CHAPTERIV
NormanCross-Wideexpanse-VIVEL’EMPEREUR-Unprunedwoods-
Manwiththebag-Frothandconceit-Ibegyourpardon-Growingtimid-Aboutthreeo’clock-Takingone’sease-Cheekontheground-Kingofthevipers-Frenchking-Frenchmenandwater。
ANDastrangeplaceitwas，thisNormanCross，and，atthetimeofwhichIamspeaking，asadcrosstomanyaNorman，beingwhatwasthenstyledaFrenchprison，thatis，areceptacleforcaptivesmadeintheFrenchwar。Itconsisted，ifIrememberright，ofsomefiveorsixcasernes，verylong，andimmenselyhigh；eachstandingisolatedfromtherest，uponaspotofgroundwhichmightaveragetenacres，andwhichwasfencedroundwithloftypalisades，thewholebeingcompassedaboutbyatoweringwall，beneathwhich，atintervals，onbothsides，sentinelswerestationed，whilstoutside，uponthefield，stoodcommodiouswoodenbarracks，capableofcontainingtworegimentsofinfantry，intendedtoserveasguardsuponthecaptives。SuchwasthestationorprisonatNormanCross，wheresomesixthousandFrenchandotherforeigners，followersofthegrandCorsican，werenowimmured。
Whatastrangeappearancehadthosemightycasernes，withtheirblankblindwalls，withoutwindowsorgrating，andtheirslantingroofs，outofwhich，throughorificeswherethetileshadbeenremoved，wouldbeprotrudeddozensofgrimheads，feastingtheirprison-sickeyesonthewideexpanseofcountryunfoldedfromthatairyheight。Ah!therewasmuchmiseryinthosecasernes；andfromthoseroofs，doubtless，manyawistfullookwasturnedinthedirectionoflovelyFrance。Muchhadthepoorinmatestoendure，andmuchtocomplainof，tothedisgraceofEnglandbeitsaid-ofEngland，ingeneralsokindandbountiful。Rationsofcarrionmeat，andbreadfromwhichIhaveseentheveryhoundsoccasionallyturnaway，wereunworthyentertainmentevenforthemostruffianenemy，whenhelplessandacaptive；andsuch，alas!wasthefareinthosecasernes。Andthen，thosevisits，orratherruthlessinroads，calledintheslangoftheplace’strawplait-hunts，’wheninpursuitofacontrabandarticle，whichtheprisoners，inordertoprocurethemselvesafewofthenecessariesandcomfortsofexistence，wereinthehabitofmaking，red-coatedbattalionsweremarchedintotheprisons，who，withthebayonet’spoint，carriedhavocandruinintoeverypoorconveniencewhichingeniouswretchednesshadbeenendeavouringtoraisearoundit；andthenthetriumphantexitwiththemiserablebooty；and，worstofall，theaccursedbonfire，onthebarrackparade，oftheplaitcontraband，beneaththeviewoftheglaringeyeballsfromthoseloftyroofs，amidstthehurrahsofthetroops，frequentlydrownedinthecursespoureddownfromabovelikeatempest-showerorintheterrificwarw-hoopof’VIVEL’EMPEREUR!’