Before Clensy left the _Catholot_ he told Sestrina to expect to see him on board again that same night.
The _Catholot_ was supposed to sail next morning, so Clensy naturally presumed that he could, at any rate, row out to her and see Sestrina once more before she sailed.
That same night, Biglow, Clensy and Adams packed their few goods and got all ready to clear out of Hayti. They had decided to take a boat from L— and row out to the _Catholot_ after dark, get on board by some excuse and then stow away.
That night, without delay, they hired the boat.
“If _one_ can stow away three can, eh, lad?” said Biglow, as they pulled at the oars and got round by the bend of the harbour near S—.
In a few moments they had turned the point where they got a good view of the harbour.
“Done! She’s sailed!” said Biglow in a mighty voice.
He nearly upset the boat as he stood up and stared over the waters of the starlit harbour.
It was true enough, the _Catholot_ had sailed. Sestrina had gone from Hayti!
“We’ll all be mydered, sure!” wailed Adams, as he leaned back on his portmanteau—an old red handkerchief—and groaned.
“It’s the fear of the blockade that made her sail to-day instead of to-morrow. Hear that?” said Biglow.
And as the three of them listened they could distinctly hear the distant booms of the guns and furious cannonade. It was evident that the insurgents were already besieging Cap Hatien, as in the south the Government soldiers were attacking Jacmel, Jéréme and Les Cayes.
Biglow swore terrifically when he realised their position. Clensy and Adams placed themselves unreservedly in his hands. They knew that if there was a way of getting out of Hayti, Biglow would find that way. And so he did! for, in less than twenty-four hours after finding that the _Catholot_ had sailed, Biglow, Adams and Clensy found themselves on board a Government steamer outbound for South America. The reason they did get away so easily was because Biglow, through his gun-running exploits, was well in with the American Consul. He knew so much about the financial side of the gun-running business, that in the event of the Government overthrowing the insurgents and still retaining power, it would turn out more convenient for the officials to get a man like Biglow as far away from Hayti as possible.