Scotland/Scots > Man of the world > Volume 2

154 the man of the world.
fuffer as many more. The remainder,
however, I refolved, if pofiible, to efcape
by an a£t of fuicide. This I was only
prevented from putting in execution by
the want of opportunity; as I .had been
ftripped of every the fmalleft weapon of
offence, and was bound with ropes to one
of the polls of my bed. I contrived,
neverthelefs, about midnight, to reach the
fire-place with my feet, and having drawn
out thence a live ember, difpofed it im¬
mediately under the mofl combuflible
part of the bed. It had very foon the
effedl I defired ; the room was fet on fire,
and I regained my liberty, by the ropes,
with which I was tied, being burnt. At
that moment the defire of life was re¬
kindled by the poffibility of efcaping:
the flames burfting out fiercely at one
fide of the houfe where I lay, the atten¬
tion of the foldiers whom the fire had
awaked.