In addition to the men tugging at the shafts two had to ride on top of the load to keep it in order.  The road led through a long avenue, the lower branches of the trees lining which swept the top of the hay.  It taxed all our ingenuity and agility to avoid a mishap.  Indeed, my companion was swept off and thrown into the road with considerable violence, sustaining severe bruises.  It was rather by luck than judgment that I did not share his fate.

When we reached the outskirts of Paderborn the guards called a halt, in order to secure refreshment.  We were also permitted, within limits, to purchase eatables from the shops, for which, needless to say, we had to pay exorbitantly.

[large gap] we were able to secure a highly appreciated relief to our monotonous and insufficient fare.

While the guards were enjoying themselves my companion and I, perched on the top of the load, became the target for the jokes and gibes of the curious crowd which had collected round the vehicle.  One fellow in the crowd was particularly impertinent and offensive with the result that we soon became riled.  He came close to the side of the wagon to shout some particularly insulting epithet.  With a dexterous movement my friend and I, who had been watching patiently, severed the band holding a bale and as it flew apart we gave the bale a smart push.  It toppled over the side to fall upon the head of our tormentor with a crash, felling him to the ground and burying him completely.  The guard, whom it missed narrowly, gave a savage curse, but the fall appeared to be so obviously accidental that he never for a moment considered the incident to have been premeditated.  The bullying, raw-boned young Prussian was extricated with great difficulty and somewhat battered.  His mouth, eyes, nostrils and ears were choked with the hayseeds and he spluttered, coughed and yelled in a terrifying manner.  But he who a minute before had been so ready with gibes at our expense was now jeered at by his comrades, in which our guards joined boisterously.  We, on the top had to give way to mirth.  Although we were compelled to gather the hay, remake the bale, and reload it upon the vehicle we were so satisfied with our complete revenge as to perform the task with a light heart.

Whenever we visited Paderborn, or the village of Sennelager, we never omitted to load ourselves up with whatever food we could purchase.  Those who did not accompany us invariably gave us the wherewithal to secure victuals for them.

[large gap]

At first the shop-keepers were not disposed to deal with us, no doubt fearing that they would be charged with complicity in these transactions. [gap]

As our visits became more frequent all hesitation upon the part of the tradesmen vanished, and they accepted our money without the slightest demur.  We speedily discovered that the most rabid anti-British and wildly patriotic German shopkeeper always succumbs to business.  When patriotism is pitted against pounds, shillings and pence, patriotism can go hang.