She was now wide awake.
“What light is that?”
“A man lives there; we shall eat.”
Poor Orso was very hungry.
Meanwhile they were nearing the fire. The dog barked more violently, and the old man, sitting by the fire, shaded his eyes and peered into the gloom. Shortly he said:
“Who is there?”
“It is us,” answered Jenny in her delicate voice, “and we are very hungry.”
“Come nearer,” said the old man.
Emerging from behind a great rock, which had partly concealed them, they both stood in the light of the fire, holding each other’s hands. The old man looked at them with astonishment, and involuntarily exclaimed:
“What is that?”