I cannot tell you how long I slumbered--probably until two or three o'clock in the morning. But I was awakened by the sound of the snapping of dry twigs and muffled voices. I sprang to my feet and listened. Nearer and nearer came the stealthy footsteps. I retired as cautiously as I could; but though I trod ever so lightly, it was impossible to avoid the crackling of dead wood, which seemed to my hypersensitive ears like so many pistol-shots. Even the thumping of my heart appeared audible. One curious thing, however, I noticed: whenever, after a noisy retreat, I stopped to listen, there was a corresponding stoppage and a long silence on the part of my pursuers. But, thought I, was it at all certain they _were_ in pursuit? Would they not, in that case, have come on with a rush? "Suppose I crouch down and run the risk of them passing without seeing me?" I thought. Whilst I was reflecting; with my back to what was apparently a fairly large tree, those who were advancing, emboldened by the silence which had intervened, came on with hastened steps, and got so near that I could hear their heavy breathing. I stepped quickly behind my tree, but too late to serve my purpose, for the next moment a stern voice rapped out an oath almost in my ear and a flash of light from an electric torch struck me full in the face. "Hands up, or I shoot!" said the voice. "Who are you?" "A Frenchman," I replied, obeying the command and deciding, on the spur of the moment, that one who spoke to me in my native tongue could hardly be an enemy. "And in need of help." "Good thing you're not a _Pruscot_, mate, or you'd have been a goner. In need of help, are you? So are we. Aren't we, _mes vieuz_?" This last remark was addressed to the speaker's two companions, whose indistinct forms I could now make out. "Very well," continued the speaker, slipping the revolver with which he had covered me into his pocket, "I take it to be a bargain. One good service deserves another. You help us with some of these parcels, and we'll help _you_. I'm not going to ask you too many questions, and we don't expect you to be over inquisitive about _our_ business. _C'est compris?_ But if we're to get there and back before light we must be off. Come on!"