Part 13 (2/2)
”Yes, one is enough. He can stay,” the sergeant said.
”You had better ask the landlord to show you a corner, where you can sleep on the straw, Karl,” Ralph said. ”It is no use waiting for me. I shall be back in an hour.”
With a nod to Percy, Ralph now walked steadily to the door. The sergeant, with the men told off for the duty, accompanied him. When they reached the street, it was raining heavily.
”I wonder,” Ralph said, ”whether the landlord would lend me a sack, to put on my shoulders.”
”Is this place far off, youngster?” the sergeant asked, peering out into the darkness.
Ralph's heart gave a jump; for he detected, in the tone, a certain hesitation as to taking the men out in such a night, upon such slight suspicion. He was, however, too shrewd to show any desire to dissuade the sergeant from it, so he replied:
”No, it is no distance to speak of; not a mile, at most. We should be there and back in half an hour, if it was light; but there is only a path among the woods and it is dark.
”I think we had better have some lanterns, for I do not think I could find my way without them, tonight; at any rate, it would take us much longer.”
”There, boy, that will do,” the sergeant said, laying his hand on his shoulder. ”I am satisfied, now, with the truth of your story. I thought, for a bit, you had something to do with the franc tireurs who are about here, but I see I was mistaken.
”Turn in again, lads. It is no use taking you out on a useless search, such a night as this, among these forests.”
Ralph laughed aloud, as they turned to go down the pa.s.sage again to the corner.
”Won't father laugh,” he said, ”when he hears that you thought I was a franc tireur. We haven't seen any, about Colmar. I don't think you need be afraid of them, if they ain't bigger or older than I am.”
By this time they had entered the room again, and Ralph saw that Percy was already talking to the landlord--with whom, indeed, he was on the point of leaving the room. He turned round, upon hearing the party come in again, and gave a slight start of pleasure.
”I am soon back, Karl, and am glad that it is so for, frankly, I too am tired; and it is not a night for a dog to be out. I will go in with you.”
”Stay, landlord,” the sergeant said. ”Give the boys another gla.s.s, each, before they go off.”
”Thank you,” Ralph said. ”A gla.s.s of good beer never comes amiss.”
The boys stopped, while the landlord filled their gla.s.ses.
”Now,” said the sergeant, raising his arm. ”Here's a health, to King William.”
”Here's a health, to King William,” Ralph repeated. ”I am sure I wish him no harm.
”And now, with your permission, I will be off.”
The landlord led them to an outhouse, in which were some trusses of straw. Just as he was about to leave them, Ralph said, suddenly:
”Ah! I had nearly forgotten about the priest. You have a priest here, have you not?”
”Of course,” the landlord said. ”Do you take us for heathens?”
”Not at all,” Ralph said, apologetically; ”but father told me to call, and pay him for some ma.s.ses. My eldest sister was very ill, when we came away, and father worries about her.
”Where does the priest live?”
<script>