ADVENTURE IX IIOLLAXD. 187 



rumoured in the army that we should shortly retire 

 towards Bois-le-Duc, and when the republican sans- 

 cidottes occupied the village they would come like a 

 flight of locusts, and as they detested all ministers of 

 religion, would devour and spoil all on the premises of 

 niy friend the pastor. 



On continuing my walk alone in the garden, the day 

 being excessively hot, in the month of August, I came 

 to a pond, and on the surface of the water I saw several 

 brace of large carp, apparently fast asleep. Finding I 

 could not have ortolans for dinner, I conceived that fish 

 would be no bad substitute for the birds, and determined 

 to try whether, with my long basket-handled straight 

 sword, I could not give a mortal wound to some of the 

 drowsy carp ; so drawing it, I crept quietly on my hands 

 and knees to the edge of the pond, and made a desperate 

 cut amongst them. The water soon ajDpeared tinged 

 with blood, and to my no small satisfaction I soon per- 

 ceived a large carp rise to the surface of the water in a 

 dying state, and soon, by the help of my sword, brought 

 him within reach. It was a fine fish, weighing between 

 three and four pounds. On returning to the house I 

 showed it to the pastor, who at first did not appear very 

 well pleased ; but on my explaining my new mode of 

 angling, he was unable to refrain from laughing, saying 

 that he had a good cook, and it should be stewed in 

 wine for our dinner. I found it excellent ; but at the 

 age of fifteen, with the appetite of a wolf, nothing comes 

 amiss. On my piquet being relieved I took my leave of 

 the pastor, and we never met again, for the army soon 

 retired from this position. 



On our second day's march with the army, over an 

 extensive heath, the town and fortress of Breda being 



