162 SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 



river). I concluded, by requesting him for a moment to consider himself to 

 my situation, and to judge by an appeal to his own feelings. I saw thi» 

 reasoning began to operate powerfully ; I then produced six livres, which 

 1 had already offered the German, and requested they w©uld accept of it, 

 and put me across. It was a mere trifle, 't was true, but I could not afford 

 any more at that time." The Frenchman spoke very feelingly, declared it 

 was utterly impossible for them to put me over, as they ran a risk of being 

 arrested on the opposite side, for landing any body clandestinely. They 

 desired I would hold up my hand, and declare solemnly that I had committett 

 no crime against the state, which 1 readily agreed to. He then desired me 

 to be off, and to conceal myself in the wood; " gjt over how you can, we 

 will not molest you ;" 1 insisted upon their taking the piece of money ; they 

 embarked, and I entered the woo<l, not a little pleased at this very narrow 

 escape. After 1 had got secund in an excellent hiding place, the whoU 

 appeared aa a dream or vision, nor could 1 help repeating to myself, '• what 

 a fortunate fellow ! what a miraculous escape." 1 remained concealed until 

 dark, and then turned my steps towards the city, hoping 1 might be more 

 successful in getting a boat, but in this 1 was disappointed. At day break I 

 discovered myself on the very entrance of Khcl bridge ; the bridge wa» 

 thronged with oxen, bellowing, and making a hideous noise, together witb 

 the drivers, cracking (heir whips, and shouting, &c. 



November, 1807. Being quite harrassed and weary of so long a state of 

 suspense, too much fatigued to continoe much longer on turnip and cabbage 

 diet, which 1 certainly should be obliged to do, if I continued the route oo 

 this side into Switzerland ; a great risk also of being arrested in the course 

 of the day on the banks, by custom-house oflicers ; and above all, a good 

 opportunity now offering of intermixing with the cattle, and thereby eluding 

 the vigilence of the centinels, induced me after an address to Divine Provi- 

 dence for protection, to put this project into execution : 1 therefore advanced, 

 and in a very few minutes had passed the major pa it of the oxen, and also 

 two French centinels, who were muffled up in their boxes; in a quarter of an 

 hour I had the heartfelt satisfaction of being sate on the German side, having 

 passed between eight and nine French and German centinels, without being 

 spoke to by one. The fact was, the morning being excessively raw and cold 

 they kept within their boxes ; and the noi»e and confusion of the cattle io 

 passing, prevented their taking any notice of me. 1 shall not attempt to 

 describe the pleasing sensations 1 now telt. I passed with a light heart 

 through Khel, a small town, and took the road towards Fribonrgh. After 

 advancing nearly three leagues, 1 stopped in a small village on the high road 

 to refresh myself, after living nearly nine days on raw vegetables. I felt 

 quite bold and confident, and intended now to pass for a Frenchman. I had 

 one great cons«)lation, and which was, that I was pretty well out of the reach 

 of French gensd'armes, and French laws, to me an astonishing change. At 

 the public-house 1 went into, I got supplied with bread, cheese, and a pint of 

 wine, which, though of an inferior quality, surpassed at that moment any 

 thing 1 had ever tasted, it appeared so dclicioas and good. I remained here 

 about an hour, the people were very civil ; though yet so near France, 1 

 could scarcely make them understand a word of the French language, and 1 ' 

 found the greatest contrast imaginable in their dresses. 



To he continued. 



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