Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/166

 word that the vessels were all preparing for sea; but the next morning our expectations were again disappointed, by information that the government had laid an embargo on all the Blankenberg craft, until they furnished five seamen for the navy. The vessels were again hauled up above high water mark, and the fishermen fled in all directions. We now thought of making our way into Holland; but the severity of the weather, the extreme difficulty of penetrating into that country, the want of means to travel, combined with the dissuasion of Madame Derikre and Winderkins, who repeated their assurances of shelter and assistance, induced us to remain in our present situation. In the daily hope of a favourable change, we continued in the loft, but were occasionally in some danger; for the house was seldom without gens d'armes, custom-house-officers, or foot soldiers, looking out for the seamen. The door of our loft, was, however, kept shut, and the ladder, by which only it was accessible, placed over