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