row.

Being accompanied by a staff officer, no questions whatever were
asked them and, after a good dinner at the hotel, they went to the
Maire, to inquire whether he could tell them as to the advanced
posts of the Germans. This functionary--like such functionaries in
general--could give them but slight information but, as far as he
knew, there were no German troops on the right bank of the Loing,
south of its junction with the Yonne. Beyond the Yonne they were
scattered pretty thickly, everywhere.

At daybreak the next morning, they started. Captain Duprat turned
his horse's head westward again, while the Barclays rode north.
Their pace was rapid; as they never drew rein, except at villages,
to ask whether the Prussians had been heard of. They heard of
parties at Lorrez, and Cheroy; but as they kept through by-lanes,
and as the country was thickly wooded, the risk was--at
present--small. They had with them an excellent map, which enabled
them to follow the smallest footpaths.

At eleven o'clock, they stopped at the little hamlet of Montarlet.
There they breakfasted, and gave the horses an hour's rest while
they consulted with the Maire. He was a miller, and turned out a
shrewd fellow; entering into the matter with great warmth. He
advised them to ford the Yonne between Montereau and its junction
with the Loing; to keep to the woods for ten miles, and then to
turn to the left, and to cross the Seine--at one of the numerous
fords there--into the Forest of Fontainebleau; and they would then
find themselves between that town and Melun, and could ride boldly
into Melun, as if they had come from Fontainebleau.

"I know every foot of the country," he said, "and will guide you,
till you are safely across the Seine. If we should, by any chance,
fall upon a patrol of the enemy, it will be simple enough to say
that I am a miller of Montarlet; and that you have shown me your
permission to travel about, through the German line; and have asked
me to guide you, by the shortest way, to Melun."

They had every reason to be thankful to their guide, for they found
that there were a great many scattered parties of Uhlans about. By
dint of making detours through woods, however, they succeeded in
striking the Seine, at Fontaine le Port, without once meeting them.

This village was, however, occupied by some half-dozen cavalry; and
it was impossible to pass the river, unseen by them. The Barclays
thanked, very warmly, their friend th