as I came along: so I took the road to
Middleburg, and found but one, which was full of soldiers. I passed it,
and found no other. As I came back past the same cabaret, one of the
soldiers came out to me, but I walked along the road. He quickened his
pace, and so did I mine, for I expected mischief. At last he came up to
me, and spoke to me, in Dutch, to which I gave him no answer. He
collared me, and then I thought it convenient to pretend that I was deaf
and dumb. I pointed to my mouth with an Au--au--and then to my ears,
and shook my head; but he would not be convinced, and I heard him say
something about English. I then knew that there was no time to be lost,
so I first burst out into a loud laugh and stopped; and on his
attempting to force me, I kicked up his heels, and he fell on the ice
with such a rap on the pate, that I doubt if he has recovered it by this
time. There I left him, and have run back as hard as I could, without
any thing for Peter to fill his little hungry inside with. Now, Peter,
what's your opinion? for they say, that out of the mouth of babes there
is wisdom; and although I never saw anything come out of their mouths
but sour milk, yet perhaps I may be more fortunate, this time, for,
Peter, you're but a baby."

"Not a small one, O'Brien, although not quite so large as Fingal's babby
that you told me the story of. My idea is this. Let us, at all
hazards, go to the farmhouse. They have assisted us, and may be
inclined to do so again; if they refuse, we must push on to Flushing and
take our chance."

"Well," observed O'Brien, after a pause, "I think we can do no better,
so let's be off." We went to the farm-house, and, as we approached the
door, were met by the great mastiff. I started back, O'Brien boldly
advanced. "He's a clever dog, and may know us again. I'll go up," said
O'Brien, not stopping while he spoke, "and pat his head; if he flies at
me, I shall be no worse than I was before, for depend upon it he will
not allow us to go back again." O'Brien by this time had advanced to
the dog, who looked earnestly and angrily at him. He patted his head,
the dog growled, but O'Brien put his arm round his neck, and patting him
again, whistled to him, and went to the door of the farm-house. The dog
followed him silently but closely. O'Brien knocked, and the door was
opened by the little girl: the mastiff advanced to the girl and then
turned round, facing O'Brien, as much as to say