Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/199

 centre, fastened down with pegs, and dead leaves strewed round the edge, thus forming a kind of tent; one corner was left open for the free admission of air, and for our own entrance and exit. Here we lay in such comfort, that the sensation experienced can only be imagined by comparing them to turning into a warm bed after being nearly frozen to death. The snow falling all night, in the morning our nest was covered nearly a foot deep, and scarcely rose sufficiently above the surrounding white surface, to indicate the place of our concealment. It being almost impossible to travel in such weather, we determined patiently to wait its breaking up; unless, indeed, Moitier, in the mean time, should furnish us with sufficient supplies to justify a fresh movement. Very little change occurred until the 19th, when we again despatched a messenger to Bruges, with a note to Mansell, but, as we received no answer, it was, doubtless, intercepted; it being Moitier's policy to prevent communication between us. A sudden thaw almost inundated the wood, and it was,