The man reached the shed almost before they were out of view, but
it was evident that he had not seen them, for he did not glance
in their direction. He took off his hat and shook the rain-drops
from it. Then he wiped his face and neck with a soiled
handkerchief and sat down on the edge of a bench that had once
been used for salting cattle. He sat still for a little while,
with his feet drawn up on the bench and his hands clasping his
knees, the better to escape the rain. Then he began to grow
restless. He walked back and forth and peered out into the rain
in the direction of the camp. The children were so frightened
they could hear their own hearts beat, but they had been in
danger so many times, and in so many different ways that they
kept their presence of mind, and were able to follow closely his
every move. Soon they heard the sound of more footsteps, and
suddenly there dashed under the shed a soldier in the uniform of
France. It was evident that the first man expected him, for he
showed no surprise at his coming, and the two sat down together
on the bench and began to talk.
The wind had now subsided a little, and though they spoke in low
tones the children could hear every word.
"Whew!" said the soldier as he shook his rain-coat. "Nasty
weather."
"All the better for our purposes," answered the other man.
"There's less chance of our being seen."
"Not much chance of that, anyway, so early in the morning as
this," answered the soldier, looking at his watch.
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