lance, where snoring away in their beds. We fl
mad intended to pass for small squadron of a
volunteer cavalry, sent ont of Quebec to pursue d
leserters, or ourselves, five had been question C
'd ny any casual acquaintance awe might pick 5
Up on the road. And either Mr.. d. or my Fl
elt had seen enough of the swagger of the vol. il
'nteer officers while in Upper Canada, we had c
IN idea that either of us could have personated s.
ne character to perfection however we had is
lot the chance, meeting 10 one but few poor Il
NhnrY tborn tive