neral 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, r