16 SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 



with a great deal of difficulty, owing to the branches; and if they dismounted, 

 we were well assured we could out-run them. The moment arrived ! I gave 

 my friends the word, and away we ran, the guard in full speed at our heels. 

 The ground being very heavy, a kind of fallow, between the road and the 

 wood, Mr. Baker fell down, and was instantly seized. We, were more for- 

 tunate ; crossed each othev frequently in the wood, quite out of breath ; I 

 observed to them, that they must be very cautious in keeping out of pistel 

 shot of the guards, who were now riding in all directions through the trees, 

 calling out, "arretez coquins !'' They quitted me, and I, fortunately at this 

 moment, I got a tree between me and them, and sat down ; I observed the 

 guards pursuing my companions ; the moment I lost sight of them, I drew 

 to the borders of the wood, (the opposite side to the direction which they had 

 taken) perceived an extensive plain, and a wood, about a mile distant ; 

 without any more deliberation, I entered the plain, and was in a very few 

 minutes in the next wood, Avithout seeing or being seen by any body. 



Having thus far providentially succeeded, I began to consider what step 1 

 had better next take, and, after a few minutes rest, being quite exhausted, 

 I determined upon quitting this wood also ; but at the opposite extremity 

 from that where I supposed my pursuers were, being of opinion that they 

 would visit that part, after they had diligently searched the other, which was 

 now surrounded by the peasantry, men, women, and children ; it being Sun- 

 day, and 50 livres, (£2. Is. 8d.) sterling, reward being ottered for each 

 prisoner of war, brought a prodigious concourse of people, and left me but 

 very little hope of remaining in safety any place, where they could suspect a 

 man could be concealed. On quitting this place, I conjectmed I was aboat 

 three or four miles from vhere 1 at first escaprd. lnimcn.se plains, 

 stubble ground, &c., presented themselves to my view, with the river Sarre 

 close to the southward of me, but extremely rapid, and no part fordable. 



I observed several people at a distance, ninniri<; toward** tlie first wood. 

 My case appeared desperate : and, to ;i\' i 1 ;-i u i<'ii, 1 tlu-uuht the \)^<t 

 method would be to walk deliberately ;ni« -- U.um i-l.tin.-, t.ikin^ a diitt iciit 

 direclion from every other person in them, without appearing to avoid any. 

 I put a night-cap on, which I had carried in my pocket, instead of the cap I 

 usually wore — this being a common dress with the peasantry of that country. 

 I passed several at very short distances, stopping frequently, and walking 

 very carelessly. At length, I found myself in a small vale, through which ran 

 two small rivulets, which formed a liitlf kind of i-lind, that was covered 

 with hawtliorn-hush, briars, iVc., .siutii itiuly 1 u L;r to roinLal one man. This I 

 conceived admirably well cakulated for a iiidin^ place, as it was so excess- 

 ively small and wet, I was of opinion nobody would think of searching it. I 

 entered it, and was so completely covered, as to be scarcely able to discern 

 the part at which I had tirst lutcred. I found it, in one stn>e, very uncom- 

 fortable, with respect to tla- niiul, wet, and dirt, that 1 was obliged to wallow 

 in, but otherwise it was a perfect paradise to me, and all I regretted was, not 

 having my poor comrades with me, although I comforted niyself, by being 

 assured that they must all have escapeil, even those who did not run in the begin, 

 ning, as they were left with only the waggoner, the miaul- ha\ing pursued us. 



(November, 1807). In this situation 1 lay, an\iou.-l3 wi.-iiiiii; for night to 

 arrive, and dispel part of my apprehensions. I was obliged frequently to shift 

 from one side to the other, the moisture becoming very disagreeable ; by this 

 time I was wot through in every part, and extremely chilly, having been in 

 a great perspiration when I entered. I could distinctly hear the alarm bells 

 ringing in the adjacent villages, and the whistling, howling, and shouting of 

 the peasantry, in the direction I had just quitted; and tre.|iiently I heard 

 V(/ices close to 



