So soon as the Depth of this Plot was fathom’d, and the intended Evil provided against, as well as prevented, King William went over into Flanders, and our Regiment thereupon receiv’d Orders for their immediate Return.  Nothing of any Moment occurr’d till our Arrival at our old Quarters, the Camerlins, where we lay dispers’d amongst the Country Boors or Farmers, as heretofore.  However, for our better Security in those Quarters, and to preserve us from the Excursions of the neighbouring Garrison of Furnes, we were oblig’d to keep an Out-guard at a little Place call’d Shoerbeck.  This Guard was every forty-eight Hours chang’d, and remounted with a Captain, a Lieutenant, an Ensign, and threescore Men.

When it came to my Turn to relieve that Guard, and for that Purpose I was arriv’d at my Post, it appear’d to me with the Face of a Place of Debauch, rather than Business; there being too visible Tokens, that the hard Duty of both Officers and Soldiers had been that of hard Drinking, the foulest Error that a Soldier can commit, especially when on his Guard.

To confirm my Apprehensions, a little after I had taken Possession of my Guard, the Man of the House related to me such Passages, and so many of’em, that satisfy’d me, that if ten sober Men had made the Attack, they might have fairly knock’d all my Predecessors of the last Guard on the Head, without much Difficulty.  However, his Account administer’d Matter of Caution to me, and put me upon taking a narrower View of our Situation.  In consequence whereof, at Night I plac’d a Centinel a Quarter of a Mile in the Rear, and such other Centinels as I thought necessary and convenient in other Places; with Orders, that upon Sight of an Enemy the Centinel near should fire; and that upon hearing that, all the other Centinels, as well as he, should hasten in to strengthen our Main Guard.

What my Jealousy, on my Landlord’s Relation, had suggested, happen’d accordingly:  For about one in the Morning I was alarm’d with the Cry of one of my Centinels, Turn out for God’s sake; which he repeated, with Vehemence, three or four times over.  I took the Alarm, got up suddenly; and with no little Difficulty got my Men into their Ranks, when the Person who made the Outcry came running in, almost spent, and out of Breath.  It was the Centinel, that I had luckily plac’d about a Quarter of a Mile off, who gave the Alarm, and his Musket flashing in the Pan, without going off, he endeavour’d to supply with his Voice the Defect of his Piece.  I had just got my Men into their Ranks, in order to receive the Enemy, when by the Moonlight, I discover’d a Party advancing upon us.  My out Centinel challeng’d ’em, and as I had precaution’d, they answer’d, Hispanioli; though I knew ’em to be French.