Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/98

 somewhat similar act of cold blooded atrocity, afterwards occurred at Givet, in the person of Hayward, a midshipman: this gallant fellow, with his friend, Gale, had broken out of prison, in the face of day, and fled into the country; unfortunately, they were discovered, and the alarm given; two horse gendarmes immediately pursued, and overtook them in an open field. On their approach, Hayward, being unarmed, and seeing escape impossible, stood still, extending his hands, and exclaimed—"Je me rends:" but this was too favourable an opportunity to be neglected, for the savage gratification of shedding human blood. Neither the defenceless state of the individual, nor his prompt surrender could avert these merciless miscreants, from plunging their swords into his manly chest, and mangling the body in a horrible manner. It was afterwards taken into the prison-yard, stripped naked, and exposed to the view of the prisoners, for the purpose of intimidating others from the like attempt. Gale gave himself up at the same