45.
78
I glanced round and saw a Convict close to me with an uplifted pole about to strike me. I sprang up and ran into the water, and Frankey Hicks at the same time also ran into the water; I think I saw Johnson lying in the police Boat about twenty yards from the Stone Boat, I called to the police Boatmen to come in but they did not do so. I swam towards the boat and the boat met us and the boatmen helped me on board; Turnkey Hicks also swam off to the Boat and was taken on board; Johnson was in the boat before me, I do not know how he got there; he said he swam off. I had my Revolver but except the Chinese Constables' spears there were no other arms on board. The Portuguese Constable had no fire-arms, and the Revolvers of myself, Hicks, and Johnson had been taken from us by the Convicts; at the time I got into the police Boat the Stone Boat pushed off from the shore, I saw one of the Indian Constables who had been on guard for the gang at the Stone Boat; I wanted to pull after the Stone Boat to attack them with the Chinese Constables' Spears, but Turnkey Hicks said it would be better to pull to the Heath for fire-arms and we accordingly pulled towards the Heath; soon after passing the point I saw the Inspector's gig pulled by four convicts having Trunkeys, Mr. Hill, and Mr. French on board.