It was well that he had taken the precaution, for the kitchen into which he looked contained a dozen French hussars.
He retired at once, led his horse until he reached the road again, and then mounted.
Presently he met a man driving a cart.
"My friend," he said, "do you know of any place where a quiet man could put up, without running the risk of finding himself in the midst of these French and Confederacy troops ?" "'Tis not easy," the man replied, "for they are all over the country, pillaging and plundering.

We are heartily sick of them, and there are not a few of us who would be glad, if the King of Prussia would come and turn them out, neck and crop." "I don't care what sort of a place it is, so that I could put my horse up.

It is a good one and, like enough, some of these fellows would take a fancy to it." "I don't think that it would be safe in any farmhouse within ten miles of here; but if you like to come with me, my hut stands at the edge of a wood, and you could leave him there without much risk." "Thank you, very much; that would suit me well.

It is just what I had intended to do, but in the darkness I have no great chance of finding a wood.
"How far are we from Erfurt, now ?" "About five miles." "That will do very well.

I have some business to do there, and can go and come back by the afternoon." In a quarter of an hour they arrived at the man's house.