A SUPPOSITION 151 



"Not even a knife." 



"Bather an unpleasant situation, " remarked 

 Louis ; "and all the more so as we could n't stay shut 

 up all the time. We should have to leave our grotto 

 to procure food, and then beware of the wolves and 

 all the dangerous creatures in the wood. ' ' 



"Nothing imparts courage like the terrible need 

 of food. We should start out, then, armed with some 

 stones and with a stick clumsily broken off with our 

 hands. If the wild beast runs at us we shall do our 

 best to knock it down." 



"But what if we don't succeed ?" was Emile's 

 query. 



"In that case we are done for: we shall become its 

 prey." 



"To tell the truth, Uncle, in spite of the pleasure 

 the reading of Robinson Crusoe on his Island gave 

 me, I prefer this trip through the woods to be sim- 

 ply a supposition on your part rather than a reality. ' ' 



"Emile is not the only one of that opinion," de- 

 clared Jules. "When I have nothing to defend my- 

 self with I don't like those woods where there are 

 wolves and still worse things. ' ' 



"I continue my supposition. Hunger drives us 

 and we start. I assume that heaven favors us and 

 that no serious danger comes to disturb us in our 

 hunt for something to keep us from starving. If 

 we are on the seashore we shall catch shell-fish; if 

 inland, we shall gather berries from the brambles 

 and sloes from the thicket. If we hunt long enough 

 we may perhaps find a handful or two of hazel-nuts. 



