and a gentleman.
At daybreak a guard came to conduct me to the place
of examination. Here I found Lieutenant Demangeoit,
of the gendarmerie, a scrivener, and Mr. Galliers, inter-
preter. This Lieutenant Demangeoit was afterwards
dismissed from the Emperor's service. My examination
continued two or three hours ; every question and answer
was noted down, and as much form and solemnity as
possible were given to the proceedings. I was minutely
cross-examined with respect to the pistol-stock, and was
sifted over and over again, with both earnestness and
cunning, as to where I had been on the days Buonaparte
had passed through Verdun. I was interrogated as to
what company I had been in, with whom I had break-
fasted ; and numberless other questions were put to me,
without my being able to form the slightest idea of what
they suspected or at what object they were aiming.
However, it was clear that I was suspected of some offence
in relation to the Emperor, and it was certain that there
was a determination, if possible, to implicate me in it.
Our companion Essel had on that morning given a
public breakfast to several of his friends at his lodgings,
which happened to be situated immediately in the
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
thoroughfare, or most public part of the town, La Place
St. Croix, and close to the windows of which Napoleon and
suite must of necessity have passed. Of this circumstance I
was ignorant, consequently had no invitation, which at
this moment, for me, proved a fortunate event, and
evidently explained the cause of this strict and scrutinising
examination.
M. le Lieutenant Demangeoit appeared also particularly
anxious to ascertain whether my pistols had been purchased
previous or subsequent to the breakfast on the day of
Buonaparte passing through Verdun. This was evidently
done with the intention of, if possible, fixing upon us but
more especially upon me, to whom the articles in question
belonged the atrocious and abominable stigma of a con-
spiracy and premeditated design to assassinate their
Emperor: for whom, however formidable my dislike
might have been to the chief of the avowed foes of my
country, I entertained not the slightest feeling of personal
vindictive animosity. They very much wanted to be
informed by whom we had been supplied with ropes, and
who had assisted us in descending the ramparts. I replied,
" That, by degrees, we had procured sufficient rope for the
purpose of horse-collars, and of course twice the length
that would have been necessary had we had a friend to
assist us in descending by holding it fast ; but we had to
place the bight over a rock which 1 knew stood near the
place, and then went down by the double part ; after which
we hauled it to us, cut it to pieces, and threw it into
the Meuse."
I went through all this raking and cross-fire of examina-
tion with patience and humility ; but, the ordeal being
over, I began to remonstrate at the unnecessary cruelty of
SECOND EXAMINATION 113
being separated from my companions. At last it was
decided that I should be conducted to their prison, La
Tour cFAngoul'me, they having been removed from it to
the place of examination. We were not allowed to see
each other until the whole examination was over ; but, in
passing the guard-room in which they were locked up, I
heard their voices, and vociferated to them, "Mind you
stick to the old text :" a hint they very well understood.
This exasperated the guard, who insisted upon knowing
what I had said ; but I simply replied, " That I had only
said that I was very hungry and wanted my breakfast :"
with which he seemed perfectly satisfied. I need not
describe the joy we all felt upon being once more together.
We amused ourselves the whole night in talking over
the different questions that had been put to each of us ; for
it had long been our practice to suggest every possible
question to which we might be probably exposed, in the
event of our being captured, and to agree upon the
answers we should make, in order that neither equi-
vocation nor inconsistencies might undo us. The gaoler
(Monsieur Percival) supplied us, out of our own funds,
with the nourishment that was permitted by the laws of
prison discipline. Fire and candle were prohibited.
Some days had elapsed, when we were again conducted
to be examined separately. I was the first called into
court. The lieutenant (Demangeoit) informed me that
there had been certain questions transmitted from the
minister at Paris to be put to me, and to which it would
be to my interest to give candid answers. In the first
place, he was certain that we never could have kept a direct
course through the long and difficult route from Verdun to
Staples without guides, especially as it appeared that we
114 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
had had neither chart nor compass. We had luckily
destroyed the compass, and no chart had been found upon
us, with the exception of the maps of the departments at
Staples, so I coolly replied, " That English sailors could
always steer with sufficient correctness by the stars, and
that when those celestial objects were visible they were
never at a loss."
When this question was disposed of, the court wished to
be informed, " Whether I knew anything of the coast of
France, and whether I had ever been stationed off it ? "
It struck me that the shipwreck of the Hussar was a pretty
clear proof that there was one part of the coast, at least,
of which it would appear we had but an imperfect know-
ledge ; but, smiling at the question, I replied, " That every
naval officer of England was by far better acquainted with
the French coast than even with his own."" I mollified
this allusion to our blockading every port of France, and
triumphantly sailing round her coasts, by adding, " That
we could hardly go up and down Channel without acquir-
ing a knowledge of the northern coast of France ;" and at
length I left no doubt on their minds with respect to our
local knowledge of it. The questions were the same to all
the rest, and we were then again reconducted to our prison.
In a week we were ordered to prepare ourselves for a
march to the fortress of Bitche, in Lorraine, a wretched
place, well known to many of our unhappy countrymen ;
a place in the dreadful caverns of which many a valuable
British subject had terminated his existence in all the
agony that illness, despondency, and ill-usage could create.
This was my transition from the expected fate of being
shot. And here, in some wretched souterrain, we were to
remain during the war; nay, they even asserted that it
THE REV. C. L. LEE 115
was Buonaparte's own decree. Death was preferable to
such a sentence ; but we were resolved to make another
effort at all risks, and, if possible, to regain our liberty.
Cash alone was wanting. I, however, procured a small
supply through the interposition of a worthy countryman,
notwithstanding the strict guard that was kept over us.
My Samaritan, or friend in need, was the Rev. C. Launcelot
Lee (a detenu), Fellow of New College, Oxford, from whom
I had at all times received great kindness. He contrived
now to assist me in my extreme distress, by giving the
money to Mr. Galliers, another worthy Englishman, who
had acted as our interpreter. The object was effected
dexterously; for Mr. Galliers, in taking leave, at the
moment of our setting out for Bitche, when surrounded
by the gendarmes, cordially gave me his hand to shake,
and pressed the precious treasure into mine. I was obliged
to keep this act of generosity a profound secret ; for, had
it been discovered, it would have been of serious con-
sequences to my two friends.
CHAPTER VIII
Our departure from Verdun for Bitche Mars-la-Tour, Metz, and
Sarrelouis I receive a very useful present from Mr. Brown
Sarreguemines A last chance A mounted guard Thoughts
of an escape Calculations upon a chase in a wood between horse-
soldiers and prisoners on foot Attempt resolved upon Signal
given Flight from the prison caravan to the wood French
pursuit A prisoner recaptured My escape from the wood into
another My companions, I fear, less fortunate My conceal-
ment A swampy bed, and a stormy sky, with a torrent of rain,
for a canopy A prospective flight of nearly 800 miles The
misery of a fruitless search for lost companions Feeding on
haws, and herding with quadrupeds and vermin A hut dis-
covered Hunger compels me to enter A compromise, a bribe,
female advocacy, and an escape On the road to the Rhine
A preparation to sell life dearly A narrow escape Living on
cabbage-stalks and raw turnips Bad feet and worse health A
lonely house near a wood Strong temptations to enter A
brutal host, extreme danger, and a narrow escape Bad speci-
mens of human nature.
ON the morning of our departure we were joined by eight
culprits at twilight, and were placed in a large waggon,
under a very strong escort of gendarmerie, with a brigadier
to command it. We were confined the first night in a
most miserable dungeon, in a village called Mars-la-Tour.
It was so very small, and there were so many of us, that
we could scarcely breathe. Our allowance of straw, a
pound and a half each, was given us to lie on : this straw
116
VISITED BY OUR COUNTRYMEN 117
was so short that it had exactly the appearance of so
many bundles of toothpicks. The following night we
were lodged in Metz gaol. We remained here several
days. At last an order came for half our number to
proceed towards our destination : two others, with us four,
were accordingly commanded to get ready. We were now
in the hope of having another chance of getting out of
the clutches of our keepers, but were much mistaken ;
our guard watched us closely, and we were so well secured
with handcuffs and with chains that it was impossible to
attempt it. We were therefore safely lodged in Sarrelouis
gaol. This was a depot for captured seamen, and one of
punishment for officers who might transgress prison rules ;
but it was many degrees superior to Bitche. Several of our
countrymen obtained permission to see us ; and from one
(Mr. Brown, master of H.M. gun -brig Mallard, lately
wrecked on the coast) I received a small map of Germany,
torn out of an old book of geography, which I carefully
stitched in the lining of my waistcoat. We were now
joined by those left in Metz prison, and were soon again
on the march towards our destined habitation. The same
precautions were taken for securing us, and but little or
no hopes were left of our escaping. We arrived at
Sarreguemines, only six or seven leagues from Bitche, and
were secured, as usual, in the gaol. The next day, at
about four in the afternoon, we expected to arrive at our
horrible abode. In the morning our guards came with a
large waggon, in which we were placed, and, to my great
astonishment and delight, we were not chained. I con-
sidered this as a most wonderful circumstance, and as a
favourable opportunity of escape that ought to be em-
braced, particularly as there could be no hopes of any
118 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
other chance; indeed, it appeared an interposition of
Divine Providence in our favour. I communicated my
intentions to my companions ; and, after we had got out
of the town, we descended from our waggon, observing to
the guards that we preferred walking a little. Mr. Essel
remained in the waggon. Messrs. Ashworth and Tuthill,
and Baker, of the merchant service, with myself, were
walking ahead of the waggon. We had not got more
than two or three miles when I discovered a wood at
about one hundred and fifty yards from the road: our
guards were about fifty yards behind us, and were on
horseback. In so unequal a chase, a chase between man
and horse, we might be overtaken in our run to the wood ;
but if we could once reach that point, we were safe, for,
although there were no leaves on the trees, we were certain
that our mounted guards could not pursue us without a
great deal of difficulty, owing to the branches and under-
wood ; and, should they dismount, accoutred as they were,
and with their heavy boots, we knew that we could outrun
them with the greatest ease.
At length the most interesting and anxious moment
arrived. We were on the spot where the attempt could
be made better than at any other. I gave my friends the
signal a loud cheer. Away we ran : the startled guards
dug their spurs into their horses, and galloped at our
heels with the utmost speed. The ground was very heavy,
a ploughed field being the space between the road and
wood. Poor Baker fell, and was instantly seized and con-
ducted back to the waggon with a sabre over him, and a
pistol ready to do its office, should he attempt again to
escape. We were more fortunate. We got into the
wood, dodging the gendarmes through brier, brake, and
ESCAPE FROM THE GUARDS 119
entanglement. I and my companions crossed each other
several times, out of breath, and I could barely cry to
them to keep behind trees and avoid pistol-shots ; for the
guards were leaping, plunging, and riding in all directions,
roaring out, in the greatest rage, the words, " Arretez,
coquins!" etc. These not very agreeable epithets, in
hoarse French, assailed our ears from every point. At
length my pursuers gave up the chase of me to follow my
companions ; and, fortunately, finding a good tree between
me and the foe, I sat down to catch my breath and
consider what I should do. The moment I lost sight of
the gendarmes, I bounded towards the side of the wood
opposite to the direction they had taken, and I perceived
an extensive plain, terminating in one direction in a
wood, which seemed not much more than a mile off.
Without any more deliberation I darted into the plain ; its
extent was about a mile ; and by the time I had reached
the middle I was so out of breath that I was obliged to
stop a few minutes, and I therefore fell flat on my face,
with my mouth open, and close to the earth ; and the re-
lief was astonishing. I lay close to the ground, that I
might not be discovered. However, another run brought
me to the wood. Having thus far so providentially
escaped, I began to consider what steps I had better take
next; and, after resting a few minutes again to recover
my exhausted strength, I determined on quitting this
wood, and at the extremity opposite to that at which I
calculated my pursuers might be looking out for me, as I
thought they would naturally take that direction, when a
diligent search had convinced them that I was not in the
wood into which we had first entered. Besides, I saw that
the first wood was now entirely surrounded by the peas-
120 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
antry ; for, it being Sunday, all had been idle, and men,
women, and children caught the alarm, and hurried like
wolves to the chase. The French Government at this time
gave a reward of fifty livres, or %. Is. 8d., to any person
who should recapture a prisoner of war that had escaped
from prison or from an escort, and this brought out such
a prodigious concourse of eager people, as to leave me but
very little hope of remaining in safety in any place where
it could be even suspected that a man might be con-
cealed.
On quitting this wood I conjectured that I was about
three or four miles from the road from which I had at first
escaped. Immense plains, stubble ground, meadows, fields
fallow and ploughed, presented themselves to my view,
with the river Sarre close to the southward of me, but
extremely rapid, and no part of it fordable. My case
appeared desperate ; and, to avoid suspicion, I thought
the best method would be to walk deliberately across those
plains, taking a different direction from that of every
other person in them, but without appearing to avoid any.
I put a night-cap on, which I had in my pocket, instead
of the beaver-cap I usually wore the night-cap being a
common dress with the peasantry of Lorraine. I passed
several of them at very short distances, stopping frequently,
and seeming to walk very carelessly. At length I found
myself in a small vale, through which ran two small
rivulets, forming a little kind of island, that was covered
with one hawthorn-bush, briers, etc., sufficiently large to
conceal one man. This I considered admirably well cal-
culated for a hiding-place; for, as it was so excessively
small and wet, I was of opinion nobody would even think
of searching it. I entered it, and was so completely
DISAGREEABLE SITUATION
covered as to be scarcely able to discern the part through
which I had first penetrated. I found it in one sense very
uncomfortable I mean with respect to the mud, wet, and
dirt that I was obliged to wallow in ; but otherwise it
was a perfect paradise to me ; and all I regretted was not
having my poor comrades somewhere near me, although I
comforted myself in feeling assured that they must all
have escaped, even those who did not run in the beginning,
as they were left with only the waggoner, the guards
having gone in pursuit of us. I was, indeed, some time
afterwards informed that not one of the remaining eight
ever attempted to quit the waggoner, but were quietly
conducted to Bitche, where, as the reader will find, I was
again compelled to rejoin them. 1
This was Sunday, 15th November 1807, and I lay cold
and quietly enough in my wet and muddy bed, anxiously
wishing night to arrive, and dispel part of my apprehen-
sions. I was obliged frequently to shift from one side to
the other, the cold and moisture becoming extremely severe
and distressing. In a short time I was wet through in
every part of my body, and found the cold intense, for
when I lay down in the mud I was in a profuse state of
perspiration. It did not relieve my miseries to hear
either the alarm-bells ringing in the adjacent villages, or
the whistling, howling, and shouting of the peasantry :
what was still worse, I was frequently startled by voices
close to me.
But now the much-desired moment of darkness drew
1 Ashworth arid Tuthill, as we shall see, were recaptured by the
gendarmes almost immediately. They were sent to Bitche and
shared O'Brien's captivity there. Ultimately they escaped, though
not in our hero's company, and made their way, like him, to Trieste,
where they reached an English ship.
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
near : the sun was descending ; but, to my great dis-
comfiture and mortification, with every appearance of bad
weather. It already began to rain very hard, which
obscured the moon, then about eight or nine days old.
Reflecting on my present state, I found it truly pitiable.
I had only the small old map I have already mentioned,
to direct my course ; and I was without compass, guide,
clothes, meat, drink, or companion, and the dreary month
of November was setting in with more than its usual
inclemency. The nearest friendly town was Salzburg, in
Austria, and that was between seven and eight hundred
miles distant. This was enough to chill the ardour and
paralyse the exertions of the most dauntless ; \ never-
theless, my having escaped from the grasp of tyrants,
and become my own master, more than compensated,
in my estimation, for a thousand hardships, sufferings,
and dangers.
About half-past seven I ventured out, shook, cleaned,
and washed the mud off my clothes as well as I could, and
recommending myself to a merciful Creator, by whose
bountiful clemency I had been this day so miraculously
protected, I proceeded with great caution towards the
wood in which I had separated from my companions, for I
supposed that they would keep in it, or perhaps return there
to meet me. It rained very hard, and everything was
profoundly silent. I traversed the woods for three or four
miles in different directions ; but all to no purpose. Now
and then I ventured to whistle, which was the signal
formerly established amongst us, but all without success.
I remained alone, dispirited, hungry, cold, fatigued, and
drenched with rain. The risk was too great to venture on
the high-road; and yet I was so nearly perishing with
A HUT DISCOVERED
cold and wet that it was impossible to remain in my place
of concealment. I therefore kept running and walking
onward during the night, frequently impeded by the course
of the Sarre, which confused me greatly. At length, being
very much fatigued, and finding a convenient wood, though
destitute of leaves, I got into it, and concealed myself in a
tolerably good part, a little before daylight. I never
recollect feeling or suffering so much from cold : it had
rained incessantly all this day. The whole of this day
(the 16th) I was surrounded by moles, rats, and other
small animals somewhat like squirrels ; the rats often
approached so near as to lick my shoes. Their tricks and
advances rather amused me, and abated in some measure
the lowness and disquietude of my mind. At the close of
the evening a swineherd passed by, conducting his hogs
near my hiding-place. I saw him very distinctly. One of
the pigs took flight exactly towards me : he sent his dog in
pursuit of it ; which, providentially, turned it back, other-
wise it would have absolutely run over me.
About eight o^clock I quitted my retreat. The night
was again very bad. It kept blowing and raining very
hard, and I was at a loss to know what direction to take ;
for never did darker and thicker clouds obscure the light
of heaven. About nine o^clock I discovered a small hut,
and I imagined that I had an opportunity of endeavouring
to procure a morsel of food of some kind. I reconnoitred
it with a trembling earnestness, and at last most cautiously
approached the door. The struggle between my eager
desire to procure some sustenance, without which I must
perish, and the dread of being arrested in the attempt,
may be conceived, but cannot be described. After deliber-
ating some length of time, hunger preponderated over even
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
the dread of my being again led to my dungeon; and,
with a trembling hand, I at length knocked at the door.
It was opened by a woman. I humbly asked for some
bread in German, which is the language spoken by the
peasantry of Lorraine. She made signs for me to enter,
which I did.
There were three men and another woman in the house.
An elderly man, who was the only one of the party that
could speak French, instantly told me, " He was certain
that I was one of the English prisoners who had escaped
from the guard on the preceding day." He added, " That
one of the guard had just quitted the hut : he had been
in search of the fugitives all day, and had called on his
way home to give the present company information." I
did not dispute who or what I was. The fellow proceeded
to dwell on the reward of Jifty livres which the Govern-
ment gave for arresting a prisoner of war. " Fifty livres?
he added, " was an object to poor people like them." I
perfectly understood his drift, and merely observed, " That,
although the Government promised the reward, they were
not certain when it might be paid." I afterwards appealed
to his honour and feelings, and asked him, " What honest
man, for so paltry a recompense or amount, would prevent
a poor prisoner of war, who had been guilty of no crime
whatever, from revisiting his wife, and everything that
was dear to him, after a close imprisonment for four or
five years?" He explained all that I had said to the
others ; and I found that the women took my views of the
subject, and were advocates for me. Upon this, I
addressed the old man again, and said, " As you appear to
me to be very worthy, honest people, accept of this trifle
amongst you ; " and I gave him a loui$ cTor. I next pre-
ON THE ROAD TO THE RHINE 125
sented the women with six livres, as a mark of my respect
for them, and they received the money very graciously.
I saw that matters now bore, or were beginning to bear,
a favourable aspect, and I accordingly took the first
favourable opportunity to assure them how very sorry
I was that I had not more money to give them. I next
requested that they would show me the nearest way to
Bitche, as I had friends there who would supply me with
a little cash to enable me to proceed on my long journey.
After a long discussion in German, during which I
perfectly discovered their uneasiness at not having received
more than thirty livres, the old man observed, " As there
is but one of them, it is of no great consequence ; but if
they all were here, it would have been well worth while.' 1
I could not help thinking to myself that if we had all
been present we should have been such an over-match for
them as to prevent their making the attempt, and I might
have kept my money in my pocket. I again repeated my