suspicion.

On the 18th of May, 1781, he habited himself in the undress uniform of a
British officer, the whole covered with a old greatcoat, and, by the aid
of the sentinel, cleared the prison; when he threw off the coat, and
soon arrived at the house of a well known friend to the American cause,
in Plymouth. That he might not be soon missed, he got a lad, who, after
answering to his own name, was to get out, and answer to Barney's, in
the yard, which little stratagem succeeded admirably. When Barney
arrived at the friend's house, he made preparations to leave as soon as
possible, well knowing that if any of the British were detected
harboring him, they would be convicted of high treason. In the evening,
therefore, he departed to the house of his friend's father, at a
considerable distance, where he would be safer. On arriving there, he
was surprised to find two of his old friends--Americans--who had been,
for some time, anxiously waiting for an opportunity of returning home,
and now thought that the time had arrived.

Lieutenant Barney determined to sail for the French coast, and, for this
purpose, he and the two gentlemen purchased a small fishing vessel, and
habiting themselves in some fishermen's old apparel, they set sail on
their intended voyage. Admiral Digby's fleet lay at the mouth of the
river, and our adventurers had to pass through the midst of them, and
then run the chance of capture by the numerous British cruisers, which
continually ply about the channel. This was a daring undertaking, as the
fleet, he thought, had doubtless received notice of his escape, and the
enemy would be rigid in their search. He, therefore, determined to act
with coolness, and, if intercepted, to give such answers to the
questions put to him, as might best lull suspicion. If he was detected,
he would pay for the attempt with his life.