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and they both giggled and jogged each other's elbows。 The Beast of
Gevaudan ate about a hundred children of this district； I began to
think of him with sympathy。
Leaving the girls； I pushed on through the bog； and got into
another wood and upon a well…marked road。 It grew darker and
darker。 Modestine； suddenly beginning to smell mischief； bettered
the pace of her own accord； and from that time forward gave me no
trouble。 It was the first sign of intelligence I had occasion to
remark in her。 At the same time； the wind freshened into half a
gale； and another heavy discharge of rain came flying up out of the
north。 At the other side of the wood I sighted some red windows in
the dusk。 This was the hamlet of Fouzilhic； three houses on a
hillside； near a wood of birches。 Here I found a delightful old
man； who came a little way with me in the rain to put me safely on
the road for Cheylard。 He would hear of no reward； but shook his
hands above his head almost as if in menace； and refused volubly
and shrilly； in unmitigated PATOIS。
All seemed right at last。 My thoughts began to turn upon dinner
and a fireside； and my heart was agreeably softened in my bosom。
Alas； and I was on the brink of new and greater miseries！
Suddenly； at a single swoop； the night fell。 I have been abroad in
many a black night； but never in a blacker。 A glimmer of rocks； a
glimmer of the track where it was well beaten； a certain fleecy
density； or night within night； for a tree； … this was all that I
could discriminate。 The sky was simply darkness overhead； even the
flying clouds pursued their way invisibly to human eyesight。 I
could not distinguish my hand at arm's…length from the track； nor
my goad； at the same distance； from the meadows or the sky。
Soon the road that I was following split； after the fashion of the
country； into three or four in a piece of rocky meadow。 Since
Modestine had shown such a fancy for beaten roads； I tried her
instinct in this predicament。 But the instinct of an ass is what
might be expected from the name； in half a minute she was
clambering round and round among some boulders； as lost a donkey as
you would wish to see。 I should have camped long before had I been
properly provided； but as this was to be so short a stage； I had
brought no wine； no bread for myself； and little over a pound for
my lady friend。 Add to this； that I and Modestine were both
handsomely wetted by the showers。 But now； if I could have found
some water； I should have camped at once in spite of all。 Water；
however； being entirely absent； except in the form of rain； I
determined to return to Fouzilhic； and ask a guide a little farther
on my way … 'a little farther lend thy guiding hand。'
The thing was easy to decide； hard to accomplish。 In this sensible
roaring blackness I was sure of nothing but the direction of the
wind。 To this I set my face； the road had disappeared； and I went
across country； now in marshy opens； now baffled by walls
unscalable to Modestine； until I came once more in sight of some
red windows。 This time they were differently disposed。 It was not
Fouzilhic； but Fouzilhac； a hamlet little distant from the other in
space； but worlds away in the spirit of its inhabitants。 I tied
Modestine to a gate； and groped forward； stumbling among rocks；
plunging mid…leg in bog； until I gained the entrance of the
village。 In the first lighted house there was a woman who would
not open to me。 She could do nothing； she cried to me through the
door； being alone and lame； but if I would apply at the next house；
there was a man who could help me if he had a mind。
They came to the next door in force； a man； two women； and a girl；
and brought a pair of lanterns to examine the wayfarer。 The man
was not ill…looking； but had a shifty smile。 He leaned against the
doorpost； and heard me state my case。 All I asked was a guide as
far as Cheylard。
'C'EST QUE； VOYEZ…VOUS； IL FAIT NOIR；' said he。
I told him that was just my reason for requiring help。
'I understand that；' said he； looking uncomfortable； 'MAIS … C'EST
… DE LA PEINE。'
I was willing to pay； I said。 He shook his head。 I rose as high
as ten francs； but he continued to shake his head。 'Name your own
price； then；' said I。
'CE N'EST PAS CA；' he said at length； and with evident difficulty；
'but I am not going to cross the door … MAIS JE NE SORTIRAI PAS DE
LA PORTE。'
I grew a little warm； and asked him what he proposed that I should
do。
'Where are you going beyond Cheylard？' he asked by way of answer。
'That is no affair of yours；' I returned； for I was not going to
indulge his bestial curiosity； 'it changes nothing in my present
predicament。'
'C'EST VRAI； CA；' he acknowledged； with a laugh； 'OUI； C'EST VRAI。
ET D'OU VENEZ…VOUS？'
A better man than I might have felt nettled。
'Oh；' said I； 'I am not going to answer any of your questions； so
you may spare yourself the trouble of putting them。 I am late
enough already； I want help。 If you will not guide me yourself； at
least help me to find some one else who will。'
'Hold on；' he cried suddenly。 'Was it not you who passed in the
meadow while it was still day？'
'Yes； yes；' said the girl； whom I had not hitherto recognised； 'it
was monsieur； I told him to follow the cow。'
'As for you； mademoiselle；' said I； 'you are a FARCEUSE。'
'And；' added the man； 'what the devil have you done to be still
here？'
What the devil； indeed！ But there I was。
'The great thing；' said I； 'is to make an end of it'； and once more
proposed that he should help me to find a guide。
'C'EST QUE；' he said again； 'C'EST QUE … IL FAIT NOIR。'
'Very well；' said I； 'take one of your lanterns。'
'No；' he cried； drawing a thought backward； and again intrenching
himself behind one of his former phrases； 'I will not cross the
door。'
I looked at him。 I saw unaffected terror struggling on his face
with unaffected shame； he was smiling pitifully and wetting his lip
with his tongue； like a detected schoolboy。 I drew a brief picture
of my state； and asked him what I was to do。
'I don't know；' he said； 'I will not cross the door。'
Here was the Beast of Gevaudan； and no mistake。
'Sir；' said I； with my most commanding manners； 'you are a coward。'
And with that I turned my back upon the family party； who hastened
to retire within their fortifications； and the famous door was
closed again； but not till I had overheard the sound of laughter。
FILIA BARBARA PATER BARBARIOR。 Let me say it in the plural： the
Beasts of Gevaudan。
The lanterns had somewhat dazzled me； and I ploughed distressfully
among stones and rubbish…heaps。 All the other houses in the
village were both dark and silent； and though I knocked at here and
there a door； my knocking was unanswered。 It was a bad business； I
gave up Fouzilhac with my curses。 The rain had stopped； and the
wind； which still kept rising； began to dry my coat and trousers。
'Very well；' thought I； 'water or no water； I must camp。' But the
first thing was to return to Modestine。 I am pretty sure I was
twenty minutes groping for my lady in the dark； and if it had not
been for the unkindly services of the bog； into which I once more
stumbled； I might have still been groping for her at the dawn。 My
next business was to gain the shelter of a wood； for the wind was
cold as well as boisterous。 How； in this well…wooded district； I
should have been so long in finding one； is another of the
insoluble mysteries of this day's adventures； but I will take my
oath that I put near an hour to the discovery。
At last black trees began to show upon my left； and； suddenly
crossing the road； made a cave of unmitigated blackness right in
front。 I call it a cave without exaggeration； to pass below that
arch of leaves was like entering a dungeon。 I felt about until my
hand encountered a stout branch； and to this I tied Modestine； a
haggard； drenched； desponding donkey。 Then I lowered my pack； laid
it along the wall on the margin of the road； and unbuckled the
straps。 I knew well enough where the lantern was； but where were
the candles？ I groped and groped among the tumbled articles； and；
while I was thus groping； suddenly I touched the spirit…lamp。
Salvation！ This would serve my turn as well。 The wind roared
unwearyingly among the trees； I could hear the boughs tossing and
the leaves churning through half a mile of forest； yet the scene of
my encampment was not only as black as the pit； but admirably
sheltered。 At the second match the wick caught flame。 The light
was both livid and shifting； but it cut me off from the universe；
and doubled the darkness of the surrounding night。
I tied Modestine more c