Roy crept out, made the attempt, and fell flat. Jean pulled him up, and held him on his feet.
"I'm only stiff," declared Roy. "They won't come again now, I suppose. And they didn't find you?"
"Non, m'sieu. I was in the wood this last time."
"It is night, I declare! Now I can walk," and Roy managed to reach the cottage on his own limbs. "What a long day it has been! But as if that mattered—as if anything mattered—only to get away safely! Jean, you are a good fellow. Is this for me to eat? I'm as hungry as a bear. Jean, I shall always think better of Frenchmen for your sake."
"Yet m'sieu will doubtless fight us one day."
"I shall fight Buonaparte. Not the French nation. I like some of your people awfully. Lots of French have been as good and kind to us détenus as possible. Only I don't like Boney."
"Cependant, m'sieu, the Army of the Emperor is made of French soldiers."
"Can't help that," retorted Roy. "And they can't help it either, poor fellows! I say, this cheese is uncommonly good. How did you manage to hide it from the gendarmes? Jean, were you long at Bitche? Tell me all about it."
Jean evidently preferred not to enter into details. It was better for Roy's own sake that he should not know too much.
It appeared, however, that on Jean's arrival at Bitche he had found one of the gendarmes to be an old acquaintance; and through this man he had obtained a temporary post in the fortress. A man who did rough work, such as chopping and carrying wood, had fallen ill; and Jean was allowed to undertake his duties.