SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'jiRIEN. 159 



or their workmen. These fears deterred me from attempting it, and I pro- 

 ceeded to some distance from the dwelling, where I discovered some willow 

 trees, one among which was a tolerably good size, and the trunk afforded me 

 some fhelter. It was close to a pathway, which was no small encouragement, 

 as I expected it led my way. I sat down by the willow, and earnestly 

 prayed that the clouds might disperse, the stars shew themselves, and guide 

 me out of the misery 1 was overwhelmed with ; being excessively faint 1 

 fell into a kind of slumber ; some time had elapsed, when of a sudden I was 

 startled at hearing the footsteps of a man ; I gathered myself close in under 

 the willow, saw him pass v^ry near, and did not, just at that moment, know 

 how to act; it was an unusual hour for any traveller, and 1 feared it might 

 be a gend'arme, or custom-house officer, that was on the look-out. However, 

 this was only a surmise ; 1 wanted information, and might not have so good 

 a chance again ; besides, 1 thought if he proved a scoundrel I should be able 

 to get away from him. Possessed with these ideas, 1 got up and pursued him: 

 he walked so exceedingly fast, that 1 had to run some distance to overtake 

 him. On coming up with him, I accosted him in French ; he answered me 

 very civilly, was in a peasant's dress, but 1 much feared it was a mere 

 disguise ; 1 asked him my road to Strasbourgh, he informed me 1 was then 

 on the direct one, he was going that way, and would accompany me. I 

 expressed great pleasure and satisfaction at this intelligence, enquired the 

 distance, " about three leagues." Although he spoke French tolerably well, 

 I discovered he had the German accent, which 1 was pleased to lind. 1 was 

 of opinion, that, by making up a tale, and feigning to make him my confi- 

 dent, he might be so much flattered as not to betray me, even if he were one 

 of the above-mentioned fellows in disguise. 



1 therefore began ; and observed to him, that as he appeared to be a 

 fatherly honest kind of man, 1 was going to disclose to him who, and what 

 1 was, where I was going, &c., and craved his council and advice ; I then 

 told him, " that I was an unfortunate conscript, a native of Switzerland ; 

 that I had lately received an account of my parents' death, in consequence 

 of which I became possessed of a small independence, and that 1 had applied for 

 permission to go and settle my atfairs, but was refused, which induced me to 

 desert, and to determine never more to serve the French nation. That 1 

 should feel quite secure if once on the other side of the Rhine, that I relied 

 upon his goodness to direct me, and had three crowns, which were at his 

 service, if he would procure me a passage across." He heard my recital with 

 apparently great composure, every now and then stopping, and looking at me 

 very earnestly : at last, he desired me to be of good cheer, that my confidence 

 in him was not by any means misplaced, there coald not be much risk in 

 crossing the Rhine, he would direct me how to proceed, &c. We had now 

 walked on about a league, and the day was breaking fast, it was Sunday 

 morning, and the eighth since 1 had escaped from my conductors. We had 

 passed a small village about a mile, when he halted quite short, felt for his 

 tobacco box, and exclaimed, my God! 1 have lost it! he thought he recol- 

 lected where he must have dropped it. 1 wished to know if it were of any 

 value, otherwise it was not worth turning back for ; he answered yes, my 

 friend, it cost me twenty sols (ten pence). I endeavoured to dissuade him 

 from going back, but all my entreaties proved useless. The fact was, I 

 dreaded this was only a pretext to return to the village, in order to give 

 information, and have me arrested, to so high a pitch were my suspicions of 

 mankind now arrived. He advised me to remain in a place which he pointed 

 out, until he came back; I informed him I would, yet, at the same time, i 

 had no intention to keep my promise ; he quitted me, and I directed my 

 course towards the appointed place ; but when 1 had lost sight ®f him, I 



