Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/234

 offered to lend me any sum I chose to borrow. Leaving him to follow by the "diligence," Neirinks and myself immediately departed for Brussels, but did not arrive until late that night. Here we remained during the 23rd, not anxious to hurry back, knowing that we should be at Bruges before Moitier. This day was passed at my aunt's; the next, Neirinks, my sister, and myself bade adieu to the family, and took the "diligence," to Ghent, where, on the following morning, we were joined by Moitier, who, in the afternoon, left us for Flushing, in order to make arrangements with Peter. The next morning, we embarked in the canal boat for Bruges, and arriving there after a pleasant day's journey, waited at the very public-house I had visited with my companions on the night of the 22nd of November, until (it being then after hours), the porter had taken our names to the Commandant, with the request, that the gates might be opened—little could he imagine, that this application was, in part, made for an absconding English midshipman. After conduct