Presently it appeared that the two men were to accompany Renard and his boys on their journey, for when dinner was over, all rose and walked together towards the town, which was reached about nightfall.
The lads slept on straw in a shed in the suburbs that night, and would have been thankful to rest undisturbed till morning, for they were very weary. But they were roused about midnight by their master's hissing whisper:
"Rise and come wid me, bote of you!"
Tad sat up staring straight before him, only half awake, while Phil rubbed his heavy eyes and groaned.
"Why," said Tad, "surely it's the middle of the night, master; what do you want with us? We are both tired and need to sleep."
"Hold dat tongue of yours, and get you up," replied Foxy sharply; "dat is all you have to do. And be queek if you would not haf the steek."
So very weary, and full of fear and foreboding, the boys rose and followed Foxy out into the road, where, much to their surprise, a light spring cart and good horse were awaiting them, the two strange men sitting in front.
"Now then, Renard," said Paul, the one who held the reins, "in with the children and yourself! The luggage is in already, you say? Good! Now are you ready?"
"They are all in, Paul," said Jean, his companion; "drive on, my friend; anyway it will be one o'clock before we get there."
Paul drew the whip across the horse's flanks, the animal sprang forward, fell into a spanking trot, and soon left the little town far behind.