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The young invalid went back into the cottage； followed by Benassis and the officer。
〃Just light a candle； Captain Bluteau；〃 said the doctor； who was helping Jacques to take off his rough； tattered clothing。
When Genestas had struck a light； and the interior of the room was visible； he was surprised by the extreme thinness of the child； who seemed to be little more than skin and bone。 When the little peasant had been put to bed； Benassis tapped the lad's chest； and listened to the ominous sounds made in this way by his fingers； then； after some deliberation； he drew back the coverlet over Jacques； stepped back a few paces； folded his arms across his chest； and closely scrutinized his patient。
〃How do you feel； my little man？〃
〃Quite comfortable； sir。〃
A table； with four spindle legs； stood in the room； the doctor drew it up to the bed； found a tumbler and a phial on the mantel…shelf； and composed a draught； by carefully measuring a few drops of brown liquid from the phial into some water； Genestas holding the light the while。
〃Your mother is very late。〃
〃She is coming； sir；〃 said the child； 〃I can hear her footsteps on the path。〃
The doctor and the officer looked around them while they waited。 At the foot of the bed there was a sort of mattress made of moss； on which； doubtless； the mother was wont to sleep in her clothes； for there were neither sheets nor coverlet。 Genestas pointed out this bed to Benassis； who nodded slightly to show that he likewise had already admired this motherly devotion。 There was a clatter of sabots in the yard； and the doctor went out。
〃You will have to sit up with Jacques to…night； Mother Colas。 If he tells you that his breathing is bad； you must let him drink some of the draught that I have poured into the tumbler on the table。 Take care not to let him have more than two or three sips at a time； there ought to be enough in the tumbler to last him all through the night。 Above all things； do not touch the phial； and change the child's clothing at once。 He is perspiring heavily。〃
〃I could not manage to wash his shirts to…day； sir； I had to take the hemp over to Grenoble； as we wanted the money。〃
〃Very well； then； I will send you some shirts。〃
〃Then is he worse； my poor lad？〃 asked the woman。
〃He has been so imprudent as to sing； Mother Colas； and it is not to be expected that any good can come of it； but do not be hard upon him； nor scold him。 Do not be down…hearted about it； and if Jacques complains overmuch； send a neighbor to fetch me。 Good…bye。〃
The doctor called to his friend； and they went back along the foot… path。
〃Is that little peasant consumptive？〃 asked Genestas。
〃Mon Dieu！ yes；〃 answered Benassis。 〃Science cannot save him； unless Nature works a miracle。 Our professors at the Ecole de Medecine in Paris often used to speak to us of the phenomenon which you have just witnessed。 Some maladies of this kind bring about changes in the voice…producing organs that give the sufferer a short…lived power of song that no trained voice can surpass。 I have made you spend a melancholy day； sir；〃 said the doctor when he was once more in the saddle。 〃Suffering and death everywhere； but everywhere also resignation。 All these peasant folk take death philosophically； they fall ill； say nothing about it； and take to their beds like dumb animals。 But let us say no more about death； and let us quicken our horses' paces a little； we ought to reach the town before nightfall； so that you may see the new quarter。〃
〃Eh！ some place is on fire over there；〃 said Genestas； pointing to a spot on the mountain； where a sheaf of flames was rising。
〃It is not a dangerous fire。 Our lime…burner is heating his kiln； no doubt。 It is a newly…started industry； which turns our heather to account。〃
There was the sudden report of a gun； followed by an involuntary exclamation from Benassis； who said； with an impatient gesture； 〃If that is Butifer； we shall see which of us two is the stronger。〃
〃The shot came from that quarter；〃 said Genestas； indicating a beech… wood up above them on the mountain side。 〃Yes； up there； you may trust an old soldier's ear。〃
〃Let us go there at once！〃 cried Benassis； and he made straight for the little wood； urging his horse at a furious speed across the ditches and fields； as if he were riding a steeplechase； in his anxiety to catch the sportsman red…handed。
〃The man you are after has made off；〃 shouted Genestas； who could scarcely keep up with him。
Benassis wheeled his horse round sharply； and came back again。 The man of whom he was in search soon appeared on the top of a perpendicular crag； a hundred feet above the level of the two horsemen。
〃Butifer！〃 shouted Benassis when he saw that this figure carried a fowling…piece； 〃come down！〃
Butifer recognized the doctor； and replied by a respectful and friendly sign which showed that he had every intention of obeying。
〃I can imagine that if a man were driven to it by fear or by some overmastering impulse that he might possibly contrive to scramble up to that point among the rocks；〃 said Genestas； 〃but how will he manage to come down again？〃
〃I have no anxiety on that score；〃 answered Benassis； 〃the wild goats must feel envious of that fellow yonder！ You will see。〃
The emergencies of warfare had accustomed the commandant to gauge the real worth of men； he admired the wonderful quickness of Butifer's movements； the sure…footed grace with which the hunter swung himself down the rugged sides of the crag； to the top of which he had so boldly climbed。 The strong； slender form of the mountaineer was gracefully poised in every attitude which the precipitous nature of the path compelled him to assume； and so certain did he seem of his power to hold on at need； that if the pinnacle of rock on which he took his stand had been a level floor； he could not have set his foot down upon it more calmly。 He carried his fowling…piece as if it had been a light walking…cane。 Butifer was a young man of middle height； thin； muscular； and in good training； his beauty was of a masculine order； which impressed Genestas on a closer view。
Evidently he belonged to the class of smugglers who ply their trade without resorting to violent courses； and who only exert patience and craft to defraud the government。 His face was manly and sunburned。 His eyes； which were bright as an eagle's； were of a clear yellow color； and his sharply…cut nose with its slight curve at the tip was very much like an eagle's beak。 His cheeks were covered with down； his red lips were half open； giving a glimpse of a set of teeth of dazzling whiteness。 His beard； moustache； and the reddish whiskers； which he allowed to grow； and which curled naturally； still further heightened the masculine and forbidding expression of his face。 Everything about him spoke of strength。 He was broad…chested； constant activity had made the muscles of his hands curiously firm and prominent。 There was the quick intelligence of a savage about his glances； he looked resolute； fearless； and imperturbable； like a man accustomed to put his life in peril； and whose physical and mental strength had been so often tried by dangers of every kind； that he no longer f