Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/108

 On seeing the manner in which we were equipped, the rope slung over the shoulder, the knapsacks, the implements, and the laugh each one was endeavouring to stifle, they were so confused, that they could not, for the moment, comprehend why we were thus attired. When told that we intended being in England in ten days, they exclaimed, "impossible;" and argued against the attempt, as nothing better than the effect of insanity, insisting, that we were obstinately running, with our eyes open, into the very mouth of destruction. But, as such remarks, if listened to, might only have tended to create indecision, we shook hands, and said, good night. When about to depart, Cadell observed, we had better wait a few minutes, as it was then very star light, and nearly a calm. His advice was attended to, and we impatiently waited the passing of a cloud, in the hope of its increasing the obscurity; but the clouds dispersed, the wind died away, and nothing disturbed the silence of the night but the watch-calls of the sentinels, and the occasional footsteps of the patroles. This