It is impossible to describe our consternation and surprise upon
this occasion, which was greatly increased when we advanced near
the place, at seeing him (through some little wire bars) confined
in a small box, without any visible way for him to get out, and
hearing him in the most moving accents beg us to assist him in
procuring his liberty. We all ran round and round his place of
confinement several times; but not the least crack or opening
could we discover, except through the bars, which being of iron,
it was impossible for us to break or bend. At length we
determined to try to gnaw through the wood-work close at the edge,
which being already some little distance from one of the bars, we
hoped, by making the opening a little wider, he would escape:
accordingly we all began, he on the inside, and we all on the out,
and by our diligence had made some very considerable progress,
when we were interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Nurse with the
child in her arms.

Upon the sight of her, though much grieved to leave our brother in
his distress, yet fearing instant death would be the fate of all
of us if we stayed, to preserve our own existence, we retired as
quick as possible, but not without her seeing some of us, for we
heard her say to herself, or to the babe in her arms, 'I declare,
this closet swarms with mice, they spoil everything one puts
here.' Then taking up the box in which was poor Softdown (and
which I afterwards learned was called a trap) she carried it intO
the room. I crept softly after her, to see what would be the fate
of my beloved brother. But what words can express my horror, when
I saw her holding it in one hand close to the candle, whilst in
the other she held the child, singing to her with the utmost