Chapter V

The Journey pursued--A Bivouac in a Wood--Dangers of being Shot--Making free with an Orchard--Crossing the Oise--A Mode of obtaining Provisions--A Cabaret and a Village _Fête_--Kindness of the Peasantry--Petit Essigny--Wringing drenched Garments, and Drying them over fading Embers--A miserable Landlord--A Change of Quarters--Luxuries of a Hay-loft--A Samaritan of a Hostess--Wretched Sufferings of Mr. Essel--Resort to another Village--A kind Landlord--Sympathies for Deserters--“A Fellow-feeling makes Men wondrous Kind”--The Luxuries of a Clean Bed--Resort to another Village--A motherly Hostess--A lucky Road-acquaintance--Virtue and Happiness in humble Life--The charitable Baker--Dangers from Sportsmen to Gentlemen hiding in Woods--Mr. Essel’s Illness disappearing--Increased Speed not always safe to Fugitives--Coldness of the Weather--An hospitable Farmer--A French Harvest-home--Hesdin--Neuville--Étaples--Turned out of a Straw Bed--A new Inn, with a _Gendarme_ in Disguise in the Kitchen--Bribing a Landlord--No Boat to be had--An old Shepherd too cunning for a young Lieutenant and Midshipmen--Extreme Difficulties--High Hopes--Despondency and Resources Page 63

CHAPTER VI

A False Direction and an Appalling Repulse--A Bribe refused--A Deluge, and Shelter in a Barn--A fatal Resolution--Dangers of Fugitives journeying by Daylight--A Market-day at Étaples--Passing through Crowds not very convenient for runaway Prisoners of War--An Attempt to reach the Sand-hills on the Coast--A Bold Progress through a Despicable Village--The last House--Parching Thirst, and begging for a Draught of Water--An Acquiescence or Reply in the shape of two Custom-house Officers--Our Capture--A clever Fiction well devised, better sustained, and totally defeated--Getting rid of suspicious Goods--An Examination before the Mayor--Americanism and the American Gentleman--An awkward Exposure--A _Mittimus_ to Boulogne Gaol--An Examination of our Persons and Clothes--Our Fate sealed and Hope destroyed Page 90