"'What!' said Captain Whipple, 'Do you think of swimming to that
point?'
"'Yes, we must, to avoid the sentinels,' I answered.
"'Well,' said Captain Whipple, 'Give it up, It is only throwing your
lives away, for there is not a man on earth who can swim from this
ship to that point as cold as the water is now. Why, how far do you
think it is?'
"'Why,' I answered, 'Waterman and myself have estimated the distance
at a mile and a half.'
"'Yes,' said he, 'It's all of two and a half miles. You cannot
measure across as well as I can. So you had better give it up, for I
have encouragement of getting home next week, and if I do, I will make
it my whole business to get you all exchanged immediately.'
"Altho' Waterman was several years my senior in age, the conversation
was carried on between Captain Whipple and myself for the reason that
Captain W. was more acquainted with me than with Waterman, but
Waterman was present." (Captain Whipple was captured five times during
the Revolution, each time on his own vessel.)
"His advice had great weight on our minds, but did not shake our
purpose. We had not been on board the Old Jersey more than one hour
before we began to plot our escape. We had been only three days on
board when we left it forever. We had been on board long enough to
discover the awful scenes which took place daily in this 'floating
hell.
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