“Why, the one nôtre père gave you; the mysterious one.”
“We might stop in the center of each town, read it aloud, and ask the inhabitants to interpret it for us,” Jack suggested. “Or you and I could take turns standing on top of the wagon and shouting it as we go along.”
Desiré laughed at his absurdities, as he intended she should.
“I don’t care. I’m going to pretend that we’re going to find out what it means before the summer is over.”
“Pretend as much as you like, as long as you won’t let yourself be overcome with disappointment if your day dream should turn out to be only a nightmare.”
A crash behind them made them spring to their feet in sudden fright, and a child’s shrieks rang through the woods.
CHAPTER X
A NIGHT PROWLER
“René!” gasped Desiré, darting back toward the tent.
Jack outstripped her, and when she reached the scene, he was just pulling his small brother out from under a pile of canvas.
“Not hurt,” he breathed with relief; “only badly frightened.”