Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/78

 Nothing particular attracted our attention, our thoughts being chiefly occupied in meditating plans of escape, as circumstances might favour.

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast."

And so actively alive were we to every dawn which beamed in the imagination, that each wood, each copse, which rose to view as we advanced, we fancied invited us to its protection. It was our intention to take the first opportunity, in passing a wood, through which our road sometimes led, to leap from the waggon, and trust to our heels, and its shelter, for security. To this end, we had taken our station in the front of one, with our knapsacks (containing a few articles necessary for a march,) on our backs. On approaching a wood, a gendarme observed, with a very significant expression of countenance:—"Messieurs, il me semble que vous vous trouverez plus à votre aise sans l'havresac au dos." It was evident from this observation, that our purpose was suspected, and that we were narrowly watched. On