496 Narrative of an Escape from t lie [Nov. 



provisions, taking each time a different ditection, to avoid making a path. One 

 night, Whitehurst, exhausted with illness and fatigue, while crossing a ditch, fell 

 in ; and, swinging under an old tree that overhung the water, it was with some 

 difficulty we could extricate him. After this accident, we always left him in the 

 nest; but Hunter and myself continued our nightly excursions to the ' Cat,' and 

 found its inmates, at each succeeding visit, more and more determined to perse- 

 vere in rendering us assistance. Indeed, so much had we grown upon their esteem, 

 and so intense was the interest excited by the extremity of our sufferings, that, on 

 one occasion, poor old Cocher, the servant, offered to pawn even her gold cross 

 and heart, and all she possessed, to Moitier, if he would but befriend the poor 

 * Englishes.' " 



The conduct of these poor people appears to have been highly creditable 

 throughout. They could scarcely be fairly considered (though they were 

 aiding the escape of an enemy) as traitors to the interests of France ; because, 

 except by the right of force, France had no more title to claim allegiance 

 from them than from the fugitives whom they were assisting; and their 

 fidelity to Captain Boys and his friends remained firm under circumstances 

 of great difficulty. It may be urged that " they were paid for what they 

 did;" but he who looks for service altogether disinterested, will generally 

 be mistaken : and it would have been very easy for Madame Derikre and 

 her companions, had they been so disposed, to have obtained all the money 

 which our adventurers possessed, without affording them any real assis- 

 tance or even with the additional fraud of obtaining a government bounty 

 for delivering them up, or giving information which should lead to their 

 apprehension. There seems to be no reason, however, for believing that 

 any thought of treachery ever suggested itself to them throughout the 

 transaction ; and in fact it was to the courage and fidelity of the old 

 landlady, Madame Derikre, in person, that our friends in the end were 

 mainly indebted for their escape. 



In the desperate condition to which their last efforts had reduced them, 

 news having arrived that Mr. Mansell has actually sailed, and all hope of 

 getting off from Blankenberg seeming to be at an end, Captain Boys deter- 

 mines at all hazards to proceed himself to Bruges, and communicate with 

 M. Moitier, in order to ascertain if any thing can be done. This journey, 

 which he undertakes under heavy auspices, and without the knowledge of 

 his friends, leads in the end to the deliverance of all the parties ; but our 

 limits will only allow a short extract, describing the commencement of it. 



" After making the necessary arrangements with Madame Derikre, I lay down 

 in the stable, with my friend Fox at the door, who seemed to watch with increased 

 vigilance, as if aware of the importance of his trust. My bed, in this solitary cell, 

 was certainly not one of roses; for, independently of the anxiety arising from the 

 fear of surprise, I at first felt something like compunction, at not having previously 

 consulted my companions; nor was I without apprehension that they might sus- 

 pect I intended to desert them ; and, should any thing occur to cause the capture 

 of either party during our separation, the report of such a disgraceful act might be 

 circulated, without my ever being able to prove its fallacy. But the evident neces- 

 sity for some decided step, and the conscious rectitude of my intention, presently 

 dissipated such thoughts, and created a cheerful presentiment that my plans 

 would lead to some favourable result. At length, my mind became wholly absorbed 

 in the consolation which this feeling afforded ; and I lay meditating schemes for 

 the guidance of the future, till about four o'clock, scarcely able to close my eyes. 

 At that hour, I gently tapped at Madame Derikre's window. She immediately 

 equipped me in the same dress I had worn to Blankenberg on the 1 5th of Decem- 

 ber, and furnished me with a carpenter's rule, line, and chalk. After taking some 

 refreshment, we set out ' tete-A-tete" for Bruges. At dawn of day we separated, 



