On the second evening after starting he rejoined the convoy of prisoners; where a message, delivered from General Lacy to the officer in charge, caused many small indulgences to be granted to him on the way south.
Day after day the convoy pursued its way, by short marches, for several of the officers were too severely wounded to travel far.
Several of these were left at Prague.

Here the greater portion of the others were taken on by the southern road through Budweis, the rest turning southeast towards Moravia.
On the evening before they separated, the commander of the convoy said to Fergus: "Have you any wish to choose as to which of the fortresses you would be sent to?
I can put your name down with either party.

Some will go to Iglau in Moravia, the rest to the forts round Linz." "I think I would rather go to Linz, colonel, as you are good enough to give me the choice." Accordingly, the next morning Fergus, with twenty officers, continued his way south.

The majority proceeded to Iglau, to be distributed among the various fortresses of Moravia.
Fergus was much pleased that he had not been sent with that party, for had he by chance been taken to his former place of imprisonment, he would certainly have been recognized, and the strictest precautions taken against his repeating the attempt.

On their arrival at Linz, the prisoners were formally handed over to the charge of the governor, and distributed among the various outlying forts round the city.