It was at the door of this chapel that the corpse was picked up which held an axe in its hand; this corpse was Sub-Lieutenant Legros.
On emerging from the chapel, a well is visible on the left. There are two in this courtyard.
One inquires, Why is there no bucket and pulley to this?
It is because water is no longer drawn there. Why is water not drawn there?
Because it is full of skeletons.
The last person who drew water from the well was named Guillaume van Kylsom.
He was a peasant who lived at Hougomont, and was gardener there.
On the 18th of June, 1815, his family fled and concealed themselves in the woods.
The forest surrounding the Abbey of Villiers sheltered these unfortunate people who had been scattered abroad, for many days and nights. There are at this day certain traces recognizable, such as old boles of burned trees, which mark the site of these poor bivouacs trembling in the depths of the thickets.
Guillaume van Kylsom remained at Hougomont, "to guard the chateau," and concealed himself in the cellar.
The English discovered him there.
They tore him from his hiding-place, and the combatants forced this frightened man to serve them, by administering blows with the flats of their swords.
They were thirsty; this Guillaume brought them water.
It was from this well that he drew it. Many drank there their last draught.
This well where drank so many of the dead was destined to die itself.
After the engagement, they were in haste to bury the dead bodies. Death has a fashion of harassing victory, and she causes the pest to follow glory.
The typhus is a concomitant of triumph. This well was deep, and it was turned into a sepulchre.
Three hundred dead bodies were cast into it.
With too much haste perhaps. Were they all dead?
Legend says they were not.