Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/202

 it was against the enemies of his country! Nothing more passed till the following day, when he again received a summons, but which none of the other captives did, to attend the governor, who he was then surprised to find could speak as good English as himself – their previous conversation having been carried on in French. Count Horgendorf, it appears, had also changed his manners with his language; for after acquainting Captain Willoughby, that he was a Dutchman by birth, but compelled by the state of political affairs to become a French General, he stated, that he had formerly had much intercourse with Englishmen; that he had the highest opinion of their honor, and that he therefore felt happy to have an opportunity of alleviating the sufferings of a British officer:– the Count concluded with an offer to supply his astonished auditor with whatever money he might require, not only for his present relief, but to render the remainder of his wearisome journey, as comfortable as the circumstances of the war would admit!!!

This unexpected generosity on the part of a political enemy, was probably the means, under Providence, by which Captain Willoughby escaped the fate of many thousands who were endeavouring to reach a milder climate by the same route as himself. It enabled him at once to put off his ragged and filthy apparel, and to procure such articles of nourishment and warm clothing as his enfeebled stomach and emaciated frame required.

The horrible condition to which the unfortunate men just alluded to were reduced before death ended their sufferings, is thus spoken of by de Segur:–

“After leaving Malodeczno, and the departure of Napoleon (from Smorgoni for Paris), winter with all his force, and doubled in severity, attacked us. * * * * * *.

“Henceforward there was no longer fraternity in arms, there was an end to all society, to all ties; the excess of evils had brutified them. Hunger, devouring hunger, had reduced these unfortunate men to the brutal instinct of self-preservation, the only understanding of the most ferocious animals, and which is ready to sacrifice every thing to itself: a rough and barbarous nature seemed to have communicated to them all its fury. Like savages, the strongest despoiled the weakest; they rushed round the dying, and frequently waited not for their last breath. When a horse fell, you might