CHAPTER XXXIV 



THE STORM 



AND, in fact, it was very hot when Uncle Paul and 

 Jules started out. With a burning sun, they 

 were sure to find the caterpillars in their silk bag, 

 where they do not fail to take refuge to shelter them- 

 selves from a light that is too glaring for them; at 

 an earlier or later hour, the nests might be empty, 

 and the journey a fruitless one. 



His heart full of the naive joys proper to his age, 

 his mind preoccupied by the caterpillars and their 

 processions, Jules walked at a good pace, forgetting 

 heat and fatigue. He had untied his cravat and 

 thrown his blouse back on his shoulders. A holly 

 stick, cut by his uncle from the hedge, served him 

 as a third leg. 



In the meantime the crickets chirped louder than 

 usual ; frogs croaked in the ponds ; flies became teas- 

 ing and persistent ; sometimes a breath of air all at 

 once blew along the road and raised a whirling col- 

 umn of dust. Jules did not notice these signs, but 

 his uncle did, and from time to time looked up at 

 the sky. Masses of reddish mist in the south seemed 

 to give him some concern. "Perhaps we shall have 

 rain," said he; "we must hurry." 



About three o'clock they were at the pine wood. 



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