"Yes, it is us! No news of Jean-Claude?"
"No, Madam."
Then they all went into the large kitchen.
Some embers were still blazing on the hearth, and under shadow of the immense chimney-piece was sitting Jerôme de Saint-Quirin, with his large cloth hood, his sandy pointed beard, his thick stick between his knees, and his carbine resting against the wall.
"Good-morrow, Jerôme," said the old farm-mistress.
"Good-morrow, Catherine," answered the grave and solemn leader of the Grosmann, "you come from the Donon?"
"Yes. Things are taking a bad turn, my poor Jerôme! we were obliged to leave the farm, because it was attacked by the kaiserlicks. There was nothing but white uniforms to be seen on every side. They were just beginning to pass the barricades."
"Then you think that Hullin will be obliged to abandon the position?"
"If Piorette does not come to his assistance, it is possible!"
The mountaineers had drawn near the fire. Marc Divès was stooping over the ashes to light his pipe; as he raised himself up, he exclaimed: