They escaped by dint of rowing to windward.

On the 5th of June 1791 they reached Timor, and pretended that they had belonged to a ship which, on her passage from Port Jackson to India, had foundered; and that they only had escaped.

The Dutch received them with kindness and treated them with hospitality.

But their behaviour giving rise to suspicion, they were watched; and one of them at last, in a moment of intoxication, betrayed the secret.

They were immediately secured and committed to prison.