Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/177

 having been daily pressed for the fulfilment of his engagement, to find a fisherman to take us off, but which he had as often evaded under one frivolous pretext or other, was obliged to confess that all his endeavours had been hitherto unavailing, and that he at length despaired of success. It was now evident that we must depend upon our own exertions alone, to gain possession of a vessel, if we persevered in the attempt to embark at Blankenberg. He, however, undertook to continue on the look-out, whilst we seized a boat: this, indeed, was a very important service; he was a sergeant of the national guard, and frequently on duty at Blankenberg; consequently, not only the less likely to be suspected, but able occasionally to give a turn to the conversation at the fort, which might otherwise excite increased vigilance. We, therefore, gave him for past services, and as a retaining fee, a bill of £15, instead of the £30, which, with what he had already received, amounted to about £17. He expressed his gratitude, and vowed to deserve it. A few days