The voyou gulped, swallowed a weird oath, and shivered.
"Asticot, that man Wildresse ought to be apprehended and shot. Have you any idea where his hiding place is?"
"In the Bois d'Ausone. It was there. Animals travel."
"Could you find the place?"
Asticot shrugged and rubbed his pock-marked nose. The forest of Ausone was too near the cannon to suit him, and he said so without hesitation.
"Very well," said Warner. "When we meet any of our soldiers or gendarmes you can explain where Wildresse has been hiding. He won't come out, I suppose, until the occupation of Ausone by the Germans reassures him. He ought to be caught and executed."
"If the cannon would only stop their ugly noises I'd go myself," muttered Asticot. "Tenez, M'sieu', it would be a pleasure for me to bleed that treacherous hog——"
"I don't doubt it," said Warner pleasantly, "but, odd as it may appear to you, Asticot, I have a personal prejudice against murder. It's weak-minded of me, I know. But if you have no objection, we'll let military law catch Wildresse and deal with him if it can."
Asticot looked at him curiously:
"Is it then distasteful to M'sieu' that I bleed this espèce de pig for him?"