We had decided to offer the captain a wing. Guillaumin, who had undertaken to be the ambassador, soon came back. Ribet had refused it--oh, as nicely as possible assuring Guillaumin that he needed nothing. If we had a portion over, let it be for one of his men, who had their packs to carry! Henriot must have got wind of this reply, for his was identical. The third one, Delafosse, we knew nothing about him; nobody thought about him. But Breton, when he was invited, did not turn up his nose at it, and came to revive himself by us. He congratulated us: "These bachelors knew how to look after themselves--and no mistake!" And what about the Playoust set. De Valpic having timidly suggested that we might--Guillaumin exploded: "Never! Low-down cads like that! Why they'd let us starve without turning a hair." I backed him up, and De Valpic said no more. We three each put part of the remains on one side. It was rather shocking, I admitted to myself, to be thinking of our future hunger, when comrades at hand were suffering the pangs of present hunger. But after all! I had done enough for others to last me for one day! * * * * * I had gone out into the yard again. It was almost deserted now, but I came across Humel. He pretended not to see me. His cap, which was cocked over one ear, gave him a cheeky look, but I caught sight of his haggard face and sunken cheeks by the light of one of the bonfires which was still smouldering. I turned round: "I say, Humel!" He stopped, and aggressively snapped: "Well? What do you want?" "You've had nothing, have you?" "Had nothing ... what do you mean?" "To get your teeth into!" He hesitated: "A lot you care!" I went up to him, and put my hand on his shoulder: "Like a bit of chicken?" He made a movement as if to free himself, and then thought better of it, and said more gently: "Have you got some left?" "Yes, and a hard-boiled egg. Wait a bit!" I went back into the piggery, and very stealthily--I did not want Guillaumin to see me--took out my mess-tin, which contained my provisions for the next day, then I rejoined Humel. "Here you are." We went and sat down in the shade on the curb of the well. "You can use my mess-tin." The poor boy began to eat hurriedly, and in silence. I told him, in a joking tone, the story of our expedition; and meanwhile stealthily examined his thin profile. He was a mere boy. A younger brother, this lad too, younger not only in years.... He was thirsty. I pulled up a bucket of water for him and we drank out of the same mug. Then making a violent effort to get over what I think was timidity he said to me: "Thanks very much." I replied: "Look here, old chap, don't you think we ought all to be pals?"