Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/182

 *pose. The vessel was moored by five hawsers; two a head, and three astern; it was arranged, that Whitehurst and Mansell should throw over-board the latter, Hunter and myself the former; this was preferred to cutting them. We had been so long in Flanders, and received such protection from the natives, that all harsh feeling which might have existed towards an enemy, was so mellowed into compassion for their sufferings under the Corsican yoke, that we were unwilling to injure one of them, and therefore had determined, if in our power, to send back the craft, which, being a fishing "schuyt," might probably be the only support of an indigent family. Whilst Whitehurst and Mansell were executing the duty allotted to them, Hunter and myself got ready the foresail, and paid over-board one of the hawsers. The tide now rolled in, the vessel floated, and we hove her out to within about four fathoms of her buoy. Whitehurst and myself being ready to cut