Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/240

 *and, as no exertions on our part could expedite its arrival, we did not quit the loft. At length, on the 8th of May, positive information was brought, that all would be in readiness at ten P. M.; accordingly, at that hour, the weather fine, and the night dark, we assembled in the sand hills, and so soon as the patrole had passed, the private signal was made and answered. The boat gliding silently to the beach, with muffled oars, we rushed in with the rapidity of thought, and, in an instant, were all safe afloat; each seized an oar, and, vigorously applying his utmost strength, we soon reached beyond the range of shot.

It were vain to attempt a faithful description of our feelings at this momentous crisis; the lapse of a few minutes had wrought such a change of extremes, that I doubt, if amidst a confusion of senses, we could immediately divest ourselves of the apprehensions, which constant habit had engrafted on the mind; nor, indeed, could we relinquish the oar, but continued at this laborious, though now delightful, occupation, almost without intermission