Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/77

 to rest. Moyses and I took our stations in a corner by the window, under which a sentinel was placed, whose turnings were to be watched about eleven, and when his back should be towards the window, Wetherly, (a brother mid), was to lower us down with towels tied together; if discovered, the sentinel was to be instantly knocked down; we were to make for the river, distant only a few hundred yards, swim across, and gain the woods: in case of success thus far, it was our intention to have proceeded to those in the vicinity of Verdun, and there wait the assistance of a friend, who was to furnish us with the necessaries for travelling through Germany, to the gulph of Venice.

About ten, the guard was relieved, and we were ordered into a large lighted room, there to lie on the floor, with the gendarmes forming nearly a circle around us, the windows barred in, and doors bolted. This unexpected precaution totally frustrated our plans; at day light we were again assembled in the waggons, and continued our journey, escorted as before.