Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/138

 then went on through another village. At three, crossed the high road to Bruges; a solitary public house was near, in which no one could be seen but an old woman, sitting by the fire; and being again thoroughly wet, we entered, asking for gin. Many minutes had not elapsed before a Frenchman came in, baited his horse, and departed, without addressing, or seeming to take the least notice of us. After regaling ourselves with eggs, and drying our clothes a little, we continued our march in the rain till near seven; then struck into a wood by the road side, and fortified ourselves with leaves as before. The rain fell in torrents, during the whole day, attended with repeated showers of hail. The increasing violence of the wind also, rendering the weather intensely cold, which caused such a perpetual chattering of the teeth, that it was with difficulty we could articulate with sufficient distinctness to be understood. In addition to these sufferings, our feet were severely blistered. I had a tumour forming on my left side, which obliged me to lie always on the right,