1 827.J French Prison of Valenciennes. 487 



boyhood to defy all inclemencies of weather. It was twenty to one that they 

 were good swimmers (a faculty which soon stood them in sufficient stead) ; 

 and the daily duties of their profession made those feats of activity matters 

 of course to them, which, to landsmen, would be difficult, and perhaps im- 

 practicable. Again, by their profession they were all handicraftsmen, 

 ready at the work either of smiths or carpenters; and familiar with every 

 device by which human strength could be applied most advantageously, or 

 safety best secured during its exertion. And above all, by their possession 

 of the art of managing a boat or vessel at sea, they would be secure of 

 success perhaps under the very same identical circumstances, which, to 

 landsmen, however strong and determined, would have left little choice 

 but between the certainty of being drowned, or the allowing themselves to 

 be retaken. The account of the manner of their quitting Valenciennes 

 is curious; and that of the difficulties which they at once began to expe- 

 rience in their march through the country, not less so : but as our limits 

 will only allow us to give a certain extent of notice to the narrative, we 

 shall come at once to the most interesting portion of it that which follows 

 their passage through the Netherlands, and arrival at a little fishing village 

 on the Dutch coast about four miles from Ostend the port of Blankenberg. 

 The fugitives had been twelve days from Valenciennes, lying of nights, 

 during the whole time, in the open air, and marching under a rain (and in 

 November too) almost unremitting ; their feet were swollen and bleeding : 

 the nails of one of the party absolutely dropping off, and a tumour formed 

 in the side of another, which proved the foundation of a rheumatism for 

 life : in short, says Captain Boys, our condition was so desperate with 

 fatigue and exhaustion, that " we had only made one mile in the last 

 three quarters of an hour," when we gained the high road that led to 

 Blankenberg, a small fishing village, a few miles to the eastward of Ostend. 

 It was the intention of the parties to get on, if possible, to the coast, seize 

 the first boat that they found lying unguarded, and, at all hazards put off 

 to sea; but a circumstance of a very unexpected character occurred, and 

 altered their arrangements. 



" At ten, passing by a solitary public-house, we observed though the window an 

 old man, two women, and a boy, sitting round a comfortable fire, at supper. 

 Hunter and myself entered for the purpose of purchasing provisions to take on 

 board any vessel we might be enabled to seize, being then about four miles from 

 the sea. We asked for gin : the woman of the house rose and stared at us, appa- 

 rently alarmed at our appearance. We repeated the demand without obtaining a 

 reply; still gazing, for a few seconds, regardless of our request, she rapturously 

 exclaimed, ' Mon Dieu ! ce sont des Anglois," immediately offering us chairs. 

 Somewhat disconcerted at this unexpected reception, we again asked for gin ; to 

 which she replied, ' Take seats, and you shall have whatever my house can afford.' 

 We thanked her for her attention, reiterating our request : she insisted we should 

 partake of her fare, assuring us that not a soul should enter the house during our 

 stay, if we would but sit down. Weagain refused observing, that, being con- 

 scripts, ordered into garrison at Blankenberg, we were fearful of punishment should 

 we not arrive there that night, according to orders. She burst into a loud laugh, 

 running to bar the door and window-shutters, at the same time ordering the 

 servant to fry more ham and eggs. We assured her it was useless, as we had already 

 taken supper at Bruges, and that we dare not stay; adding, it was a pretty com- 

 pliment to us Frenchmen to call us English. She jocosely replied, Well, then, 

 you are not English ; but it is so long since I saw any of my good folks, that I 

 insist on your eating some ham and eggs with me ; besides, you will not be able 

 to get away from Blankenberg to-night.' We used every means in our power to 

 dispossess her of her suspicions ; to all which she only replied, * Take chairs, if it is 



