Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18

ceved that accident had done for ME
much as the. most profound cunning. My
guards naturally commenced their search
from the place from which l had taken Sir
Charles Mereditf's coat and from my hid
ing place / could see them hurrynS along
the road to that point. Not one of them
ever dreamed that | could have doubled
back from there. and l lay quite undis-
turbed in the little Undiscovered cup at
the summit of my knoll. The prisoners
had, OF course, learned of my escape, and
all day eXultant yells like thai which had
aroused me in the morning resounded over
the moor bearing a welcome message of
sympathy and companionship to my ears.
How little did they dream that on the top
of that very mound. which they could see
from their windows. lying the comrade
whose escape they were celebrating. AS
for mel could look down upon this poor
herd of idle warriors, as they paced about
the great exercise yard or gathered in lit
tie groups, gestculating joyfully over my
success. Once heard a howl of eXecra ton,
ard | saw Beaumont, his head all covered
with bandages, beng led across the yard By
two OF the warderS. l cannot tell you the
pleasure which this sight gave me, for it
proved that / had not killed him, and also
that the others knew the true story of
what had passed They had all known me
too well to think that l could have aban-
doned him.
All that long day lay behind my screen
of bushes. listening to the bells which
My pockets were filed with bread which
l had saved out of my allowance, and on
searching my borrowed overcoat l came
upon silver flask, full OF excellent brandy
and water, So that l was able to get
through the day without hardship. The
only other things in the pockets were
red silk handkerchief a tortose-shell snuff
box and a blue envelope with a red seal.
addressed to the governor of Dartmouth
prison. AS to the first two. l determined
to send than back when l should return
the coat itself The letter caused me more
perpieXity, for the governor had always
shown ne every courtesy, and it offended
my sense of honor that l should interfere
with his correspondence. l had almost
made up my mind to leave it under a stone
upon the roadway within musket shot of
the gate. This would guide them in their
search for me, however, and so, on the
whole, 1 saw no bettsr way than just to
carry the letter with 'me, in the hope that
l might find some means of sending it back
to him. Meanwhile ] packed it afely away
in my iHnermost pocket.
There was a warm sun to dry my clothes,
and when night fell l was ready for my
journey. l promise you that there was no
mistake this time. 1 took the stars for my
guides, every hussar should be taught
to do and put eight good leagues between
myself and the prison. My plan now was
to obtain complete suit of clothes from
the first person whom l could waylay, and
1 should then fird my way to the north
coast, where there were many smugglerS
and fishermen who would be ready to earn
the reward which was paid by the emperor
to those who brought escaping prisoners
across the channel. l had taken the pan
ache from my busby and had crushed it
in. so that it might pass as a fur cap, but
even with my fine overcoat 1 feared that
sooner or later my uniform would betray
me. MY first care must be to provide my
self with a complete disguise.
When day broke l saw a river upon my
right and a small town upon my left-the
blue smoke rocking above the moor. l
should have liked well TO enter it, because
it would have interested me to see some
thing of the customs of the English. which
differ very much from those of other ma
TONS Much as L wished, however, to see
them eat their raw meat and sell their