s with difficulty. The man who was riding the bay I had
purchased forgot the secret which I had imparted to him, and got an ugly
fall. In fine, after all these mishaps it wanted little of noon,
and less to exhaust our patience, when at length we came in sight of
Chateauroux.

Before entering the town we had still an adventure; for we came at
a turn in the road on a scene as surprising as it was at first
inexplicable. A little north of the town, in a coppice of box facing the
south and west, we happed suddenly on a rude encampment, consisting of
a dozen huts and booths, set back from the road and formed, some of
branches of evergreen trees laid clumsily together, and some of sacking
stretched over poles. A number of men and women of decent appearance lay
on the short grass before the booths, idly sunning themselves; or moved
about, cooking and tending fires, while a score of children raced to and
fro with noisy shouts and laughter. The appearance of our party on the
scene caused an instant panic. The women and children fled screaming
into the wood, spreading the sound of breaking branches farther and
farther as they retreated; while the men, a miserable pale-faced set,
drew together, and seeming half-inclined to fly also, regarded us with
glances of fear and suspicion.

Remarking that their appearance and dress were not those of vagrants,
while the booths seemed to indicate little skill or experience in the
builders, I bade my companions halt, and advanced alone.

'What is the meaning of this, my men?' I said, addressing the first
group I reached. 'You seem to have come a-Maying before the time. Whence
are you?'

'From Chateauroux,' the foremost answered sullenly. His dress, now I saw
him nearer, seemed to be that of a respectable townsman.

'Why?' I replied. 'Have you no homes?'

'Ay, we have homes,' he answered with the same brevity.

'Then why, in God's name, are you here?' I retorted, marking the gloomy
air and downcast faces of the group. 'Have you been harried?'

'Ay, harried by the Plague!' he answered bitterly. 'Do you mean to say
you have not heard? In Chateauroux there is one man dead in three. Take
my advice, sir--you are a brave company--turn, and go home again.'

'Is it as bad as that?' I exclaimed. I had forgotten the landlord's
gossip, and the explanation struck me with the force of surprise.

'Ay, is it! Do you see the blue haze?' he continued, pointing with a
sudden gesture to the lower ground