Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/82

 determined, that only one should be intrusted with the secret, until the hour of trial; then, if appearances augured well, others were to be requested to assist. In the afternoon we were mustered, and separated into two divisions, one bound to Valenciennes, the other to Givet. About nine, in order to reconnoitre, we obtained permission to go into the yard, whither we were attended by a guard, but finding there, two large dogs running loose, escape was impossible. We felt severely the disappointment of this last hope of decamping together. The jailor, in a jocose way, inquired if the dogs were asleep; he was not, however, so austere, as some of his profession, for although he well knew the use of a map, he hesitated not to sell us one, apparently indifferent to our escape, provided it did not take place from his custody. We lay ourselves down to rest, encouraged by mutual consolation, when each felt determined, and hoped for the first opportunity of proving the sincerity of a friendship, formed and matured in adversity. In the morning the Givet divi