ue, thank God," exclaimed the laborer; "if we can grope about
and find a little dead wood, we shall be able to dry ourselves and get
warm."

"That 's not difficult," said little Marie; "dead wood always cracks
when you step on it. But will you give me the saddle?"

"What do you want of it?"

"To make a bed for the child. No, not that way. Upside down. He will
not roll off into the hollow, and it is still very warm from the horse's
back. Prop it up all around with the stones that you see there."

"I can't see a stone; you must have cat's eyes."

"There, it is all done, Germain. Hand me your cloak so that you can wrap
up his little feet, and throw my cape over his body. Just see if he is
not as comfortable as though he were in his own bed, and feel how warm
he is."

"You certainly know how to take care of children, Marie."

"I need not be a witch to do that; now get your tinderbox from your bag,
and I will arrange the wood."

"This wood will never catch fire; it is too damp."

"You are always doubting, Germain. Don't you remember when you were a
shepherd, and made big fires in the fields right in the midst of the
rain?"

"Yes, that is a knack that belongs to children who take care of sheep;
but I was made to drive the oxen as soon as I could walk."

"That is what has made your arms strong and your hands quick! Here, the
fire is built; you shall see whether it does not burn. Give me the light
and a handful of dry ferns. That is all right Now blow; you are not
consumptive, are you?"

"Not that I know of," said Germain, blowing like a smith's bellows. In
an instant the flame leaped up, and throwing out a red glare, it rose
finally in pale blue jets under the oak branches, battling with the fog,
and gradually drying the atmosphere for ten feet around.

"Now I am going to sit by the child, so that the sparks may not fall
on him," said the young girl. "Pile on the wood and stir up the fire,
Germain; we shall not catch cold nor fever here, I will answer for it."

"Upon my word, you are a clever girl," said Germain; "and you know how
to make a fire like a little fairy of the night. I feel quite revived,
and my courage has come back again; for with my legs drenched up to the
knees, and with the thought of staying this way till daylight, I was in
a very bad temper just now."

"And when people are in a bad temper they don't think of anything,"
answered little Marie.

"And are you never bad-tempered?"

"No, neve