forage-cart, he shouted, in a voice heard above the din,--

"Comrades of the Fourth, we have found an old companion; the Pere
Scapulaire is here. Place for the good father! place there!"

A hundred loud _vivas_ welcomed this announcement; for the name was well
known to many who never had seen the priest, and cheer after cheer for
the _bon pere_ now rang through this motley assemblage.

To the wild confusion of a moment before the regularity of discipline
at once succeeded, and a lane was quickly formed for the soldiers to
advance with the priest between them, each horseman saluting as he
passed as if to his general on parade.

"To the Trauben,--the Trauben!" cried several voices, as we went
along; and this I learned was the little inn of the village, where the
non-commissioned officers in charge of the several parties were seated
in council to arrange the subdivision of the booty.

Had not a feeling stronger than mere personal consideration occupied me,
I would have now left the good priest among his old comrades, with
whom he was certain to meet kindness and protection. But I could not so
readily part with one whom, even in the few hours of our intercourse, I
had learned to like; and therefore, enduring as well as I was able
the rugged insubordination of a soldiery free from the restraint of
discipline, I followed on, and soon found myself at the door of the
Trauben.

A dismounted dragoon, with drawn sword, guarded the entrance, around
which a group of angry peasants were gathered, loudly protesting against
the robbery of their flocks and farmyards. It was with great difficulty
I could persuade the sentry to suffer me to enter; and when I at last
succeeded, I found none willing to pay any attention to my request
regarding a billet for the priest, for unhappily his name and character
were unknown to those to whom I addressed myself. In this dilemma I was
deliberating what step to take, when one of the soldiers, who with such
zealous devotion had never left us, came up to say that his corporal
had just given up his own quarters for the good father's use; and this,
happily, was a small summer-house in the garden at the back of the inn.

"He cannot come with us himself," said the soldier, "for he is engaged
with the forage rations, but I have got his leave to take the quarters."

A small wicket beside the inn led us into a large, wildly-grown orchard,
through which a broad path led to the summer-house in question;