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

from Oporto to Plymouth when I lay for
seven days upon my back, and could not
nave stirred had 1 seen the eagle of the
regiment carried before my eyes. 1t was
In perfdious weather like this that Nelson
took advantage of us.
l had no sooner got into Dartmoor than
can readily believe that with wits sharpen
ed by twelve years of warfare it was not
very long before 1 saw my way.
You must know, in the first place, that
L mad a very great advantage in having
some knowledge of the English language.
l learned 1t during the months that 1
spent before Dapzig, from Adjutant Obri-
ant or the regiment Irlandais, who was
sprung from the ancient kings of the coun-
try. l was quickly able to speak 1t with
<me facility. for-I do not take long to
master anything to which set my mind.
In three months I could not only express
my meaning, but could use the idiomS of
the people. 1t was Obriant who taught me
to say BE jabers," just as we might say
Ma fol-" and also 1.-The curse of Crum-
mle!' which means "Ventre bluer' Many
time have seen the English smile with
pleasure when they have heard me speak
so much like one of themselves.
We officers were put two in a cell, which
was very little to my taste, for my room
mate was a tall, silent man named Beau
mont of the flying artillery, who had been
taken by the English cavalry at Astorga.
1t is seldom l meet man of whom l
cannot make friend, for my disposition
and manners areas you know them. But
this fellow had never a smile for my jests,
nor an ear for my sorrows, but would sit
looking at me with his suileu eyes, until
sometimes 1 thought that his two years
of captivity had driven him crazy. All,
how l longed that cid Bouvet, or any of
my comrades of the husSars, was there,
instead of this mummy of a man. But
such as he was 1 had to make the best of
him. ana it was very evident that no es-
cape could be made unless he We're my
partner in it, for what could l possibly do
without his observing me? I limited at it,
therefore, and then by degrees l spoke
more plainly, until it seemed to me that l
had prevailed upon him to share my lot.
l tried the walls. and tried the floor. and
! tried the ceiling, but though | tapped and
probed, they all appeared to be very thick
and solid. The door was of iron, shutting
with a spring lock, and provided with a
sm&u grating, through which warder
looked twice in every night. Within there
We're two beds, two Stools two Washstands
nothing more 1t was enough for my
wants for " neE had had as much during
these twelve years spent in camps? But
how vas 1 to get out? Night after night /
thought of my five hundred hussars, and
had dreadful nightmares, in which fancied
that the whole regiment needed shoeing or
that my horses were all bloated with green
fodder, that they We're foundered from
boglaud. or that six suuadroGS were club
bed III the presence of the emperor. Then
L would awake i'll a cold sweat, and set to
work picking and tapping at the walls once
more; for L knew very well that there is
no difficulty which cannot be overcome by
a ready brain and a pair of cunning hands
There was 4 single window in our CELL
which was too small to admit child 1t
was further defended by a thick iron bar
in the center 1t was not avery promising
point of escape. as you viii allow. but
became more and more convinced that our
efforts must be directed toward it, To
make matters worse, it only led out into
the exercise yard, which was surrounded
by two high walls. Still. as ! said TO my
sUllen cCHrade, it is time to talk of the
Nistula when you are over the Rhine. l
got a small piece of iron, therefore, from
the fittings of my bed, and l set to work TO
tom of the bar Three hours | would work.
and then leap into my bed upon the sound
Of the warders step. Then another three
hours, and then very often another yet
for | found that Beaumont was so slow and
clumsy at it that it was on myself only