hich the Barclays wanted to get; but
they had no difficulty with them, as the shops were all open, as
usual. The population had a depressed look. All classes were
suffering much, with the exception of the shopkeepers, whose
business was as brisk as ever--save only those tradesmen who dealt
in articles of female attire, for which there was no demand,
whatever. The ladies of Versailles went as little as possible into
the streets; and when they did so, all dressed themselves in black,
or other somber colors.

By nine o'clock the shops were all closed; and the Barclays
returned to their wagon, with their purchases in their hands.

"It's awfully cold, Ralph!" Percy said, as they rolled themselves
in their blankets, and covered themselves over with straw.

"It is, Percy; but it will be a deal colder, in the river."

Percy gave a shudder at the thought.

"Don't you think, Ralph, that there is any possibility of entering
on either of the other sides?"

"Not the slightest, Percy. It must be across the river, or not at
all. The sentries will not be anything like so thick, upon that
side."

Had anyone looked into the wagon, at eight o'clock next morning, he
would have been surprised at the occupation upon which the boys
were engaged. Each was sewing a piece of thin waterproof cloth upon
a pair of white woolen gloves; so that the fingers, when outspread,
had the appearance of the webbed foot of a frog.

"That ought to help us," Ralph said, when they finished. "For a
really long swim, I daresay they would be very fatiguing; but it is
cold, not fatigue, we have to fear, and speed is therefore
everything."

At nine o'clock, Ralph went to the office of the general in
command. There were a number of other persons waiting for permits,
and Ralph waited his turn to go in to the officer engaged in
signing them.

"I am from Frankfort, as my papers show," he said, handing the
officer his pass. "I wish for a pass to go, with my horse and cart,
to Bellevue. There are, I hear, many officers desirous of selling,
or sending home, articles they have saved."

Saved, it may be mentioned, was the word employed in the German
army for stolen--which has an ugly sound.

The officer signed the paper.

"You must not go by the Sevres route," he said. "You must turn off
at Viroflay, and go by Chaville."

Half an hour later they started in the wagon At the gates of
Versailles--a mile from the town--they were stopped by sentries;
but allowe