STUDIES IN THE NAPOLEONIC WARS 076
Escape with a Spaniard
10. Escape with a Spaniard (9)
July 25th. On this morning I was sitting at the iron bars of my window reading the Old Testament, when a Spaniard, who had never been to the prison before, entered my room, and addressed me as follows: “Sir, I saw you through the bars of this window three days since, and from that time I have been led by an impulse, wholly unaccountable to myself, to endeavour to effect your escape. The thought of it disturbs my rest, so that I am often obliged to rise from my bed from the effects of hunger, and to eat.” He then took from his pocket a saw and a file, to cut my window bars, which he begged me to conceal. He also gave me from his shoulders a Spanish cloak, took from out of his hat another one, and produced from his pocket a waistcoat and a paper of paint, saying: “Sir, this mode will be dangerous, but, if you dare be desperate, here are the means of disguising yourself: I will return in the twilight.” He did come back at dusk, and found me ready, dressed, and disguised with the paint, which, toned in colour with brick dust from the walls, I had rubbed over my face and hands. I was fully determined to brave the danger of attempting to pass the guards in disguise. The Spaniard said that he would walk at some twenty yards in front of me, so that if we were detected and fired at, one of the two might have a chance of escaping in the scuffle.
We then passed from my cell through a small room, where six British officers were confined—a room full of vermin and filth, with old, rotten beds and coarse, dirty sheets. Five sentries kept guard here—one at each window, another in the centre of the passage, and a fifth at the outward door of the corridor. There was also a strong officer’s guard at the outer gate. All of these posts I had to pass, being several times obliged to put my hand gently against the sentry, to make him give way to let me pass. On my arrival in the open street a delightful object met my view in the fine red rays of a departing sun. My protector stopped, to let me come up with him, and then, in the Italian language, began to abuse the people of the prison for having charged so unreasonably high for the wine we had been drinking there. This was said with the intention of lulling suspicion in the soldiers who were loitering at the gate.
My preserver led me through many byways, in which we met French officers and soldiers innumerable, and at last took me to the door of a garden, which he threw open. We entered; it was spacious and well planted with trees and flowers. I seated myself snug under a palm tree, where he desired me to rest, while he went in to see if all were safe in his own house. Here I sat quiet till eleven o’clock, when he returned, and conducted me to his abode, where I found his wife ready to welcome me with a good supper. But my heart was too light and happy to care much for food, and my mind so fixed on flight to the mountains that at this moment I almost fancied that I could have flown over them like an eagle. I was extremely eager to go forward at once, but my preserver alleged that it would take time to fix me a route, by learning in what direction the French troops were least numerous. He must also obtain me a guide.
Thus two days ran by, during which I learned that the French governor had offered for my detection 5,000 reals, and a place under Government to the informer, as also the promise of immunity from punishment to those concerned in my escape, if they would surrender me. My friend feared that a search might be made in suspected houses, and prepared for it, by arranging with his neighbours right and left, that I should be passed on to one of their roofs if the French came to his door.
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