In ten days, we received an order to march on the following morning.
The sailors, among whom was our poor friend the midshipman of the
_Snapper_ cutter, were ordered to Verdun; O'Brien and I, with eight
masters of merchant vessels, who joined us at Montpelier, were directed
by the government to be sent to Givet, a fortified town in the
department of Ardennes. But, at the same time, orders arrived from
government to treat the prisoners with great strictness, and not to
allow any parole. It was exactly four months from the time of our
capture, that we arrived at our destined prison at Givet.

"Peter," said O'Brien, as he looked hastily at the fortifications and
the river which divided the two towns, "I see no reason, either English
or French, that we should not eat our Christmas dinner in England. I've
a bird's-eye view of the outside, and now have only to find out
whereabouts we may be in the inside."

I must say that, when I looked at the ditches and high ramparts, I had a
different opinion; so had a gendarme who was walking by our side, and
who had observed O'Brien's scrutiny, and who quietly said to him in
French, "_Vous le croyez possible_?"

"Everything is possible to a brave man--the French armies have proved
that," answered O'Brien.

"You are right," replied the gendarme, pleased with the compliment to
his nation; "I wish you success, you will deserve it; but--" and he
shook his head.

"If I could obtain a plan of the fortress," said O'Brien, "I would give
five Napoleons for one;" and he looked at the gendarme.

"I cannot see any objection to an officer, although a prisoner, studying
fortification," replied the gendarme. "In two hours you will be within
the walls; and now I recollect, in the map of the two towns, the
fortress is laid down sufficiently accurately to give you an idea of it.
But we have conversed too long." So saying, the gendarme dropped into
the rear.

In a quarter of an hour we arrived at the Place d'Armes, where we were
met, as usual, by another detachment of troops, and drummers, who
paraded us through the town previous to our being drawn up before the
governor's house. As we stopped at the governor's house, the gendarme
who had left us in the square, made a sign to O'Brien, as much as to
say, I have it. O'Brien took out five Napoleons, which he wrapped in
paper and held in his hand. In a minute or two, the gendarme came up
and presented O'Brien with an old silk handkerchief, sa