You will be chosen for small boat service; and that is a great thing, as we are not chained in the small boats.
Some men are foolish and obstinate, but, so far from doing any good, this only brings trouble on themselves; they come in for punishment daily, they are closely watched, and their lives made hells for them.
Even as a help to escape it pays best to be cheerful and alert.

We all think of escape, you know, though it is seldom indeed that a chance ever comes to any of us.

It is the one thing except death to look forward to, and there is not a man among us who does not think of it scores of times a day; but, small as the chance is, it is greatest for those who behave best.

For instance, it is they only who man small boats; and when a small boat rows ashore, it is always possible that the guard may be careless--that he will keep the boat at the landing place, instead of pushing off at once into deep water, as he ought to do--and that in this way a chance will, sooner or later, come for springing ashore and making a dash for liberty.".