Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/155

the time allowed for proprietors to announce to the police, the presence of strangers in their houses. In order to excite confidence, we offered her all our money; this she generously refused, declaring that if success did not attend our exertions, she should not expect a stiver. No sooner were we in the loft, than, aided by our friendly hostess, our separate wounds were examined and dressed. After dark, the servant maid, named Cocher, and the dog Fox being placed at the front door to watch, we descended to partake of some broth; anxiously waiting the return of a messsenger sent by Madame Derikre to Blankenberg for her confidential friend, a man named Winderkins. About nine, the boy came with intelligence, that he was gone to Ostend, and that his wife would send him to the "Cat" upon his return. We remounted into the loft, and slept as comfortably upon clean straw, as the pain of our wounds would allow. The following evening, Mynheer Winderkins was introduced; he undertook, upon condition of sharing the reward, to find a fisherman