r for some days
yet, unless my friends come, and I don't expect they will. It would be
too risky. So you lie here patiently and give your wound a chance to
get well before I try to take you through the pass. Besides, your
friends are a long way off, and they will be sure to come nearer before
long. You can make yourself very comfortable here, can't you, and eat
and drink and sleep?"

"But it is not fair to the father," said Pen, "and we have no money to
pay him for our lodging."

"You Englishmen are brave fellows," said the smuggler with a merry
laugh. "You like to pay your way, while those French thieves plunder
and steal and ill-use every one they come near. Don't you make yourself
uncomfortable about that, my lad. As you hinted just now, the holy
father is poor, and it may seem to you hard that you should live upon
him; but you English are our friends, and so is the father. Make
yourselves quite comfortable. You are very welcome, and we are glad to
have you as our guests.--Eh, _padre mio_!" he continued, relapsing into
his own tongue. "They are quite welcome, are they not?"

The priest nodded and smiled as he bent down and patted both the lads on
the shoulder, Punch contenting himself with what he did not understand,
for it seemed very friendly, while Pen took the hand that rested on his
shoulder and raised it to his lips.

Then the old man slowly descended, and the smuggler turned and continued
talking pleasantly to Pen.

"I have told him," he said, "that I am going to have breakfast with you
here, as my men have gone up to the mountains with the mules, and I
don't want to show myself and get a shot sent after me, for some of the
Frenchmen are down in the village still. Be quiet for a day or two, and
if my friends come before you are able to march we will get you on one
of my mules. Hallo!" he added, "the father's making a fire to cook us
some breakfast. I shouldn't wonder if he bakes us a cake and makes us a
cup of good fragrant coffee. He generally contents himself with bread
and herbs and a glass of water; but he knows my weaknesses--and I know
his," added the smuggler, laughing. "He never objects to a glass of
good wine."

The smuggler's surmises were right, for before very long the old man
paid several visits to the loft, and ended by seating himself with the
others and partaking of a roughly prepared but excellent breakfast,
which included newly made cake, fried bacon and eggs, with a cap