The labour was very severe, but it was a consolation to the captives that they were kept together.
By Charlie's advice they exerted themselves to the utmost, and thus succeeded in pleasing their masters, and in escaping with but a small share of the blows, which were liberally distributed among other prisoners, native and European, employed upon the work.

Charlie, indeed, was appointed as a sort of overseer; having under him not only his own party, but thirty others, of whom twenty were natives, and ten English sailors, who had been captured in a merchantman.

Although closely watched, he was able to cheer these men, by giving them a hope that a chance of escape from their captivity might shortly arrive.

All expressed their readiness to run any risk to regain their liberty.
From what he heard the pirates say, Charlie learned that they were expecting an attack from an expedition which was preparing at Bombay.
The English sailors were confined in a casemate, adjoining that occupied by Charlie and his companions.

The guard kept over them was but nominal, as it was considered impossible that they could escape from the island, off which lay a large fleet of the pirate vessels.
One morning upon starting to work they perceived, by the stir in the fortress, that something unusual was taking place; and presently, on reaching the rampart, they saw in the distance a small squadron approaching.