Page:History of James Allan.pdf/19

 conversing about their recruits, he heard one of them exclaim, after describing his person and dress, “O the Scotch villain, he enlisted with me last night, and I will have him if he be on earth.” A drummer boy playing at marbles near the door, told them the recruit had gone up stairs. Allan in a moment locked the door, and knotting the bed clothes together, threw them out of the window, having fixed the other end to the bed-post Jemmy had just time to slip under the bed, when the soldiers broke open the door, and seeing the state of the bed clothes, and his hat lying in the yard, immediately set off in pursuit. The landlord’s daughter coming up stairs to examine the state of the room, Allan discovered himself to her, and by a little flattery she was won over to manoeuvre his escape.

On reaching Andover, he entered a public-house, and ordered breakfast, during which a man eyed him so minutely as to render him very uneasy. The man stepped out, but before Allan got one hundred yards from the door, he was seized by a party of soldiers, and immediately taken a prisoner to the guard-house, and from thence was removed to the prison, the officer observing, that “a desperate man deserved desperate treatment.” Allan on viewing his dreary cell, saw there was no way of escape but by sawing asunder the iron window bars which during the night he accomplished. Allan fled with great speed for several miles, when he was obliged to sell his shirt to procure something to eat. On reaching Salisbury, he again enlisted, and, notwithstanding the precautions of the party, he deserted on the third day. On entering a public-house at Devizes, he was accosted by the unpleasant salutation, “Sir, you are my prisoner.” With his usual presence of mind he signed that he was begging, and acted the dumb man to such perfection, that the company in the house took his part. Many plans of detection were tried, which Allan continued to defeat; but after having drank his ale, was proceeding to the door, when a bucket of water was dashed in his face. This unexpected salute caused him to roar out, “What’s that for;” when the constable instantly seized, and, after a desperate struggle, had him conveyed to the black hole. On examining the prison, he found there was no hope of escape but by the chimney, which he determined to attempt at night. While sitting musing, the prison-door was gently opened, and