154 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



"With the weapons we possess, " Louis admitted, 

 "with only our sticks and stones, the chase seems to 

 me out of the question: all game of whatever sort 

 would foil our attempts by its vigilance and rapid 

 flight." 



"Are you all thoroughly convinced of it?" asked 

 Uncle Paul. 



* ' I certainly am, ' ' replied Jules. * ' Not being able 

 to match the game in fleetness of foot, we shall al- 

 ways come back from the hunt empty-handed. ' ' 



"That's plain enough, " Emile assented. 



' l Then let us be content with sloes, and if hunger 

 presses too hard we must tighten our belts. Since, 

 too, at any moment, some furious wild beast might 

 pounce upon us and devour us, let us lose no time in 

 getting back to reflect on our sad plight. 



' ' Our wretched state is indeed lamentable. Inces- 

 sant hunger torments us, despite the extreme abun- 

 dance of game, which would be an invaluable resource 

 for us, but which unfortunately we cannot turn to ac- 

 count. If, to stay our hunger, we go in search of 

 wild fruit, a thousand dangers await us. We may 

 fall into clutches that no stone will intimidate and no 

 sticks cause to relax. We are without provisions, 

 defenseless. A terrible alternative awaits us: to 

 die of hunger or be devoured by those that are 

 stronger than we." 



"Such a Robinson Crusoe life I should not care 

 for," declared Emile. 



"Now let us suppose one thing more : Heaven takes 

 pity on our distress and, to extricate us from our dif- 



