490 Narrative of an Escape from the [ Nov. 



critical a situation, within pistol-shot of the fort, there was little time for delibe- 

 ration. Disappointed, but not disheartened, every article was replaced as it had 

 been found, and we reluctantly withdrew fully convinced, however, of the prac- 

 ticability of getting afloat from Blankenberg, if we did but seize the proper oppor- 

 tunity." 



In the morning, M. Winderkins sends word that he has reason to 

 believe his ally the fisherman had deceived him, and advises our friends to 

 remain housed at the inn (where they are in security), rather than hazard 

 the loss of all by too precipitate a venture. The soundness of this reasoning 

 contents them until the evening of the ninth of December, when he comes 

 again, and congratulates them on the certainty, this time, of success. 



" * In two days,' said Mynheer, ' you shall be with your families ; for I have 

 now found a fisherman who will undertake the job, provided his vessel be restored 

 to him ;' " of this we gave him every assurance, and he left us. After so irksome 

 a state of suspense, we were the more elated at the now flattering prospect of a 

 speedy restoration to our native shore. On the 10th he returned, damping our 

 hopes with information, that, in consequence .of the appearance of several English 

 vessels of war, all the fishing smacks were hauled above high water mark. Sus- 

 pecting such repeated excuses originated either in fear, or incapacity to fulfil his 

 engagement, it was determined to go again that night, so as to be on the beach at 

 half flood. We, accordingly, departed towards midnight, and rendezvoused at 

 his house ; his daughters keeping watch at the doors, for it appeared all the family 

 were in the secret. Leaving my friends there, I went with Winderkins to the 

 beach, and found the vessels as he had represented, except one, which was 

 moored with five hawsers, about pistol shot from the fort, just to the eastward of 

 a jetce. I got on board to examine her sails, and to see that every thing necessa y 

 could be got ready in an instant. I found that the wind, being nearly on shore, 

 we should be obliged to make a board to the eastward, which, in a flat-bottomed 

 craft, without sufficient ballast, the ropes and sails all covered with frozen snow, 

 and a good deal of swell upon the beach, would have been of very doubtful issue : 

 should, however, the wind shift only two points, there was a chance of success. 

 With this information I returned to my comrades, and we all went down to the 

 beach, there watching the rise and fall of the tide; when, the impracticability of 

 getting the vessel to sea, as the wind then stood, being evident, and seeing her 

 again hard and fast, we returned to the country from the fourth trip. The next day, 

 bad weather prevented the fishermen from going to sea, and obliged them to haul 

 the vessels beyond the reach of the surf." 



There are limits, however, to the efficacy of the soundest advice even 

 although the parties on whom it is bestowed are midshipmen : and our 

 author, whose endurance, is incomparably more considerable than his pa- 

 tience, determines, that as M. Winderkins does not seem materially likely 

 to help the party, it is highly necessary that they shall revert to their old 

 practice, and help themselves. In consequence of this conclusion, three 

 efforts are made to seize vessels lying at Blankenberg, neither of which 

 are successful ; but the circumstances of one are so peculiar, that we shall 

 extract the story nearly as it stands. 



The first of these experiments is made on the 2d of January ; a month 

 having then been consumed in fruitless speculation, and nightly visits to 

 the beach, with and without M. Winderkins, which we have not room 

 even to take an account of. 



" On the 2d of January, information was brought that two of the vessels had 

 been nearly floated by the last tide. Upon the receipt of this joyful news, it was 

 resolved to pay them a visit that night; the wind being from the eastward, and 

 the weather fine, our hopes were most sanguine, amounting almost to a confidence 

 of immediate departure. Accordingly, soon after eleven, we went down to the 



