SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 207 



Friday, September 11., 1807. Being under no apprehension ; and the land- 

 lord, from the observations made by him on our arrival, being also aware 

 that we travelled by night, made us perfectly reconciled. At dusk we paid 

 our bill with gratitude ; took leave of our kind host and proceeded. Esse], 

 greatly refreshed ; we found ourselves particularly strong and well, from the 

 last night's repose. This night was exceedingly dark, and we had a great 

 number of ploughed fields to march through, which fatigued our poor friead 

 greatly ; we were frequently under the necessity of resting and waiting for 

 him during the night. 



Saturday, September 12., 1807. At day-light, it began raining incessantly. 

 We were now very near a small village — our late success made us more bold 

 than we were at our first setting out, and having no wood to shelter us, we 

 resolved to go into the village : found it very well calculated for us. Got 

 admitted into a public house, where, after procuring a little refreshment, we 

 requested to be allowed to lie down somewhere to rest a little, expecting to be 

 shown into a hay loft : but were agreeably surprised ; for our good old land- 

 lady put sheets on the only two beds she had, and told us we might rest our- 

 selves on them until night; we perceived that she also supposed we were 

 conscripts. She also got Mr. Essel something warm, and appeared very 

 attentive. At dusk, as usual, we paid: the good dame, and began our march — 

 poor Essel complained a good deal, and my feet began to swell greatly ; 

 although they did not pain me, I feared some bad consequence from their 

 swelling. About 10, our friend declared that he could not move a step further, 

 consequently, we sat down to allow him time to rest a little. We were greatly 

 mortified at this disaster, and did not know how to act, and were certain if 

 he continued thus indisposed, we should be an immense time before we 

 arrived at our destined spot. He began himself to think he should be obliged 

 to stop at some house, and had therefore better let us proceed, as he clearly 

 saw the risk we ran in approaching houses, villages, &c. but this was repug- 

 nant to our feelings; we agreed therefore to wait with him a day or two 

 longer, to see if he should improve ; but were greatly at a loss where to take 

 him for the night; we were thus meditating, when we were joined by a man 

 going exactly our road ; he saluted us very kindly, expressed some so rrow at 

 seeing our comrade ill, informed us he was a baker by trade, then returning 

 from whence he had been at work the whole week, to his little family, in a 

 village about two miles further on : his wife had recently died, and had left 

 him three orphans ; he had two beds, which should be prepared for us, and he 

 would procure us every thing we might want for the night. The village was 

 small, and he hinted that there was no danger whatever in entering it. He 

 took us to be what the others had imagined. We accepted of his kind offer ; 

 and returned thanks to Divine Providence for its bounty and goodness, in thus 

 sending such a person in our way. We arrived at this poor man's dwelling ; 

 he made a good fire for us : ordered his children to get up and prepare th« 

 beds for our reception, when they retired into a loft themselves. We found 

 ourselves particularly safe with this poor fellow; got well warmed, and retired 

 to bed. He procured us every thing we wanted the next day. 



Sunday, September 1.3., 1807. Agreeably to promise, we waited until dusk, 

 and paid him handsomely for his trouble : he escorted us a mile or two oh our 

 road, and took his leave, full of gratitude, and very much pleased. We were 

 much indebted to this man for his attention and civility ; our companion 

 found himself a little better, and in tolerably good spirits. About 11, we 

 passed close in sight of Bapaume, where I had been about three years before. 



Monday, September 14th, 1807, At a little before day-light, we entered a 

 wood, and found a convenient place to conceal ourselves. We conjectured 

 we were about five leagues from Arras. At about eleven, we were alarnnid 



