"Nonsense! don't take my little joke as a reproach. What an ill-regulated mind you have! Come, let us march, march! Now that I use my legs I feel I am drying up; in ten minutes I shall begin to perspire." There was no need to hasten Bonneville. He advanced so rapidly that Petit-Pierre could barely keep up with him; and from time to time she was forced to remind him that her legs were not as long as his. But Bonneville could not recover from the shock of emotion caused by the accident to his young companion, and he now completely lost his head on discovering that, among these bushes he once knew so well, he had missed his way. A dozen times he had stopped as he entered a "line" path and looked about him, and each time, after shaking his head, he plunged onward in a sort of frenzy. At last Petit-Pierre, who could scarcely keep up with him, except by running, said, as she noticed his increasing agitation:-- "Tell me what is the matter, dear count." "The matter is that I am a wretched man," said Bonneville. "I relied too much on my knowledge of these localities, and--and--" "We have lost our way?" "I fear so." "And I am sure of it. See, here is a branch I remember breaking when we passed here just now; we are turning in a circle. You see how I profit by your lessons, Bonneville," added Petit-Pierre, triumphantly. "Ah!" said Bonneville; "I see what set me wrong." "What was it?" "When we left the water I landed on the side we had just left, and in my agitation at your accident, I did not notice the mistake." "So that our plunge bath was absolutely useless!" cried Petit-Pierre, laughing heartily. "Oh! for God's sake, Madame, don't laugh like that; your gayety cuts me to the heart." "Well, it warms me." "Then you are cold?" "A little; but that's not the worst." "What is worse?" "Why, for half an hour you have not dared to tell me we are lost, and for half an hour I've not dared to tell you that my legs seem to be giving way and refusing to do their duty." "Then what is to become of us?" "Well, well! am I to play your part as man and give you courage? So be it. The council is open; what is your opinion?" "That we cannot reach Benaste to-night." "Next?" "That we must try to get to the nearest farmhouse before daylight." "Very good," said Petit-Pierre. "Have you any idea of where we are?" "No stars in the sky, no moon--" "And no compass," added Petit-Pierre, laughing, and trying by a joke to revive her companion's nerve. "Wait." "Ah! you have an idea, I'm sure!" "I happened to notice the vane on the castle just at dusk; the wind was east." Bonneville wet his finger in his mouth and held it up. "What's that for?" "A weathercock. There's the north," he said, unhesitatingly; "if we walk in the teeth of the wind we shall come out on the plain near Saint-Philbert." "Yes, by walking; but that's the difficulty." "Will you let me carry you in my arms?" "You have enough to carry in yourself, my poor Bonneville."