M. and Mme. Lantois, with their son René, a big lad of eighteen, had tried to run away too--not, like ourselves, on foot, but in a cart drawn by two stout horses. The prudent hands of the farmer's wife had heaped up in the bottom of the vehicle two sacks of flour, a keg of wine, a barrel of salt pork, two hundred eggs, and even thirty bottles of petroleum. No matter whither they would have to go, they were thus prepared for any events. The first hours all went well, but near Nouvion-le-Vineux the fugitives were overtaken by the French army. They were ordered to draw up on the roadside and wait. Night fell. The soldiers kept on advancing. A cannon happened to break down and got somewhat injured. So the weary farmer went to sleep leaning against a post, while his wife, lantern in hand, gave a light to the poor gunners, who, cursing and swearing, did their best to mend the damaged wheel. The stream of men flowed on uninterruptedly till the morning. The good people, who had kept out of the way all this time, thought the moment propitious to resume their journey. They put the horses to, and were about to move forward, when they were startled by a loud shout. Fresh soldiers were advancing, and ... they were Prussians. "I am sure," Mme. Lantois said, "that at this point they were not three miles away from our rearguard." Horses, cart, provisions, and even petroleum--ogres turn up their noses at nothing--were swallowed in a mouthful. The three fugitives, despoiled and abashed, came back on foot to Morny, all whose inhabitants returned to their houses sheepish and downcast. In other places the Germans were not even put to the trouble of despoiling the people, who of their own free will sacrificed to the new-comers. They mistook them for English soldiers. In Festieux, for instance, not far from us, the urchins of the village cried out: "The English are coming!" And the peasants crowded about them. They had already stripped themselves for the French, but all the same they were eager to welcome the Allies. And they poured out wine and coffee, they offered fruit and biscuits. The woman who told us this story, after she had shared a whole pail of lemonade among "those poor boys who were so hot," went to the tallest of the band, a man with gold lace, and, in a very loud voice so that he might understand French the better, said to him: "Well, as a reward, you will bring us William's head!" The man spread out his face in a broad grin, and, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, answered: "We no English, we Germans...." Tableau! This comical scene had its tragic side. In the same village were still two French foot soldiers. A kindly soul ran to call them. "Come quick, there are English soldiers here! We are all brothers." Smiling, the soldiers came up. "You idiots!" they cried, "they are Prussians!" And, climbing upon a carriage which happened to stand there, they opened fire upon the invaders.