Chapter II: Preface: v

BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN O’BRIEN ix

CHAPTER I

The _Hussar_ Frigate is sent home with Despatches, and wrecked on the _Saintes_--Efforts to save the Ship--Attempt to escape in the Boats foiled by bad Weather--A Surrender to the Enemy Page 1

CHAPTER II

A kind Reception by the Enemy--Our Shipmates all Prisoners--Consolations under Misfortunes--Prisoners sent to the Hospital at Brest--Robbery by a French Seaman--Running the Gauntlet--Dilemma of wearing or giving up a Sword--Kindness of the French Nuns--Orders to march into the Interior--Wounded Pride and Hard Fare--Bad Faith of the Minister of Marine--The March begins for Verdun--Arrival at Landernau--Aristocratic Differences in Rates of Pay or Allowances amongst Republicans--Landiviziau--An Illustration of Equality--Morlaix to Rennes--Prisoners and Vermin--Vitré--English Dogs at a French Inn--Laval--A Spectacle for the Mob--Alençon--Difficulties increased--Part of the Crew separated from their Officers--Our Arrival at Rouen--An honest Gaoler and his amiable Wife--A moderate Bill for Gaol Fare--_Bons Garçons_ in a Prison--Our Arrival at Amiens--English Sympathy for suffering Countrymen Page 7

CHAPTER III

Departure from Amiens--Arrival at Albert--Our French Officer’s Delicacy and Liberality--A Civic Feast at Bapaume--Effects of Champagne on French Aldermen--A Separation from our kind Conductor--A New Escort--A forced March to Cambray--Pitiable State and severe Sufferings of the Seamen--Entrance into Cambray--Imprisonment--Landrecies, Avesnes, Hirson--A Billet upon the Inhabitants--Rocroy--A brutal Landlord--The Robbery and Abuse of Prisoners--Givet--Charlemont--A Description of the Fortifications--An Escape of Prisoners--A fruitless Pursuit--Generosity of the French Commandant--Private Lodgings--A Jacobin Landlady--Exhausted Funds--The 4th of June--Honours done to King George the Third’s Birthday--Roast Beef and Plum Pudding--French Terrors of Insurrection--The Difference between taking off and only touching Hats in saluting Men in Authority--Good News--A joyful Departure in a cart for Verdun Page 26

CHAPTER IV

Our Arrival at Verdun--A joyful Reception--General Wirion--His Indulgence towards the Prisoners--The Meetings of old Shipmates and Friends--Mental Employment the best Antidote against _Ennui_ and Dissipation--Restiveness at Confinement--Anxiety to be again in the Active Service of Old England--Meditations upon an Escape--Contrivances to avoid a Breach of Parole or any Breach of Honour--Three Comrades or _Compagnons de Voyage_--Scaling Ramparts--A Descent of Seventy-two Feet--The Open Country--The March commences--Flying by Night, and hiding in Woods by Day--Heavy Rains, Dismal Roads, and Swampy Beds, with Bad Fare and Good Hearts--Leaping a Moat--A Dislocated Knee--The March resumed, and pursued lamely--The Town of Neuville--Extreme Sufferings from Thirst--Water at length procured, Anguish allayed, and the Escape proceeded upon with renewed Spirits Page 43