"After that," said Joubac, "if Hullin likes we will try all the same." "We will try what?" said Brenn. "To break our legs in escaping ourselves, and leave the others in the trap. I don't mind; if any others go, I will too. But as for pretending to return with provisions, it is impossible. Come, Joubac, by which way art thou going, and by which way wilt thou return? If thou knowest of a passage, tell me. For twenty years I have scoured the mountain with Marc. I know all the paths and roads ten leagues round, and I see no other way but through the sky!" Hullin turned round at that moment and saw Mother Lefèvre, close behind, listening attentively. "What! were you there, Catherine?" said he. "Our affairs are taking a bad turn." "Yes, I heard; there is no means of renewing our provisions." "Our provisions!" said Brenn with a queer laugh. "Are you aware, Mother Lefèvre, for how long we have them?" "Why, for a fortnight," replied the old dame. "For a week," said the smuggler, shaking out the ashes from his pipe. "It is true," said Hullin, "Marc Divès and myself thought they would attack the Falkenstein; we never imagined the enemy would blockade it like a fortress. We have been deceived!" "And what is to be done?" said Catherine, turning pale. "We are going to put everybody on half rations. If, in a fortnight, Marc does not return we shall have nothing left--then we shall see." So saying, Hullin, Catherine, and the smugglers, with bowed heads, took the path to the breach again. As they were coming down the slope, thirty feet below them they perceived Materne. He was climbing breathlessly among the ruins, and clutched hold of the bushes to help him along faster. "Well," shouted Jean-Claude to him; "what is the matter, old fellow?" "Ah! there thou art. I was coming to find thee; one of the enemy's officers has come forward on the wall of the old 'burg' with a little white flag; he looks as though he had something to say to us." Hullin advanced immediately to the edge of the rock, and saw a German officer standing on the wall, and awaiting a signal to mount. He was about two gun-shots distant; farther behind five or six soldiers were stationed with their arms shouldered. After having inspected this group, Jean-Claude turned and said: "It is a flag of truce. He comes no doubt to summon us to surrender." "Fire upon them!" cried Catherine; "it is all we have to say." All the others appeared of the same advice, excepting Hullin, who, without making any reply descended to the terrace, where the rest of the partisans were assembled. "My children," said he, "the enemy sends us a flag of truce. We do not know what he wants of us. I suppose it is to order us to lay down our arms; but it may possibly be something else. Frantz and Kasper will go to meet him; they must blindfold the officer and lead him here."