At the turning of a sharp corner, we met the gendarme who had supplied O'Brien with a map of the town of Givet.

"Good morning, comrade," said he to O'Brien, looking earnestly at him, "whom have we here ?" "A young Englishman, whom I picked up close by, escaped from prison." "Where from ?" "He will not say; but I suspect from Givet." "There are two who have escaped from Givet," replied he: "how they escaped no one can imagine; but," continued he, again looking at O'Brien, "_avec les braves, il n'y a rien d'impossible_." "That is true," replied O'Brien; "I have taken one, the other cannot be far off.

You had better look for him." "I should like to find him," replied the gendarme, "for you know that to retake a runaway prisoner is certain promotion.

You will be made a corporal." "So much the better," replied O'Brien; "_adieu, mon ami_." "Nay, I merely came for a walk, and will return with you to Malines, where of course you are bound." "We shall not get there to-night," said O'Brien, "my prisoner is too much fatigued." "Well, then, we will go as far as we can; and I will assist you.

Perhaps we may find the second, who, I understand, obtained a map of the fortress by some means or other." We at once perceived that we were discovered.