interrupt military men:’ then whispering, loud enough for them to hear, ‘la bayonette;’ upon which they dropt astern, though still keeping near us; in the course of a quarter of an hour, on turning an angle of the road, we lost sight of them, and continued a rapid march, frequently running, until about five a.m., when we were unexpectedly stopped by the closed gates of a town. We retraced our steps a short distance, in the hope of discovering some other road; but we could find neither a footpath, nor wood, nor any other place of concealment. We quitted the high-road, and drew towards a rising ground, there to wait the dawn of day, in the hope of retreating to some neighbouring copse; no sooner had we laid ourselves upon the ground, than sleep overcame us. Our intention was, if no wood could be seen, to go to an adjoining ploughed field, and there scratch a hole in which we could hide ourselves from a distant view. Upon awakening from a short slumber, we reconnoitred around, and found our position to be near a fortification; being well acquainted with such places, we approached, in the hope of finding an asylum. At break of day, we descended into the ditch, and found the entrance into the subterraneous works of the covered way nearly all blocked up with ruins and bushes: an opening, however, was made, we crept in, our quarters were established, and the rubbish and bushes replaced in the space of a few minutes. This most providential and pleasing discovery, added to our many narrow escapes from detection, excited a feeling of gratitude to that Omnipotent Being who, in his infinite mercy, had thus cast his protecting wings around us.
“I have since heard, that the first intimation of our departure at Valenciennes was at dawn of day, when, on opening the north gate, the rope was seen suspended from the parapet. The roll to muster was instantly beaten, and the alarm given to the neighbouring peasantry by the firing of guns. The midshipmen, on whom suspicion first fell, were hurried into ranks, half-dressed; and when the names of the absentees were called over, some one tauntingly replied, ‘Parti pour l’Angleterre; – This tone of triumph considerably exasperated the gens-d’armes, and inflamed the zeal of our pursuers; it also might have had some influence in exciting the solicitude of the commandant for our apprehension. * * * * * * The whole town was in confusion. All the bloody-minded rabble were let loose, with multifarious weapons, and carte blanche to massacrer these lawless aspirons. Besides which 500 of the garde nationale were despatched to scour all the woods within five leagues, and an additional reward of 300 livres was offered for the capture of each of us. The reason for limiting the search to that distance was a belief of the improbability of our having exceeded it, after the arduous task of undermining, &c.
“But to proceed: – we were totally unacquainted with the country; an examination of the maps pointed out the place of our retreat to be the fortification of Tournay: the fallen ruins were the bed upon which fatigue and a confidence of security, procured us a sound and refreshing sleep. At
