The long hours of captivity passed sordidly enough, broken by the arrival of letters from France and packages of food.
When they talked with the Germans they were completely reassured on the outcome of the war: both of them were very skeptical when they heard the bells ringing and when they read the bulletins announcing another German victory. When their guardians looked gloomy Patachon never failed to smile at Cobusee.
"Our overseer wears a long face these great days, he must again have swallowed another pill!"
The two, and their comrades, shattered wrecks like themselves, always passed the sombre days in the little German village where they were taken. They had to suffer numerous privations. They missed the hospital at the front and the German doctor who was "rather a good sort."
They had to take insults from these heartless people and many times they were able to read a secret joy in their eyes on seeing them crippled.
"Ough! the dirty beasts, Cobusse, did you see how that woman there sneered at us——"
Many months went by and Cochin and Dubois never left each other. They spoke less of the war, but retained the hope of returning to France and of this they often talked.
"Listen, Patachon, here we are, you and I, grands blessés, and we should have been in Paris long ago—what are they trying to do—keeping us all this time?"
"Yes, Cobusse, it commences to be very long——"