ut. Outside the birds were singing, and all over the
tiny island, on the pond, on the branches of the weeping willows, was
heard a confusion of sounds, twittering and little shrill cries which
announced an awakening to life. Looking out of the window, she could see
the birds picking at the humid earth with their beaks, snapping at the
worms. Over the pond floated a light mist. A wild duck, far prettier
than the tame ducks, was swimming on the water, surrounded with her
young. She tried to keep them beside her with continual little quacks,
but she found it impossible to do so. The ducklings escaped from the
mother duck, scurrying off amongst the reeds to search for the insects
which came within their reach.

Suddenly a quick blue streak, like lightning, flashed before Perrine's
eyes. It was not until it had disappeared that she realized that it was
a kingfisher which had just crossed the pond. For a long time, standing
quite still for fear a movement might betray her presence and cause the
birds to fly away, she stood at the opening looking out at them. How
pretty it all was in the morning light, gay, alive, amusing, something
new to look upon.

Now and again she saw dark shadows pass capriciously over the pond. The
shadows grew larger without apparent cause, covering the pond. She could
not understand this, for the sun, which had risen above the horizon, was
shining in the sky without a cloud. How did these shadows come?

She went to the door and saw a thick black smoke coming from the factory
chimneys.

Work would commence very soon; it was time to leave the hut. As she was
about to go she picked up a newspaper from the seat that she had not
noticed before in the dim light. The newspaper was dated February 2.
Then this thought came to her: This newspaper was on the only spot in
the place where one could sit down, and the date of it was several
months previous, so then this proved that the hut had been abandoned and
no one had passed through the door since last February.

CHAPTER XI

WORK IN THE FACTORY

When she reached the road a loud whistle was heard, shrill and powerful.
Almost immediately other whistles replied from the distance. This was
the call for the factory hands who lived in Maraucourt, and the other
whistles repeated the summons to work from village to village, St.
Pipoy, Harcheux, Racour, Flexelles, in all the Paindavoine factories,
announcing to the owner of the vast works that everywhere