"He has received a little scratch; nothing worth speaking of; you will see them both directly."
At the same moment Catherine threw herself into Hullin's arms.
"Oh! Jean-Claude, what happiness to see you again!"
"Yes," said the brave man, in a sorrowful tone, "there are many who will never behold those they love again."
"Frantz," old Materne was then heard calling out, "here! this way!"
And on all sides nothing was to be seen but people looking for each other, shaking hands and embracing. Others were calling, "Niclau! Sapheri!" but from more than one no answer came.
Then the voices grew hoarse, as if stifling, and ended by being silent. The joy of some, and the consternation of others, imparted a sort of terror to the scene.
Louise was weeping freely in Hullin's arms.
"Ah! Jean-Claude," said Dame Lefévre, "you have got something to hear about that child there. At present I shall not tell you anything, except that we were attacked."
"Oh! yes. We will talk of all that by-and-by. We have no time to lose now," said Hullin. "The pass of the Donon is lost, the Cossacks may be here by daybreak, and we have still many things to do."