Lucie shrugged her shoulders. “Well, it may be that so much is necessary, and perhaps you can discover if there are really any eggs in that nest. That is something I should like very much to know.”
It required some argument to convince Paulette that Lucie was necessary to the expedition, but at last she was made to realize that this was not a time for conventionalities and so the two young people started off together, first to get out the donkey.
CHAPTER VI
MORE WAYS THAN ONE
THE rescue of the donkey was not quite so easy a task as it looked to be, but the two young people went at it heartily, Victor removing the heavier stones and timbers which blocked the way, and Lucie undertaking the smaller pieces. Master Donkey, whom Victor dubbed “Long Ears” for want of a better name, meanwhile looked on attentively, his ears moving in accord with his interest.
At last after an hour of rather exhausting labor, Victor exclaimed: “There, Lucie, I think I can climb over now and get at Long Ears. Donkeys are more sure-footed than horses and he can mount this pile of stuff and pick his way along without doubt. You might stand there and entice him with a handful of fresh grass.”
Lucie hunted around for such green stuff as she could collect from crevices and corners, while Victor led forth the prisoner.
“Now he must have some food and drink,” declared Victor. “He must stand in great need of it, poor fellow, and while he is partaking we will get that wheel.”
“Where is it?” asked Lucie.
Victor laughed. “Ah, that is the joke of it. I haven’t an idea where it is. I simply have faith to believe there is one; there must be. Who ever saw a town that did not contain at least one discarded cart wheel in the out-of-the-way corner of some stable-yard, or some such place? I shall prowl around until I find it; that is all. Do you want to prowl, too?”
Lucie declared herself eager to go with him on this quest, and they started out, making inquiries as they went along and at last coming upon the very odd corner that Victor had prophesied and where they found the cart wheel of their desire. It was rather a dubious looking affair, and its circumference was slightly less than those on the cart which Victor had secured, but he declared it would serve, and, with the help of an old man, managed to fasten it in place. Then they started off for the cow shed in high good humor.