tters from his wife also made a strong appeal. A little child now
brightened their home; yet the young husband and father must have
reflected that his own father had left a young and beautiful wife;
that the young soldier had torn himself away from his home and bride
in Chaviniac, following the lure of arms, and had, but a few weeks
before his own son's birth, rushed off to the battlefield where he ran
the risk of returning no more. Why should not the son take the same
risk and leave all for a great cause? To be sure, the father lost in
the venture, but perhaps the son would not. It was in the Lafayette
blood to seek for hazard and adventure. Cur non? Why not?

He was convinced that he would do no harm to any one but himself by
following out his purpose, and he decided not to risk further
interference from family or ministry. To get away safely he adopted a
ruse. He started out as if to go to Marseilles; but costuming himself as
a courier, he proceeded instead toward Los Pasajos, where his ship and
friends were awaiting him. The masquerade was successful until he reached
St. Jean de Luz where a hairbreadth escape was in store for him. Here
certain officers were watching for Lafayette. The clever daughter of an
innkeeper recognized him as the young nobleman who had passed some days
before on the way to Bordeaux. A sign from Lafayette was enough to keep
her from making known her discovery, and he slept, unrecognized, on the
straw in the stable, while one of his fellow-adventurers played the part
of passenger. This is why it has been said that but for the clever wit of
an innkeeper's daughter, Lafayette might have languished for the next few
years in the Bastille instead of spending them gloriously in aiding us to
gain our independence.

Lafayette reached Los Pasajos in safety. From the picturesque cliffs
back of the harbor he saw his ship, _La Victoire_--name of good
omen!--lying at anchor. There was the happy meeting of friends who
were to share his adventures and successes in the New World, and on
the 20th of April, 1777, they sailed forth on their voyage.

Two letters followed the enthusiastic fugitive. One was from Silas
Deane, who testified to the American Congress that a young French
nobleman of exalted family connections and great wealth had started
for America in order to serve in the American army. He affirmed that
those who censured his act as imprudent still applauded his spirit;
and he assured Congress that