Prison Ship (28 page)

‘Anyway, the Governor has let it be known he is happy to overlook your run-in with Lieutenant Gray and will arrange for you to be shipped back to England. I discovered this a month or so after you were taken away to
Green Hills. I gather the news arrived there the day after you escaped. Yes. I heard about that. I couldn't believe you'd be so stupid.'

‘But what of our escape,' I wailed. ‘Has that scotched our chances?' This was all too cruel.

Dan looked hopeful. ‘Did you kill anyone on your travels?'

‘Yes. But only after he tried to kill me,' I said.

‘I heard you'd escaped with a couple of thugs,' said Dan. ‘Not the best strategy was it?'

We both shook our heads like naughty schoolboys.

‘Tell them you were separated and you don't know what happened to those two. They're well rid of them from what I've heard, and they won't be asking any questions. But we need to get you to Governor King's office as soon as possible. I treated his daughter recently, so he owes me a favour. I shall plead your case, and hope he agrees to let you go.'

Silence descended while we took this all in. In the space of a few seconds our lives had been turned around. I felt drained. I wanted to cry, but fought back my tears. ‘Doctor Dan,' I said, ‘what shall we do now?'

Dan was thinking quickly. ‘Look, if the Navy people find you here with me, we'll all be arrested. I want you both to stay here. Hide under the beds. I kept your room the same as it was before all this nonsense. There's no one else in the house. I'm going over to the Governor's immediately.'

‘Why don't we come too?' said Richard.

Dan shook his head. ‘Oh no. You're not going anywhere in this town without an escort of the Governor's own men. I don't fancy your chances if John Gray's soldiers get to you before you see Governor King. I hear Gray is furious about you being acquitted. Says it's undermining respect for the officers of the Crown. Pompous arse. Now stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can.'

We waited. It was as quiet as it ever gets on the Rocks. We looked around, refamiliarising ourselves with our old home. Then we heard shouting outside. Richard peered gingerly through the window. A small party of soldiers were working their way through the street, along with a Navy officer. He must be one of the men from the cutter. They were banging on doors and searching every house they came to.

We both hid under our beds. Then we realised it was a hopeless hiding place. ‘Let's spare Dan the trouble of getting a new door,' I said. ‘We'll keep quiet when they knock, but if it looks like they're going to bash down the door we'll just let them in.'

They knocked in a manner that nearly brought the door off its hinges. Then we heard someone say, ‘Quinton. Kick the door in.'

We opened the door just as one of the soldiers was lifting his leg to break it down. He looked startled but the
other soldiers all swiftly raised their muskets at us. The Navy officer said, ‘That looks like them.' Then he talked to us directly. ‘You two scarecrows wouldn't be the pair we saw running up from the bay would you?'

One of the soldiers spoke. He had sergeant stripes on his sleeve. ‘These are our culprits, sir. They look like they've been brought up by wolves. Come on,' he grabbed me roughly by the arm. ‘You're off to the barracks. Who lives here, by the way?'

Richard spoke up. ‘We don't know. We just hid in the first house we could get into.'

The sergeant turned to our neighbour Edward Bean, who had come out of his house in his nightshirt to see what was going on.

‘Who lives here?' the sergeant asked him curtly.

Edward peered at us curiously. ‘Oh, hello lads,' he said. ‘Didn't expect to see you for another few years.' Then he looked at the soldiers. ‘Daniel Sadler's house that is. But don't blame him. He's out.'

Richard and me were bundled off at bayonet point to the nearby barracks. Here we were thrown on to the floor of a cell with brute force. Ten minutes later the door opened again and Doctor Dan was hurled in with similar brutality.

When he'd dusted himself down he sat on the wooden bench that had been screwed to the wall. ‘I thought they'd find you soon enough. Did they kick down the door?'

We told him it didn't get that far.

‘Good,' he said. ‘An open door after dark on the Rocks – there wouldn't be a scrap of furniture left by the morning.'

‘The Governor is out, I'm afraid,' he went on. ‘Dining with friends out of town, I'm told. I left word with him anyway. Don't worry. I'm sure he'll order our release immediately.'

‘Why are you here with us?' I said.

‘Picked up on the way back by soldiers. “Harbouring fugitives,” they tell me. Apparently I'm due for a serious flogging.'

He didn't seem too worried. As we sat and waited, what he had told us earlier began to sink in. ‘Tell us again about this pardon,' I said.

‘And while you're about it,' said Richard, ‘tell us what day it is. We've no idea how long we've been in the bush.'

‘It's the fifth of October,' said Dan. ‘You have been leading a wild life.'

I was astonished. We had been gone from Sydney for only four months. It felt much longer.

Just then we heard footsteps outside the cell. ‘That'll be the Governor's men now,' said Dan. ‘We'll be back in his office in five minutes. Once you're there, you'll be safe.'

The door opened. Five soldiers marched in, bayonets attached to their muskets. They pointed them menacingly at us. Then, a moment later, in strolled an army lieutenant. It was John Gray.

‘Off we go,' he said to Richard and me.

‘We're staying here,' said Doctor Dan.

Gray grabbed him by his jacket and hauled him to his feet.

‘What did you say?'

‘These boys are staying here with me,' said Dan. ‘They are under my protection.'

Gray sighed. ‘Is this the man who's just been arrested for harbouring fugitives?' One of the soldiers nodded.

Gray kneed Dan hard in the stomach. As he bent forward in agony another soldier stepped forward and hit him hard over the head with a pistol butt. He fell to the floor and was roughly dragged to his feet by two other soldiers.

‘I demand to see your commanding officer,' said Dan breathlessly. Gray cuffed him around the back of the neck. ‘Shut up before you start losing your teeth,' he hissed.

A horrible thought occurred to me. Did Gray know Dan was a doctor and a friend of the Governor? Almost certainly. Doctors were well known to most people in Sydney. If he was treating Dan this brutally, perhaps he intended to kill us all.

Outside the barracks there was a horse and cart, with a load of empty sacks on the back. ‘On you get,' said Gray, and all of us clambered aboard.

‘Where are we going?' said Dan. Gray took his pistol and pointed it straight in Dan's face. For a moment I thought he was going to kill him on the spot.

‘I won't tell you again,' he said. ‘Shut up.'

Then he turned to the driver and said, ‘Devon Wood.' It was a little way out of town, and we all knew what was going to happen when we got there.

Gray was going to have us all killed. No doubt he would claim we had run away from a patrol and had been shot as they tried to apprehend us. Dan was right about how angry he was about our pardon.

I tried to stay calm, wracking my brains for a way out. Gray was sitting just in front of me, so I spoke up. I didn't care if he hit me, I'd be dead soon anyway. ‘Lieutenant Gray, sir. You have no quarrel with Doctor Sadler. Let him go, I beg you.'

Gray laughed. ‘What, and let him tell everyone what happened to you two? Another word and I'll have you gagged.'

In my mind's eye I could see what was coming out there in the woods. Gunshots, or glinting bayonets, in the half moon. A cold, dark death. We had cheated fate in battle, escaped our hanging, outwitted our cannibal friend, and now our luck had run out.

As the cart approached the edge of town, we heard the rattle and snort of another horse-drawn vehicle heading towards us. It was an enclosed carriage complete with a detachment of marines marching briskly alongside. Only the Governor would travel in such style. Gray pulled our cart to one side and we waited for them to pass.

Gray hissed, ‘Not a word or we'll kill you here on the spot.' The soldier opposite me pressed his bayonet into my stomach, so close I could feel the blade on my skin.

Richard and I were sitting with our backs to the carriage. Doctor Dan was facing it. He sat as upright as he could so his face would be visible over the top of our heads. We saw at once what he was doing and hunched our heads down.

The carriage trundled past. It did not stop. ‘Move on,' shouted Gray and we began to lurch forward.

Then I heard shouting. I looked back to see Governor King himself clamber from his carriage. He yelled out, ‘You soldiers. Stand down.'

A moment later, King and four of his marine escort strode up to the cart.

‘Doctor Sadler? Is that you?'

Dan smiled broadly. ‘Your Excellency, I am very pleased to see you.'

King turned at once to Gray. ‘Lieutenant, explain yourself.'

Gray seemed unflappable. ‘The two boys are escaped convicts. The man here was harbouring them.'

‘But this is Doctor Sadler, man,' King said with some exasperation.

‘So he told me, sir,' said Gray. ‘I am not acquainted with him.'

‘So where are you taking them?' said King.

‘Sussex barracks, sir,' said Gray. ‘The town barracks gaol is full.'

‘Well Lieutenant, I can see there must have been a mistake. Doctor Sadler is my friend, and he is welcome to return to my residence with me.'

‘Release the prisoner,' said Gray to his men. Dan stood up and jumped down from the cart.

‘Now, your Excellency,' said Gray, with icy politeness. ‘May I proceed?'

They were going to leave Richard and me with Gray.

‘Carry on,' shouted King.

The clatter of horse and cart setting into motion must have drowned out the conversation Dan had with King.

We heard another command.

‘Lieutenant, stop that cart.'

King spoke firmly, in a tone that broached no argument. ‘These boys have been acquitted of the charges against them by order of His Majesty the King. They are to be released at once.'

That was that. We got out. I could not see Gray's face, but could imagine it. The thought of him grinding his teeth with rage would make me smile for months to come.

We spent the night in the guardroom of the Governor's house, where we were given new clothes, blankets, hot drink and food, and water to wash with. Dan came to see us first thing in the morning. ‘Get yourself cleaned up,
boys. You're up for an audience with the Governor.'

We were ushered into his office. I was reminded of the captain's cabins I had seen in the Navy. The same polished furniture, glinting silverware and oil paintings.

Governor King was matter of fact. ‘I understand Doctor Sadler has already told you of your acquittal,' he said. ‘So you are free to return home.'

‘Please sir,' I asked, ‘can you tell us what happened. Who ordered our acquittal?'

King frowned. Perhaps I was being impertinent. Then he reached into a drawer on his desk and began to sift through a pile of correspondence.

‘Here we are,' he said, ‘letter from Viscount Neville. I believe you know his son, Robert?'

He put on a pair of spectacles and read it through carefully. We waited awkwardly in the silence. Then he spoke.

‘Ah yes – Nathaniel Pritchard, the Purser on HMS
Elephant
. He'd been fiddling the ship's books for years. And his son Oliver – he was the midshipman who deceived the court into thinking you had hidden in the hold, wasn't he? Both of them exposed as crooks. They were sentenced to death. I'm told Oliver made a contrite confession admitting he had falsely accused you both. The court was intending to commute his sentence, as they did yours. But this confession tipped the balance against him. Good for you, not so good for him. Your shipmate Robert Neville has been hard at work on your behalf. His father is a good
friend of mine. The family secured you both a full acquittal and ensured news of this was sent at once to the colony.

‘Now, I suggest you leave at the earliest opportunity. The New South Wales Corps is not best pleased that I have ordered you to be set free.'

I spoke up. ‘Your Excellency, Lieutenant Gray was going to kill us. And Doctor Sadler too, when he tried to protect us.'

King snorted impatiently. ‘I'm quite aware of that. Now, I want you to remain here in my house until a ship can take you back home. There should be one sailing in a week or two. I'm sure they'll be able to make use of two experienced Navy men.'

Richard snapped smartly to attention. ‘Permission to speak, sir.'

‘Carry on,' said King.

‘Your Excellency, I am an American citizen. I would like your permission to join an American ship. There is one currently moored in the harbour – the
Nantucket
.'

King eyed him coldly. ‘I'm afraid she sailed this morning, but I shall consider your request. Now, for your own safety, I insist on keeping you here. The guardroom's the safest place. You'll be protected by my marines there, and I'll see to it you're well fed and comfortable.'

He nodded. Our audience was over.

I felt I had to say something more. ‘Thank you, sir, for saving our lives.'

King turned again and smiled. ‘Don't thank me lad, thank Viscount Neville and his son.'

‘So you're going back to America,' I said as soon as we were alone in our new quarters.

‘I've had enough of the British Navy, Sam. I've had enough of high-born snobs telling me what to do and I've had enough of burgoo and scotch coffee for breakfast. I've had enough of fighting for a country I don't actually belong to. You know a lot of us Yanks are all in favour of the French and their revolution. If King George had lived in America, we would probably have chopped his head off too.'