Rayner felt some misgiving as he disappeared. All they could do in the meantime was to keep close in their hole.
All day they waited, but Le Duc did not return.
Tom muttered, “The Frenchman has deserted us after all.”
Even Brown expressed some doubts about his honesty.
“You never can trust those mounseers,” he said in reply to Tom’s remark.
“Be silent there, men,” said Rayner. “Our good friend has probably thought it safer to hide himself, and will manage to get back at night.”
Night came, however, and still Le Duc did not appear. Rayner and Oliver became more anxious than ever.
“I must not let you fellows starve,” said Rayner at last. “I’ll go out and try and get provisions of some sort. Le Duc spoke of several cottages on the outskirts of the village, and I’ll call at one of them and try to bribe the inhabitants, or to move their compassion; perhaps I may get tidings of our friend.”
Though either Oliver or Brown would gladly have gone instead, they knew that Rayner was the best person to undertake the expedition.
“If I do not return before midnight, you must all set out and travel eastward as fast as you can. How do you feel, Peek? Can you manage to move along.”