1827.] French Prison of Valenciennes. 439 



is not an honest woman !" And the whole party sit down to breakfast 

 together within five minutes (so very amenable does mutual interest make 

 folks) as well acquainted as if they had been friends, or relatives at least, 

 for twenty years. 



" The roof which now sheltered us covered a solitary ' cabaret,' situated midway 

 between Bruges and Blankenberg, known by the sign of the * Raie-de-chat,' 

 which, by way of abbreviation, we called the ' Cat;* and being the house of police 

 correspondence, it was visited regularly three times a week, and sometimes of tener, 

 by the gens-d'armes, consequently the less likely to be suspected. According to 

 the ' code Napoleon,' the penalties attached to favouring the escape of prisoners 

 of war, were a fine of 12/. 105 , the expenses of the law proceedings, and two 

 months' imprisonment. This law, however, did not intimidate Madame Derikre, 

 for such was her name; she resolved upon serving us; yet, notwithstanding her 

 apparent sincerity and assurance of success, our minds were not perfectly at ease 

 until twenty four hours had elapsed ; that being the time allowed for proprietors to 

 announce to the police the presence of strangers in their houses. In order to 

 excite confidence, we offered her all our money : this she generously refused, 

 declaring that, if success did not attend our exertions, she should not expect a 

 stiver. No sooner were we in the loft than, aided by our friendly hostess, our 

 separate wounds were examined and dressed. After dark, the servant-maid, named 

 Cocher, and the dog Fox being placed at the front door to watch, we d. scended to 

 partake of some broth anxiously waiting the return of a messenger sent by 

 Madame Derikre to Blankenberg for her confidential friend, a man named Winder- 

 kins. About nine, the boy came with intelligence that he was gone to Ostend, 

 and that his wife would send him to the * Cat' upon his return. We remounted 

 into the loft, and slept as comfortably upon clean straw as the pain of our wounds 

 would allow. The following evening, Mynheer Winderkins was introduced : he 

 undertook, upon condition of sharing the reward, to find a fisherman who would 

 either land us in England, or put us on board an English man of war; and pro- 

 mised information on the subject the following day." 



The first movement made under the auspices of Mr. Winderkins is a 

 failure. The party march down at an appointed hour to Blankenberg, 

 and remain several hours in the dark among the sand-hills, expecting a 

 boat to carry them off. The patrole, however, remains too much on the 

 alert, until after the hour when the tide will serve ; and they return to 

 " The Cat/' much to their own chagrin, and the surprise of Madame 

 Derikre. 



A second attempt is made three days after this first, on the 4th of De- 

 cember, at night; it has no direct success any more than the former, but 

 what occurs serves to keep up the spirits of the adventurers. 



" We now (once more) bade adieu to the * Cat/ and, accompanied by Madame 

 Derikre and Winderkins, proceeded to Blankenberg. After leaving us some time 

 behind the sand-hills, the latter returned with information that he could not find 

 the fisherman who had undertaken to embark us. It was instantly determined to 

 seize one of the schuyts : we accordingly ran down to the beach, preceded by 

 Winderkins as a look-out, gave him his bill, and leaped on board the outermost 

 vessel. The sails were arranged, and every thing speedily prepared for weighing. 

 The night was dark; we sat silent as the grave, waiting with intense anxiety, until 

 the tide, which was then flowing, should float our little bark. Whilst thus listen- 

 ing to the murmuring break of the sea, which seemed slowly to approach, as if 

 chiding our impatience, yet inviting us to the protection of its bosom, our dearest 

 hopes appeared on the point of being realized. These hopes, however, Were but 

 of short duration, and only tended to render our disappointment more bitter : the 

 tide rose just to cast a few sprays against the bows, and to retire. So high had 

 our expectations been raised, that the water had receded some feet ere we could 

 believe it had left us : it was then, however, too evident to be doubted. In so 



M.M. Neiv Series. VUL. IV. No. 23. 3 R 



