CHAPTER IV.

GENTLEMEN, YOU ARE IN FRANCE.

As the English prisoners were escorted through the different villages, on their route to a place of security, the inhabitants flocked to the doors of their cottages, to gratify their curiosity at the sight of their determined enemies, and to ask a number of questions worthy of their understanding;-" If the English all lived in ships?" &c.-while the more erudite exclaimed (as they imagined the greatest possible compliment), "Diable! ces Messieurs Auglois sont à peu prês comme nous autres.”

Some of the more brilliant spirits, indeed, had caught the enthusiastic feeling that pervaded the Marseillaise, and chanted remnants of their hymn, "Aur armes, citoyens, liberté! liberté

cherie!" &c.-watchwords which led perhaps to the most complete system of despotism ever established under the banners of national vanity, but it was—

"Un despotism temperé d'une chanson."

The dreary shades of night had fallen over the beautiful and fresh, though champaign landscape, when they arrived at their place of destination. It was a fortified town, and the hoarse voice of the sentinel, with his loud "qui vive!" from a post at the drawbridge, proclaimed them near its entrance. The parole and countersign followed, while the creaking of the portcullis soon indicated the platform to be in a state to enter; and the party, under a strong guard, were ushered to their several quarters for the night. In the morning, the officers were admitted to their parole of honour ; while the seamen were escorted to prison, in another district.

*

Sam was now obliged to part from his

officer who commanded them, on reaching the deck, took off his hat, and, stepping over the blood-stained planks, presented himself before the afflicted Harold, who was suffering both from his wound, and the more agonizing mental pain of losing his ship. Few words were spoken; and those which were, seemed but to say, "Such is the fortune of war;" for the minds of the victors, busy with their conquest, and those of the captured with their fate, had little to communicate to each other.

As the boat advanced with the wounded English captain towards the ship, on board of which was the commander of the French squa dron, all eyes and telescopes from the others appeared to be directed to this floating speck upon the ocean; and as Harold walked slowly along the quarter-deck, to present his sword to the conqueror, he seemed to be pierced on all sides with that curiosity, so gratifying to one party, yet so distressing to the other.

The French admiral received him with all

the courtesy peculiar to his nation; and if words could console, they were abundantly uttered, as his sword was returned, with a profusion of compliments on the masterly way in which he had defended himself against so superior a force; nor was this all, for every attention was paid to himself, his officers and crew, in acts of real kindness, by those of their own rank on board the French ship; and it was a pleasing spectacle to behold those fierce spirits who, amidst the furious wrath of war, dealt destruction around, now occupied in acts of humanity to their fellow-creatures.

The foreign squadron, bound on an expedition of much importance, still hovered about their conquest, like vultures unwilling to leave their prey; but the English ship was found in so shattered and leaky a state, as to make her a great impediment to their voyage; and, before the jury-masts were rigged, several sail hove in sight; and determined the destruction of their capture, which was accordingly scuttled, and

sunk in the middle of the wide ocean, in sight of the brave crew who had defended her.

The vessels which were in sight were no other than a British squadron, prowling about in pursuit of the identical French ships which had been committing such havock on the seas. The hearts of our English prisoners became lighter with the hope of being rescued; and, while the conquerors wished their ships to scud with the swiftness of the wind, the conquered prayed for every impediment that the mind of man could invent against their progress.

Some of the enemy's ships were captured by the English before they reached France; but the one on board of which Harold was, unfortunately for him, arrived safe in her native port.

Many were the anxious hours he passed in reflecting on his situation, occasionally excited to hope of release by the ships that chased them; but when the heavy anchor plunged