other! go back to your toils; they are lightened
now--a little; the cooking, the washing, the scrubbing. Spread, day by
day, the smoking board, and call your spared husband and your little
ones to partake; but you--your tears shall be your meat day and night,
while underneath your breath you moan, "'Thanase! 'Thanase!"

CHAPTER V.

THE CURE OF CARANCRO.

It was an unexpected and capital exchange. They had gone for a
conscript; they came away with a volunteer.

Bonaventure sat by the fire in Sosthene's cottage, silent and heavy,
holding his small knees in his knit hands and gazing into the flames.
Zosephine was washing the household's few breakfast dishes. _La
vieille_--the mother--was spinning cotton. _Le vieux_--Sosthene--sat
sewing up a rent in a rawhide chair-bottom. He paused by and by,
stretched, and went to the window. His wife caught the same spirit of
relaxation, stopped her wheel, looked at the boy moping in the
chimney-corner, and, passing over to his side, laid a hand upon his
temple to see if he might have fever.

The lad's eyes did not respond to her; they were following Sosthene.
The husband stood gazing out through the glass for a moment, and then,
without moving, swore a long, slow execration. The wife and daughter
pressed quickly to his either side and looked forth.

There they came, the number increased to eighteen now, trotting
leisurely through the subsiding storm. The wife asked what they were,
but Sosthene made no reply; he was counting them: twelve, thirteen,
fourteen--fourteen with short guns, another one who seemed to wear a
sword, and three, that must be--

"Cawnscreep," growled Sosthene, without turning his eyes. But the next
moment an unusual sound at his elbow drew his glance upon Zosephine.
"_Diable!_" He glared at her weeping eyes, his manner demanding of her
instant explanation. She retreated a step, moved her hand toward the
approaching troop, and cried distressfully:

"_Tu va oere!_"--"You will see!"

His glance was drawn to Bonaventure. The lad had turned toward them,
and was sitting upright, his blue eyes widened, his face pale, and his
lips apart; but ere Sosthene could speak his wife claimed his
attention.

"Sosthene!" she exclaimed, pressing against the window-pane, "ah,
Sosthene! Ah, ah! they have got 'Thanase!"

Father, mother, and daughter crowded against the window and one
another, watching the body of horse as it drew nigh. Bonaventure went
slowly and la