repare against greedy and
officious courtiers, who, on such occasions, post themselves in all the
avenues, in order to cheat the poor courier out of his news. However,
his address preserved him from the one, and deceived the others.

He had taken eight or ten troopers, commanded by an officer of his
acquaintance, to escort him half way to Bapaume, being persuaded that
the greatest danger would lie between the camp and the first stage. He
had not proceeded a league before he was convinced of the truth of what
he suspected, and turning to the officer who followed him closely, "If
you are not well mounted," said he, "I would advise you to return to the
camp; for my part, I shall set spurs to my horse, and make the best of
my way." "Sir," said the officer, "I hope I shall be able to keep you
company, at whatever rate you go, until you are out of all danger."
"I doubt that," replied the Chevalier, "for those gentlemen there seem
prepared to pay us a visit." "Don't you see," said the officer, "they
are some of our own people who are grazing their horses?" "No," said
the Chevalier; "but I see very well that they are some of the enemy's
troopers." Upon which, observing to him that they were mounting, he
ordered the horsemen that escorted him to prepare themselves to make a
diversion, and he himself set off full speed towards Bapaume.

He was mounted upon a very swift English horse; but having entangled
himself in a hollow way where the ground was deep and miry, he soon
had the troopers at his heels, who, supposing him to be some officer of
rank, would not be deceived, but continued to pursue him without paying
any attention to the others. The best mounted of the party began to
draw near him; for the English horses, swift as the wind on even ground,
proceeded but very indifferently in bad roads; the trooper presented
his carbine, and cried out to him, at some distance, "Good quarter." The
Chevalier de Grammont, who perceived that they gained upon him, and
that whatever efforts his horse made in such heavy ground, he must be
overtaken at last, immediately quitted the road to Bapaume, and took a
causeway to the left, which led quite a different way; as soon as he had
gained it, he drew up, as if to hear the proposal of the trooper, which
afforded his horse an opportunity of recovering himself; while his
enemy, mistaking his intention, and thinking that he only waited to
surrender, immediately exerted every effort, that he might ta