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which were then ripe for execution, when Cadell came up, and told us that Rochfort had just been seized with head-ache and fever, so violent as to require his being immediately put to bed. This I could not credit, until made an eye-witness of the fact. Struck with astonishment, I gazed on the sufferer, and scarcely able to ask a question, stole into the yard, absorbed in thought and perplexity; not cherishing the faintest hope of finding another in the citadel lo join with me. * * * * I wandered about for some time, reflecting on this extraordinary occurrence, little suspicious of what was afterwards developed, that, from our total ignorance of the impediments, in passing into the upper citadel, failure and its attendant consequences, must have been the result of trial at this time. My mind, however, was not to be diverted from the object in view; and no sooner had I roused myself from the effect of this disheartening event, than I began to meditate new schemes, for I was resolved on the attempt ‘coute qui conte’; but hesitated whether to await Rochfort’s recovery, or to look out for another companion. Day after day passed in this state of suspense; when finding no amendment in his health, he was liberal enough to advise my seeking a helpmate among the seamen. He became so reduced by his illness, that, even if he did recover, he durst not risk exposure to night chills, for a considerable time; it was, therefore, with extreme reluctance, I abandoned the hope of his company. I then went to several of the most steady quarter-masters and other petty officers, without success. Whether they doubted the possibility of escape, or were deterred by the recollection of the barbarous murders at Bitche, I cannot say: for it was known, that when the commandant of that place had gained intimation of an intended attempt, he suffered the fugitives to reach a certain point, where the gens-d’armes were concealed, ready to rush in, and murder them. Two sailors, named Marshall and Cox, fell victims to this refined system of republican discipline. A somewhat similar act of cold-blooded atrocity afterwards occurred at Givet, in the person of Hayward, a midshipman: this gallant fellow, with his friend Gale, had broken out of prison, in the face of day, and fled into the country: unfortunately they were discovered, and the alarm given: two horse gens-d’armes immediately pursued, and overtook them in on open field. On their approach, Hayward, being unarmed, and seeing escape impossible, stood still, extending his arms, and exclaimed – ‘Je me rends:’ but this was too favorable an opportunity to be neglected, for the savage gratification of shedding human blood. Neither the defenceless state of the individual, nor his prompt surrender, could avert these merciless miscreants from plunging their swords into his manly chest, and mangling the body in a horrible maimer. It was afterwards taken into the prison-yard, stripped naked, and exposed to the view of the prisoners, for the purpose of intimidating others from the like attempt. Gale gave himself up at the same time; and although he received several severe wounds, they did not prove mortal.

“It will scarcely be credited, that the commandant gave the perpetra-