clothes that he was not
strictly speaking a soldier, but an officer's servant. I should have
preferred to catch a combatant, who could have given me more precise
information; but I was going to content myself with this capture for
want of a better, when I saw at top of the slope two soldiers carrying a
cauldron between them, on a pole. They were only a few paces off. It was
impossible for us to re-embark without being seen. I therefore signed to
my grenadiers to hide themselves again, and as soon as the two Austrians
stooped to fill their vessel, powerful arms seized them from behind, and
plunged their heads under water. We had to stupefy them a little, since
they had their swords, and I feared that they might resist. Then they
were picked up in turn, their mouths covered with a handkerchief full of
sand, and sword-points against their breasts constrained them to follow
us. They were shipped as the servant had been, and my men and I got on
board again.

[Illustration: 'We had to saw the rope']

So far all had gone well. I made the sailors get up and take their oars,
and ordered the corporal to cast loose the rope which held us to the
bank. It was, however, so wet, and the knot had been drawn so tight by
the force of the stream, that it was impossible to unfasten. We had to
saw the rope, which took us some minutes. Meanwhile, the rope, shaking
with our efforts, imparted its movement to the branches of the willow
round which it was wrapped, and the rustling became loud enough to
attract the notice of the sentry. He drew near, unable to see the boat,
but perceiving that the agitation of the branches increased, he called
out, 'Who goes there?' No answer. Further challenge from the sentry. We
held our tongues, and worked away. I was in deadly fear; after facing so
many dangers, it would have been too cruel if we were wrecked in sight
of port. At last, the rope was cut and the boat pushed off. But hardly
was it clear of the overhanging willows than the light of the bivouac
fires made it visible to the sentry, who, shouting, 'To arms,' fired at
us. No one was hit but at the sound the whole camp was astir in a
moment, and the gunners, whose pieces were ready loaded and trained on
the river, honoured my boat with some cannon-shots. At the report my
heart leapt for joy, for I knew that the Emperor and marshal would hear
it. I turned my eyes towards the convent, with its lighted windows, of
which I had, in spite of the distance,