I praised God in my soul for this merciful providence of meeting a friend, though a stranger, whose face seemed to me so honest and so true.  Any condition, even honest slavery, would have been preferred by me at that time to a convent.  The American ship was the most beautiful thing I ever saw afloat; splendid and neat in all her cabin arrangements.  The mates were polite, and the sailors appeared neat and happy.  Even the black cook showed his beautiful white teeth, as though he was glad to see one of the ladies of Italy.  Poor fellows!  Little did they know at that time what peril I was in should I be found out and taken back to my dungeon again.  I informed the captain of my situation, of having just escaped from a convent into which I had been forced against my will.  I told him I would pay him my passage to America, if he would hide me somewhere until the ship was well out to sea.  He said I had come just in time, for he was only waiting for a fair wind, and hoped to be off that evening.  “I have,” said he, “a large number of bread-casks on board, and two are empty.  I shall have you put into one of these, in which I shall make augur-holes, so that you can have plenty of fresh air.  Down in the hold amongst the provisions you will be safe.”  I thanked my kind friend and requested him to buy me some needles, silk, and cotton thread, and some stuff for a couple of dresses, and one-piece of fine cotton, so that I might make myself comfortable during the voyage.

After I ate my dinner, the men called the captain and said there were several boats full of soldiers coming to the ship, accompanied by the priests.  “Lady,” exclaimed the captain, “they are after you.  There is not a moment to be lost.  Follow me,” he continued.  “And, Mr. Smith, tell the men to be careful and not make known that there is a lady on board.”

An awful cold chill ran over me.  I followed my friend quickly, and soon found myself coiled in a large cask.  The captain coopered the head, which was missing, and made holes for me to get the air; but the perspiration ran off my face in a stream.  Lots of things were piled on the cask, so that I had hard work to breathe; but such was my fear of the priests that I would rather have perished in the cask than be returned to die by inches.

The captain had been gone but a short time when I heard steps on deck, and much noise and confusion.  As the hatches were open, I could hear very distinctly.  After the whole company were on deck, the captain invited the priests and friars, about twenty in number, to walk down to the cabin, and explain the cause of their visit.  They talked through an interpreter, and said that “a woman of bad character had robbed one of the churches of a large amount of gold, had attempted to murder one of the holy priests, but they were happy to say that the holy father, though badly wounded, was in a fair way of recovery.  This woman is young, but very desperate, has awful raving fits, and has recently escaped from a lunatic institution.  When her fits of madness come on they are obliged to put her into a straight jacket, for she is the most dangerous person in Italy.  A great reward is offered for her by her father and the government—­five thousand scudi.  Is not this enough to tempt one to help find her?  She was seen coming towards the shipping, and we want the privilege of searching your ship.”