red Henri, who was leading the party, "don't
let's go straight across; let the stream carry us downwards."

Flat on their backs, and keeping close together by holding hands, the
trio were swept slowly down the stream till they had floated almost
half a mile from the point where they had entered the water; then they
struggled ashore, and, clambering up the bank and crossing the
railroad, sought for the farm which they had observed from the
hill-top. Twinkling lights in the windows attracted their attention,
and within half an hour they were close to it.

"Better sit down for a moment and talk things over," said the cautious
Stuart. "It wouldn't do for the whole three of us to go up to the
place and demand food, and I'm rather doubtful if it 'ud do for even
one of us. You said this morning, Henri, that not one of us was over
presentable, while I should say that now that our clothing is soaked we
are very much more dilapidated and unpresentable."

"Then suppose I go and skirmish about the place," Henri suggested. "If
I happen to bump into someone, I speak German like a native and may
easily be able to pass muster. On the other hand, if I don't happen to
meet anyone, I can pry about the place, and I should say that I am just
as likely to be able to rob a hen-roost as you or Jules. You stay
here, and when I whistle, answer, for otherwise it will be a dickens of
a job to find you."

Gaining a road which ran beside the railway, and from which a track led
up to the farm where the lights twinkled, Henri proceeded at a rapid
rate till he was within a few yards of the residence, when he made a
cautious circle of it and gathered the information that one of the
front rooms was illuminated, while at the back of the house there was
but a feeble glimmer, and from that front room came, as he listened,
the sounds of music--the notes of an organ and the deep voice of a man
singing.

"Fortunate," he told himself, "for it'll drown any sounds that I may
make. First thing will be to investigate the back of the house, where
there's that glimmer. I shouldn't wonder if it was the kitchen."

Stealing round towards the back of the house, and passing through a
wicket-gate which gave entrance to the farm-yard, he tiptoed across the
cobbles of the latter, and was brought up sharply by cannoning into a
barrel, which fell over with a crash. Instantly Henri leapt against
the wall and crouched in the deep shadow, fearful lest the noise sho