He had to make a detour, so as to get beyond the eminences on which the Republican troops were posted and, after running for a couple of miles, came down on the road.
A short distance farther he arrived at a village.

A peasant, with a horse and cart, was standing in front of a cabaret.
"Do you want to earn two crowns ?" he asked the man.
The latter nodded.
"Two crowns are not easily earned," he said.

"I was just starting for Montreuil but, if it pays me better to go in another direction, I must put that journey off until tomorrow." "I want you to carry me to Doue," he said, "at the best speed of which your horse is capable." The countryman looked at him doubtfully.

His clothes were not yet dry.

Leigh saw that the man was not sure of his power to fulfil his promise.