Escapes from Cayenne

12 the murderers of the B a g n e had none ; we worked the whole day under a tropical sun, and were not allowed to light any fire nor to cook any thing. On Sundays we filed off before a sec­ ond lieutenant of marines; the Roman Catholics were obliged to go to mass, and the Protestants to stand up before the chapel, the face turned to the sun.

W e stayed at St. Joseph Island for nineteen months, and lost fifty of our companions—the fourth of us. They died from despair, want of food, ill treatment, and dysentery.

I wrote there a manuscript, entitled: The Dry Guillotine, and succeeded in sending out three copies, one to the United States, one to England, and the third to Belgium. I don't know exactly what became of them, but suppose they were published, having many reasons to believe so. In that work I related all the particulars of our sufferings, and the bold rob­ beries o f our tormentors.

In the month of March, 1855, the Governor of French Guiana, Rear Admiral Bonard, came to St. Joseph Island and informed us that our hard labor was suppressed, and that we should be removed to Devil's Island, where we could do as we liked.

A t the beginning of April, M. de la Richerie, Governor of Salute Island, visited St. Joseph and ordered me to accompany him to Devil's Island.

When we were alone in his boat, he asked me to beg the Emperor's pardon. " I will support your request, and the Governor will advo­ cate it," said h e ; " you are quite sure to receive your libera­ tion by return of mail." " I can not do such a thing, sir."

"Why?" " Because I am not the offender ; I am the offended." " Don't mention it; ask for pardon and they will give it to y o u . " " I never shall." " Then you will stay in prison all your life." " Never mind."

M. de la Richerie asked me if I would direct the erection of the necessary buildings, at Devil's Island, for the whole of my companions.

I accepted on condition that we should have neither soldiers, nor gendarmes, nor policemen with us. " B u t you must have administrators."

"Nobody." " But if there are quarrels among you ? " " W e shall not quarrel."

M. de la Richerie accepted my condition, left me at Devil's Island, and on the next day many of my companions joined me. In five weeks we erected thirteen Cazes wide enough to