Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/131

 into the water, and it was with some difficulty he could be extricated, and not without being dragged through the brambles, by which he was severely scratched. We lay ourselves down in the centre of this swampy thicket. The rain had continued without intermission from the time of leaving Tournay, and, notwithstanding it somewhat discommoded us, yet we were consoled by the additional security it afforded; this little island protected us till near dark, when we walked round it to find the easiest point of egress. From the torrents of rain that had fallen during the day, but which had now ceased, the ditches had become considerably wider, and there was only one opening in the bushes, whence a leap could be made; of this, three of us profited, the fourth obtained a passage, by the aid of a decayed willow, which overhung the opposite bank. Courtray being fortified, it was impossible to cross the river Lys at that place; we were, consequently, obliged to go to Deynse, that being an open town. About eight P. M., proceeding over plough