at the foot of the mountain, on the side of which, about three
hundred paces from us, we perceived two separate houses, which
inspired us with a stratagem that was successful.

We lost our hats in leaping the ramparts; but Schell had preserved
his scarf and gorget, which would give him authority among the
peasants.

I then cut my finger, rubbed the blood over my face, my shirt, and
my coat, and bound up my head, to give myself the appearance of a
man dangerously wounded.

In this condition I carried Schell to the end of the wood not far
from these houses; here he tied my hands behind my back, but so that
I could easily disengage them in ease of need: and hobbled after
me, by aid of his staff, calling for help.

Two old peasants appeared, and Schell commanded them to run to the
village, and tell a magistrate to come immediately with a cart. "I
have seized this knave," added he, "who has killed my horse, and in
the struggle I have put out my ankle; however, I have wounded and
bound him; fly quickly, bring a cart, lest he should die before he
is hanged."

As for me, I suffered myself to be led, as if half-dead, into the
house. A peasant was despatched to the village. An old woman and a
pretty girl seemed to take great pity on me, and gave me some bread
and milk: but how great was our astonishment when the aged peasant
called Schell by his name, and told him he well knew we were
deserters, having the night before been at a neighbouring alehouse