Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/36

 attempted to escape; one party of five, after marching and countermarching fourteen days, supposed they had reached the neighbourhood of the Pyrenees; when, to their utter surprise and consternation, they found themselves within a few miles of the town; thus situated, and being half starved, they despaired of getting away, and delivered themselves up. Notwithstanding this failure, several others made similar attempts, but I recollect only one individual who did not return to prison; and his success was owing to his having preserved his American passport, which he had obtained when afloat, to protect him from the impress. On the 2d of December, orders having arrived for our removal, I waited on Mrs. Prevost, to take leave; after expressing her sorrow at my departure, and the hopes she entertained of my return, she embraced me as tenderly as though I had been her own child. I left the house with gratitude and regret, joined my comrades, and, after a few necessary arrangements, bade a final adieu to Toulouse. The marching party