One day, while I was listening to an account of the exploits of the privateer Chasseur, which captured eighty vessels altogether, of which thirty-two were of equal force to herself and eighteen superior, an orderly came along and called out in a loud voice,--"John Crane is wanted at Captain Shortland's office!"
Captain Shortland was the commandant of the prison. I made my toilet by running my fingers through my hair, and then followed the orderly.
RELEASED ON PAROLE.--GO TO PORTSMOUTH.--OLD FRIENDS.--DECLARATION OF PEACE.--RETURN TO AMERICA.--WEDDING BELLS.--THE END.
It required the unlocking and opening of several doors to reach the office of the commandant; and at each door the orderly was obliged to exhibit a permit from the commandant for me to accompany him, or rather, for him to be accompanied by "one prisoner." At the last of the gates the permit was retained by the keeper; there was another gate to be passed to get outside the prison, consequently it would have been impossible for the orderly to set me free had he been inclined to do so.
Captain Shortland did not waste time or words in the interview between us.
"Are you John Crane, captain of the late privateer Marguerite?" he asked, as soon as I was brought into his presence.
"You are to be released on parole, according to orders from London. William Haines, your second mate, goes with you."
Then he turned instantly to another orderly, and told him to go for William Haines. A secretary made out the necessary permit, and the orderly departed. I waited for him to say something further to me, but speedily found from his manner that he had nothing to say.
Watching till he paused in giving instructions to those about him, I asked if I was to go immediately. Without looking up from his desk he said,--
"In that case I would like to go back to my quarters for a few minutes."
"What do you want to go back for?" he asked, in a tone almost of vexation.
"I want to pack my trunks and store my furniture," I said; "and also want to say good-by to my comrades."
The absurdity of the first half of my reason for returning seemed to amuse him, for he smiled visibly, in spite of the austerity of his manner. He knew that I had nothing but the clothes I stood in, and therefore my trunk-packing and storage of furniture were flights of fancy. He nodded assent, and told his secretary to fill out a permit.