"I wonder," Ralph said, "whether the landlord would lend me a sack, to put on my shoulders."
"Is this place far off, youngster?" the sergeant asked, peering out into the darkness.
Ralph's heart gave a jump; for he detected, in the tone, a certain hesitation as to taking the men out in such a night, upon such slight suspicion. He was, however, too shrewd to show any desire to dissuade the sergeant from it, so he replied:
"No, it is no distance to speak of; not a mile, at most. We should be there and back in half an hour, if it was light; but there is only a path among the woods and it is dark.
"I think we had better have some lanterns, for I do not think I could find my way without them, tonight; at any rate, it would take us much longer."
"There, boy, that will do," the sergeant said, laying his hand on his shoulder. "I am satisfied, now, with the truth of your story. I thought, for a bit, you had something to do with the franc tireurs who are about here, but I see I was mistaken.
"Turn in again, lads. It is no use taking you out on a useless search, such a night as this, among these forests."
Ralph laughed aloud, as they turned to go down the passage again to the corner.
"Won't father laugh," he said, "when he hears that you thought I was a franc tireur. We haven't seen any, about Colmar. I don't think you need be afraid of them, if they ain't bigger or older than I am."
By this time they had entered the room again, and Ralph saw that Percy was already talking to the landlord--with whom, indeed, he was on the point of leaving the room. He turned round, upon hearing the party come in again, and gave a slight start of pleasure.