"Get along! damned good-for-nothing! Do you call yourself a man to lower yourself like that before one of these beasts who devour us?"
Pierron followed her peacefully, without replying. At last he said:
"I suppose I ought to jump on the boss? Thanks for showing me how to get into a mess!"
"Bend your backside to him, then," she shouted. "By God! if my daughter had listened to me! It's not enough for them to kill the father. Perhaps you'd like me to say 'thank you.' No, I'll have their skins first!"
Their voices were lost. Étienne saw her disappear, with her eagle nose, her flying white hair, her long, lean arms that gesticulated furiously. But the conversation of two young people behind caused him to listen. He had recognized Zacharie, who was waiting there, and who had just been addressed by his friend Mouquet.
"Are you here?" said the latter. "We will have something to eat, and then off to the Volcan."
"Directly. I've something to attend to."
"What, then?"
The lander turned and saw Philoméne coming out of the screening-shed. He thought he understood.
"Very well, if it's that. Then I go ahead."