Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/133

 road, we were obliged to quit it, but previously broke up the work. Having penetrated farther into the wood, we concealed ourselves as before; here we remained during the day, listening to the howling of the wind, which rose gradually into a furious storm of driving sleet, rain, and hail; and, such was its violence, that our garments were scarcely felt to be a covering. We quitted this wood soon after dark, and gained the high road for Deynse. After marching about an hour, and passing several people, (Whitehurst and Mansell always preserving their stipulated distance in the rear,) we were overtaken by two horse gens d'armes; but it being exceedingly dark, they took us for conscripts, part of their own escort, for one of them, in a muffled tone, as if fearful of exposing his nose, said, "Make haste, you will be too late for your lodging tickets;" reply was made that we were fatigued; soon after, the rain increasing, they trotted on, repeating, "Make haste, make haste." We were not much flattered by the honour of their company, but not in such danger as