unceremoniously as they had just left it, bellowing like so many bulls. A new negotiation opened, and terminated with a promise that everything should be brought in if I would give them _two hours_, after they had vainly struggled for daybreak--and away they went. The two hours had nearly elapsed, and we were still at table, when Petit Jean, foaming with rage, burst into the room unaccompanied: “Ah, mais ces faquins là bas--ils ne font que se moquer de vous et de votre bonté, Monsieur le Commandant. Mais excusez, monsieur, je suis militaire, moi! et je me suis indigne de voir des militaires se laisser tromper par des vilains paysans; qui qu’ils sont, connaissent très bien l’accueil q’ils auraient reçus à la main d’un officier Prussien, ou même Français. Avec permission, monsieur, je m’en vais amener avec moi vos fourrageurs faire un fourrage militairement;” and, without waiting for an answer, the little hero bolted, and following to the hall-door, there we saw him sure enough march out of the gate perched upon one of our immense gun-horses, looking for all the world like a monkey on a dromedary. In two hours bread, forage, and all--nay, more than we had demanded--were brought in. Meantime our sergeant of the guard comes in for orders as to what he shall do with the mayor. “The mayor?--what have you to do with the mayor?” “Why, we have him safe in the guard-room, sir.” “The devil you have! and by whose order?” “Why, sir, we thought it best to keep him until the foraging-party with _Pitty Jan_ returned, least he might try to hinder ’em.” Here was a dilemma, should the old man complain to headquarters. However, on sending an officer to release him, and explain the mistake, Mynheer was too frightened to think of anything but rejoicing at gaining his liberty. Perhaps conscience told him that he deserved punishment for the imposition he had attempted to practise on us.