After long hesitation, the man cracked his whip and took the right-hand path.
Julien began to fear that the fellow had boasted too much when he declared that he knew the best way.

The ruts became deeper and deeper; the road was descending into a hole; suddenly, the wheels became embedded up to the hub in thick, sticky mire, and the horse refused to move.

The driver jumped to the ground, swearing furiously; then he called Julien to help him to lift out the wheel.

But the young man, slender and frail as he was, and not accustomed to using his muscles, was not able to render much assistance.
"Thunder and lightning!" cried the driver, "it is impossible to get out of this--let go the wheel, Monsieur, you have no more strength than a chicken, and, besides, you don't know how to go about it.

What a devil of a road! But we can't spend the night here!" "If we were to call out," suggested Julien, somewhat mortified at the inefficiency of his assistance, "some one would perhaps come to our aid." They accordingly shouted with desperation; and after five or six minutes, a voice hailed back.