“Yes,” answered Archie; “Mr Higson said he would go up to one of the houses on our way down, and try and get some food; I vote we ask him.”
“He has probably forgotten all about it; I’ll remind him,” said Tom; “I know what will make him as eager as we are for something to eat Mr Higson,” he said, going up to him, “don’t you think, sir, it would be pleasant if we had a dish of Irish stew, with a few bottles of porter to discuss, while the boats are being put to rights?”
“What made you think of that, youngster?” asked Higson; licking his lips, however, at the bare thoughts of his favourite dish.
“You told Gordon, sir, when you came up, that you thought of putting in to try and get something to eat,” answered Tom; “he and I are almost starved; and I should think you and Mr Green and the men must be pretty sharp set also. Now would be a good opportunity, and Gordon says that the cottage we saw a quarter of a mile or so off is the one which you thought so pretty, and where you said you would like to spend the remainder of your days.”
“What business has he to be telling you what I said?” exclaimed Higson; “I don’t approve of you youngsters chattering about me.”
“Of course not, sir,” said Tom; “but it was the thought of the Irish stew, or some other nice dish, which the good people of the house might be inclined to set before us, made us propose asking you to let us go up and try what we could get.”
“Well, I have no objection to make an excursion to the house,” said Higson, “provided we can ascertain that the coast is clear, and I will take one of you with me. As you can talk French, I shall take you and leave Gordon to assist the master.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Tom; “I am pretty sure that there are no Russians in the neighbourhood, or they would have been down on us some time ago.”
Before starting, however, Higson, accompanied by Tom, took the precaution of climbing to the top of a hill, from whence they could look up and across the river, and over a considerable part of the right bank. Not a human being was visible moving anywhere, nor was a boat of any description to be seen floating on the surface of the stream. Had it not been for the houses and the cultivated ground, they might have supposed that they were in some wild country; the fact being, probably, that the male part of the population had been drawn off either to garrison the forts or to serve in the army, while the women were attending to their household duties within doors.
Higson, directing Green to launch the boats as soon as they were repaired, and to fire a musket should any enemy appear, and promising to bring the party some food if he could obtain it, set off with Tom in the direction of the country-house he had thought so attractive. The first part of their way was over wild ground, without any beaten track; but as it was tolerably open, they were able to get along without difficulty. At length they came upon a path which led apparently from the house to a landing-place, near which a small, gaily-painted boat was hauled up, and a boathouse, which they concluded contained a larger craft.