Lafleur held the lantern; Pierre's hand was near the lock, and I presumed--I could not see--that he held some instrument with which he meant to open it.

A ring of trees framed the picture, and the men sat in a hollow, well hidden from the path even had it been high day.
The Duke of Saint-Maclou touched my arm, and I leaned forward to look in his face.

He nodded, and, brushing aside the trees, we sprang out upon the astonished fellows.

Fora moment they did not move, struck motionless with surprise, while we stood over them, pistols in hand.

We had caught them fair and square.