Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/168

 joined our friends in the loft. To our surprise we learnt, from Madame Derikre, that she had heard of our adventure from the gens d'armes, who halting to bait, told her, they were very nearly catching two of the Blankenberg sailors, "but the rogues swam like ducks." This narrow escape was a warning, to be more cautious. I mention it, because it was the only act we committed, which had not an object in view worth the risk. We, consequently, now confined ourselves to the loft, receiving from, and sending messages to, Winderkins. At this time, we occasionally amused ourselves by writing, in French, bulletins of our proceedings from the 16th of November; and it is upon these memoranda that this "Narrative" is grounded. On the 2d of January, information was brought that two of the vessels had been nearly floated, by the last tide. Upon the receipt of this joyful news, it was resolved to pay them a visit that night; the wind being from the eastward, and the weather fine, our hopes were most sanguine, amounting almost to a confidence of immediate