"Without doubt she was right," said Pierre; "indeed it has proved so, since—but stay—who is that approaching us across the open, from the road?"
"It is a man—a stranger," said Bernadine.
"An old man he looks, by the light of the moon," said Sophie.
"Perhaps he is cold and hungry," suggested old Jacques, Sophie's husband. "If so, he is welcome to a share of our fire and our supper."
But just then Tad glanced in the direction of the newcomer, and gave a smothered gasp.
"Oh look, Phil, look!" he said.
And Phil looked and rose instantly to his feet, followed by Tad. The younger boy turned to Sophie.
"Good mother, we thank and bless you for your goodness to us, poor stranger boys," he said, "and we ask of you one more favour. This man who now is coming towards us is a wicked, cruel master, from whom, after sore treatment, we have only just escaped. If he catches us, he will surely kill us. So we must go away at once, and we entreat you, betray us not. Say not that two boys were here but now. He cannot have seen us yet; so far we are safe; so, for the love of heaven, tell him naught."
"Fear not, my poor children, he shall know nothing from me, nor indeed from any of us; eh, my friends?"
"That is so, good mother."