them going in. If we
have not something to sell it is not unlikely that we shall be asked
questions." It was now broad daylight, and they saw several peasants
pass along the road, some with baskets, others driving a pig or a goat.

"Either of these would do," Hector said; "but we don't know where the
market is, and it would never do to seem ignorant of that." The snow had
stopped suddenly some minutes before, and the sun was now shining.

"That is lucky," Hector said as they walked down towards the road, "we
may hope that there will be no more snow and that the sun will soon melt
what has fallen. It would be fatal to us if the ground were white, for
the most careless sentry could not help seeing us upon it."

They reached the road just as a peasant came along. He was an old man,
and was dragging behind him a pile of faggots, which were placed upon
two rough poles. He was walking between these, holding two ends in his
hands, while the others trailed along on the ground behind.

"Bargain with him, Paolo."

"That is a heavy load, father," the latter said.

"Ay, it is heavy."

"How much do you expect to get for your faggots in the town?"

"I shall get a crown," the man said. "I would not take under, and they
ought to be worth more than that now the snow has begun to fall."

"We are going into the town," Paolo said. "We are younger than you,
and between us we could drag it along easily. I have got a crown in my
pocket to buy some things with. I don't mind giving it to you for your
load. If I can sell the faggots for a few soldi over that we shall be
able to buy something for ourselves."

"It is a bargain, lad," the old man said. "I am getting old and the
rheumatism is in my bones, and I shall be very glad to be spared the
journey; so give me your money and take the poles. I hope you will be
successful, and sell them a little higher. You had better ask a crown
and a half. The women are sure to beat you down, but you will make ten
or twelve soldi for yourselves."

Paolo handed the crown to the old man.

"How had we better take this, Paolo?" Hector asked, as the old man,
chuckling with satisfaction at having escaped a toilsome journey, turned
to retrace his steps.

"There is room for us both between the shafts," Paolo said, "one behind
the other. It would be much easier to walk holding both poles than for
us both to take one, as in that way the weight will be balanced on each
side of us."

There was indeed jus