"You are only half saved yet, my good Jean."
"Well, let us take precautions."
So saying, Jean Oullier began to search for the cartridge-boxes of the dead, and took their contents. Then he loaded his gun as coolly as though he were starting on a hunt, and went up to Bertha and Michel. The eyes of the latter were closed as if he were unconscious.
"Can you walk?" Jean Oullier said to him.
Michel did not answer. When he first opened his eyes he saw Bertha, and closed them hastily, conscious of the difficulties of his position.
"Can you walk?" repeated Bertha, in a tone which the latter could no longer pretend not to hear.
"I think so," he replied.
In point of fact he had only a flesh wound in the arm; the bone was not injured.
Bertha had examined the wound and slung the arm about his neck with her white silk cravat.
"If you can't walk," said Jean Oullier, "I'll carry you."