Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/173

 no reason to believe it reached its destination.

On the 12th we again sent Madame Derikre to Moitier, who now consented to go immediately to Flushing, and make an agreement with a smuggler, promising information on the subject in a very few days. Our hopes being thus kept continually alive by new projects, without any definitive arrangement, it was again debated whether we should remain in the loft or march into Holland: the former was determined on until the result of Moitier's trip to Flushing should be known; our present comparative security being preferable to a dangerous uncertainty, particularly as we were convinced that it was the interest, as well as the most anxious desire of all our friends, to effect our departure. On the 14th, we were overjoyed to learn, from Winderkins, that the embargo was taken off, and the vessels all preparing for sea. This joy, however, was not of long duration; for, on going to Blankenberg the next evening, we found, that not a vessel had been launched, and that the permission to go to sea, was