"`He will struggle fearfully,' said Edmee. `Perhaps--perhaps, Pierre, if I whisper in his ear that it is we who are doing it to save him, he will be quiet.' "`_After_ he is gagged, if you like,' said Pierre; `but not before. We must run no risk; our lives hang on the thinnest of threads, Edmee. Come, try not to tremble so--oh, my poor little lady, if I could have spared you this!' "Edmee hesitated. "`Dear Pierrot,' she said, `I think perhaps if I were to say a little prayer to the good God to help and save us, it would make me leave off trembling so.' "Pierre answered by uncovering his head, and then, at a sign from Edmee, he knelt down beside her on the grass, for they had crept back behind the house, and there the two young creatures prayed with earnest and simple words for the help they so sorely needed--`or,' whispered Edmee, `if we do not escape, for courage to bear whatever is before us.' "Then she rose to her feet. "`I am not trembling now,' she said. `Pierrot dear, kiss me once before we go; for we don't know, we may fail.' "Pierrot kissed her; he could not have spoken had he tried. "He led the way to the barn. Pierre crept in first to reconnoitre; all was quiet, and as he had left it, he reported, when he crept out again, bringing his own and Edmond's bundles, which, with her bag, he and Edmee carried a little way into the shelter of the wood hard by, so that the girl's hands might be free, if need were, to help him with the much more troublesome piece of baggage--Edmond. Then they both made their way in again, Edmee standing a little aside, while Pierre, by the very faint moonlight which came in through the open doorway, satisfied himself as to the exact position in which Edmond lay, before attempting to gag and seize him. How he succeeded he could never himself tell, but succeed he did. Before the sleeping boy had recovered his faculties sufficiently to attempt to scream or to make any resistance, he was safe and fast in Pierre's strong arms, his mouth so firmly gagged that, though he was scarlet, nay purple, with rage and terror long before he found out the real state of the case, not the faintest sound was audible, as, followed by Edmee, young Germain, with his heavy burden, made his way from the barn by the path behind the house, which they had already discovered led into the woods. More than once Edmee tried to whisper into Edmond's ear, but blinded and confused as he was she could not catch his attention. "`Better wait awhile,' whispered Pierre, and it was not till after quite a quarter of an hour of this painful progress that he at last stopped, and, after listening in all directions, let Edmond slip to the ground, though still firmly holding him. The boy opened his eyes; he had half lost consciousness, and Pierre began to loosen the handkerchief.