"Then you understand; not a word. We must take to our legs, that's all."
As he spoke they were running along a wood-road, which fortunately came in their way. After a time Bonneville drew Petit-Pierre into the bushes.
"Get your breath," he said.
While Petit-Pierre rested, Bonneville tried to make out where they were.
"Are we lost?" asked Petit-Pierre, uneasily.
"Oh, no danger of that!" said Bonneville. "I'm only looking for a way to avoid that horrid marsh."
"If it leads us straight to our object we had better take it," said Petit-Pierre.
"We must," replied Bonneville; "I don't see any other way."
"Forward, then!" cried Petit-Pierre; "only, you must guide me."
Bonneville made no answer; but in proof of urgency, he started at once, and instead of following the "line" path on which they were, he turned to the right and plunged into the thicket. At the end of ten minutes' march the underbrush lessened. They were nearing the edge of the forest, and they could hear before them the swishing of the reeds in the wind.