"God is good," said Frantz, "and why should we let sights even like these affright us from our duty? We are in his hands."
A murmur of voices arose to their right.
"It is Marc-Dives and Hullin," said Kasper, listening.
"Yes, they have just come from the breastwork they made behind the fir-wood for the cannon," added Frantz.
They listened again. Footsteps approached.
"You are embarrassed with your three prisoners," said Hullin, in short tones. "You return to Falkenstein to-night; why can you not take them with you?"
"But where shall I put them?"
"Parbleu! In the prison of Abreschwiller; we cannot keep them here."
"I understand, Jean-Claude. And if they attempt to escape on the way, I will plant my rapier between their shoulders."
"You must!"