Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/201

 *diately in our rear, we were in no very great apprehension for the issue. In the midst of our consultation, a distant noise was indistinctly heard, which seemed gradually to approach, until the actual motion of the bushes put an end to all doubt; we instantly jumped up, ready to fly, when a dog was discovered drawing near, and not far behind, some person penetrating through the thick wood; but, ere we had time to decide, our faithful friend Fox burst to view, fawning and curling himself in silent congratulation, as if sensible of a narrow escape: almost at the same moment came his affectionate master, who brought information, that a body of gens d'armes only halted at his mother's, on their way to Blankenberg, but fancying they were come to make another search, he immediately ran off to give us timely notice. The keen lad, guided by the sagacious Fox, had followed our footsteps, until he came to the broad ditch, when finding the bridge gone, and suspecting we had pulled it over, he had run round a considerable distance; having so done, he