Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/74

 that convent was now crammed with such motley groups of gamblers quarrelling, debtors exulting, and Romeos despairing, that the scene was truly entertaining; particularly to those who, having nothing to regret, were looking forward for an opportunity of proving, that parole alone was the bond which had enchained them for so many years. We were all indiscriminately huddled together in the different apartments of the convent, upon the planks, for the night, and at dawn of day, the drum summoned us to muster. All those who were to depart, were drawn up in two ranks; one of seventy-three, destined for Valenciennes and Givet, the other of sixty-nine, (most of whom were masters of merchant vessels), destined for Sarre Louis and other depôts, to the eastward. The northern expedition being ready, we were placed two by two, upon bundles of straw, in five waggons, and set out, escorted by the greater part of the horse gendarmerie of the district, aided by infantry. No sooner had we cleared the suburbs, than they assumed a more regular order; four