Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/112

 the island of Cadsand, opposite Flushing; and, if means of getting afloat were not found, before arriving at that place, we proposed to embark in the passage boat, for Flushing, and, about mid-channel, rise and seize the vessel. It was now blowing very fresh, and was so dark and cloudy, that not a star could be seen; the leaves were falling in abundance, and as they were blown over the stones, kept up a constant rustling noise, which was particularly favourable to the enterprize; indeed, things wore so promising an appearance, that we resolved to take leave of a few other of our brother officers: eight of them were accordingly sent for; to these I detailed our exact situation, the difficulties we had to contend with, and the means of surmounting them, reminded them of our letter to the commandant, of last month, and the glory of putting our threats into execution, in spite of his increased vigilance, read the one we had that afternoon written, and proposed, that any of them should follow that chose, but with this stipulation, that they allowed four