Lucie sank down on the ground and burst into tears from sheer fatigue and disappointment. Pom Pom crept close to her, licking her hands and whining his sympathy. “What shall we do? What shall we do?” moaned the girl. “I am so tired, Paulette, oh, so tired. I do not see how I can walk another step.”
“I know, my child, I know. Let me think for a moment.” The brave woman looked keenly around. Not far away was a cow shed which had escaped destruction. “I cannot leave you here by the roadside,” mused Paulette. “Let us go to the little shed, my dear one. I can leave you there while I go to hunt up Monsieur. It is evident that there is no inn left in that village, but one never knows what may be found till he seeks. Come, we will examine that cow shed.”
They left the road, turned into a field, red with poppies, and reached the modest shelter to find it, if not very clean, at least empty. Some bits of rope hanging from a nail, and a pile of straw gave sole evidence of any former presence, if one does not include the barnyard odor.
“It is not a palace,” declared Paulette, “but it is a shelter and out of the way. I think the owners have fled, so one may rest assured that it will not be invaded. Rest here, child, but do not permit yourself to be seen. I will leave the baskets and bundles so as to be the quicker in returning. The little dog will be a protection.”
“From what?” asked Lucie in alarm.
“From nothing,” returned Paulette with a wry smile. “From frogs in the pond, crickets in the grass maybe.”
Thus reassured Lucie took a seat on the pile of straw just inside the door while Paulette deposited the baskets near by, Pom Pom looking interestedly on.
As Paulette started off with many assurances of a speedy return. Pom Pom looked questioningly after her. Was he to go, too? His eyes inquired of Lucie.
“No, no, Pom, you are to stay with me,” she told him, and with a sigh of content the tired little creature dropped down on the straw, and, with head on paws, went off to sleep.
It was very quiet. For a while one could not realize that so lately war had been so close at hand, that shrieking bombs had flown overhead, that screaming of shells, booming of guns, whir of airplanes had disturbed this peace, and had wrought destruction in passing this little corner of the world.