As neither my men nor I had any luggage to hamper us--for we had just
the clothes we stood in--we were not long getting ready. We started
next morning; and on entering the river, found that the French had
destroyed their flotilla, and soon afterwards we were invited by the
people to come on shore and take possession of the batteries which the
French had evacuated. I remained with Cross and my men on shore at
Cuxhaven, while the brigs went up the river, in pursuit of a privateer.
After a day or two, tired of inactivity, and anxious to arrive at
Hamburg, I proposed to Cross that he should accompany me, which he
cheerfully acceded to. I had drawn a bill at Heligoland, so that we
were in no want of money, and we set off on our expedition. We had not,
however, proceeded far before we were informed that the road to Hamburg
was so full of French troops, scattered about, that it would be
impossible to gain the city without we made a _detour_. As we knew that
our throats would be cut by these disorganised parties, we followed the
advice given to us, walking from village to village, until we had put
Hamburg between us and the river. But when there, we found that we
could not approach the imperial city, but were obliged to direct our
steps more inland. At last, we heard that the inhabitants of the town
of Lunenburg had risen, and driven out the French garrison, and I
resolved to proceed there, as it was more advisable than being
continually in danger of being picked up by the French stragglers, who
were committing every enormity that could be imagined.
We arrived safe; stated who we were to the authorities, and were well
received; but we had not been there more than two days, when the
rejoicings and braggings of the town's-people, on account of the late
victory over the French garrison, were turned to consternation by the
intelligence that General Moraud was advancing with a considerable force
to re-take the town. The panic was so great, that all idea of defence
was in vain; and at the very time that I was entreating them to make a
stand, the French troops poured in, and two cuirassiers galloped up, and
seized upon Cross and me. A few minutes afterwards, General Moraud came
up, and inquired, in a rough tone, who we were. I replied in French,
that we were English officers.
"Take them away," said he, "and secure them well; I'll make an example
here that shan't be forgotten."
We were taken to the guard-room, where we remained shut up for the
night. The next morning one of the cuirassiers looked into our cell. I
asked him whether we could not have something to eat.
"Cela ne vaut pas la peine. Mon ami, vous n'aurez pas le temps pour la
digestion; dans une demie-heure vous serez fusilles."
"May I ask the English of that, Captain Keene?" replied Cross.
"Yes, it is very pleasant. He says that it's not worth while eating
anything, as we shall be shot in half an hour."
"Well, I suppose they'll shoot us first, and try us afterwards," replied
Cross. "Won't they give us a reason?"
"I suspect not, Cross. I am sorry that I have got you into this scrape;
as for myself, I care little about it."
"I am sorry for poor Jane, sir," replied Cross; "but we all owe Heaven a
death; and, after all, it's not worth making a fuss about."
Our conversation was here interrupted by a party of French soldiers, who
opened the door and ordered us to follow them. We had not far to go,
for we were led out to the Grand Place, before the prison, where we
found the French troops drawn up, and General Moraud, with his officers
round him, standing in the centre. At twenty yards' distance, and
surrounded by the troops, which did not amount to more than three
hundred, were thirty of the principal inhabitants of the town, pinioned,
and handkerchiefs tied over their eyes, preparatory to their being shot;
this being the terrible example that the governor had threatened.
"Look, Cross," said I, "what a handful of men these Frenchmen have
retaken the town with. Why, if we had resisted, we might have laughed
at them."
"They won't laugh any more, I expect," replied Bob.
"_Allons_," said the corporal to me.
"Where?" replied I.
"To your friends, there," replied he, pointing to the town's-people, who
were about to be shot.
"I wish to speak to the general," replied I, resisting.
"No, no: you must go."
"I will speak to the general," replied I, pushing the corporal on one
side, and walking to where the general was standing.
"Well," said the general, fiercely.
"I wish to know, sir," replied I, "by what law you are guided in
shooting us. We are English officers, here on duty to assist against
the French, and at the most can only be prisoners of war. Upon what
grounds do you order us to be shot?"
"As spies," replied the general.
"I am no spy, sir; I am a post-captain in the English navy, who joined
with the seamen saved from the wreck of my frigate in the attack upon
Cuxhaven, and there is my boatswain, who came up with me to go to
Hamburg. At all events, I am fully justified in siding against the
French: and to shoot us will be a murder, which will not fail to be
revenged."
"You may pass yourself off as the captain of a frigate, but your dress
disproves it, and I have better information. You are two spies, and
smugglers, and therefore you will be shot."
"I tell you before all your officers that I am Captain Keene, of the
Circe frigate, belonging to His Britannic Majesty, and no spy; if you
choose to shoot me now, I leave my death to be revenged by my country."
At this moment an officer in naval uniform stepped forward and looked me
in the face.
"General Moraud," said he, "what that officer says is true: he is
Captain Keene, and I was prisoner on board of his vessel; and I also
know the other man as well."
"Captain Vangilt, I do not request your interference," replied the
general.
"But general, as an officer in the marine of the emperor, it is my duty
to state to you, that you are deceived, and that this officer is the
person that he states himself to be. Messieurs," continued Captain
Vangilt, addressing those about the general, "I assure you it is true,
and I am under the greatest obligation to this officer for his kindness
and humanity when I was his prisoner."
"I recognise you now, Mr Vangilt," replied I; "and I thank you for your
evidence."
"You see, general, he knows me by name: I must demand the life of this
British officer."
The other officers then spoke to the general, who heard all they had to
say, and then, with a sardonic grin, replied,--"Gentlemen, he may be an
officer, but still he is a spy." At that moment an orderly came up on
horseback, and, dismounting, gave a note to the general.
"_Sacre bleu_!" cried he; "then we'll have our revenge first at all
events. Soldiers, take these two men, and put them in the centre, with
the others."
Vangilt pleaded and entreated in vain: at last, in his rage, he called
the general "a coward and a madman."
"Captain Vangilt, you will answer that at some other time," replied the
general; "at present we will carry our will into execution. Lead them
away."
Vangilt then covered his face with his hands, and all the other officers
showed signs of great disgust.
"Farewell, Vangilt," said I in French; "I thank you for your
interference, although you have not succeeded with the _scoundrel_."
"Take them away!" roared the general.
At that moment the report of musketry was heard in dropping shots.
"Well, if ever I saw such a bloody villain," said Cross. "Take that, at
all events;" continued Bob, shying his hat right into the general's
face. "I only wish it was a 32-pounder, you murdering thief."
The rage of the general may easily be imagined. Once more he gave his
orders, drawing his sword in a menacing way at his own soldiers, who now
forced us towards the part of the square where the other victims were
collected. As soon as we were there, they wanted to blind our eyes, but
that both I and Bob positively refused, and a delay was created by our
resistance. The musketry was now approaching much nearer; and a few
seconds afterwards the general gave the order for the party to advance
who were to execute the sentence.
The other prisoners kneeled down; but I and Cross would not; and while
we were resisting, the general repeated his order to fire; but the men
were confused with the advance of the enemy, and the impossibility to
fire while Cross and I not only resisted the soldiers, but held them so
fast, that had the party fired they must have shot them as well as us.
A cry "To arms" was given, and the troops all wheeled round in front to
repel the enemy. A loud hurrah was followed by an inpouring of some
hundred Cossacks, with their long spears who, in a few seconds charged
and routed the French, who retreated in the greatest confusion by the
different streets which led into the Grand Place.
"Hurrah! we are saved," cried Cross, snatching up a musket that had been
dropped by a soldier. I did the same, and pursued the retreating
French, till a bullet through my leg put a stop to my progress. I
called to Cross, who came to my assistance, and he helped me back to the
Grand Place, which was now clear of troops.