SUFFERINGS OF LIEUTENANT o'bRIEN. 209 



night we should be in the land of tyrants. At the usual time we commenced 

 our route, and left the town of St. Paul, about two miles on our left hand 

 side. At about 10, our progress was impeded by the river Canche : after 

 examining it in several directions without success, we agreed to send Mr. A^ 

 to a farm house, hard by, to inquire the nearest place that we could cross; 

 he returned in a few minutes with one of the farmer's men, who had been 

 desired to direct him, and assured us the people were extremely civil. It 

 appeared to him to be a good place to get a supply of provisions— we were 

 excessively hungry— and as the passage across the river was immediately at 

 the end of the farm house, and as they had already discovered our number; 

 we mutually consented to put the farmer's hospitality to the test, and, if 

 possible, procure a supply. We advanced with the man, who shewed us in, 

 were very kindly received by the master of the house, and conducted into a 

 decent back room. The kitchen, when we first entered, was full of peasantry, 

 at supper; it appeared that his harvest had been that day finished, and that 

 he was giving his labourers a supper on the occasion : an old custom in that 

 part of the country. Nothing could surpass the attention and goodness of this 

 man; he supplied us with every thing his house could afford; it is certain, he 

 took us for Frenchmen, and conscripts ; as he would not accept of any pay- 

 ment, we made the servant that attended a present, and took our leave of 

 this good man, full of gratitude for his kindness. 



We now conjectured that we were not more than seven leagues from 

 Estaples, and as we were all in tolerably good spirits, even Mr. Essel, we 

 determined to march that distance before day-light ; therefore set out at a 

 quick pace. Passed Hesdin, about midnight, at a very respectful distance. 

 Thursday, September 17th, and at day-light, to our great mortification, we 

 found ourselves at least three leagues from our intended place: the distance 

 being much more than we supposed, on quitting the farmer's house. 



A bourg, called Neuville, lay immediately in our track, without our having 

 any means of avoiding it, on account of the serpentine course of the river. 

 No wood, nor place to shelter us, in sight — a most critical situation — no alter- 

 native but to pass this town ; we, therefore, pushed forward to get through, 

 before many of the inhabitants were up, which we happily accomplished. 

 However, we found the road was getting too populous, after we had advanced 

 a little ; consequently, as soon as we possibly could, we struck across the 

 fields — no appearance of any wood — several people moving in different 

 directions; and, among others, military men. We resolved to go into a 

 small village contiguous, imagining that it would be less dangerous than to 

 remain straying and wandering in open fields. We arrived about eight 

 o' clock at a hut in the village ; aveiding a public hou&e, as there are in 

 general police officers or gens d'armes lurking about such places, when in the 

 vicinity of large towns ; and we were at this moment surrounded by dangerous 

 places ; viz. Montreuil, Estaples, and in the route to Boulogne, which was 

 about ten or twelve leagues distant. We asked the inhabitants if they could 

 supply us with breakfast ; they replied, yes, they would get us some milk 

 soup and bread. We approved of this repast very much, and, after paying 

 them, we requested they would have the goodness to allow us to repose our- 

 selves for a few hours, in some convenient place : this they refused, hinting, 

 that they suspected we were deserters from the camp at Boulogne. We 

 assured them, upon our words of honor, they were very much mistaken — 

 that, on the contrary, we were going that way, but were so very much 

 fatigued, and having a sick comiade, we wanted a little rest ; after impor- 

 tuning them a long time, and promising to reward them, they allowed us to go 

 into a barn-loft, full of straw ; we were particularly obliged to them, and 

 perfectly contented with this apartment; but when about settled, and each 



VOL. VI. — 1835. CC 



