PETIT-PIERRE MAKES THE BEST MEAL HE EVER MADE IN HIS LIFE.
Petit-Pierre, left alone, leaned against a tree, and there, silent, motionless, with fixed eyes and straining ears, he waited, striving to catch every sound as it passed him. For five minutes he heard nothing except a sort of hum which came from the direction of the lights.
Suddenly the neighing of a horse echoed through the forest. Petit-Pierre trembled. Almost at the same moment a light sound came from the bushes, and a shadow rose before him; it was Bonneville.
Bonneville, who did not see Petit-Pierre leaning against the trunk of a tree, called him twice gently. Petit-Pierre bounded toward him.
"Quick! quick!" said Bonneville, dragging Petit-Pierre away.
"What is it?"
"Not an instant to lose! Come! come!"
Then, as he ran, he said:--
"A camp of soldiers. If there were men only I might have warmed myself at their fire without their seeing or hearing me; but a horse smelt me out and neighed."
"I heard it."