It seemed to lead back; but it soon took a turn, and, after a while, brought them to a thick pine grove, where the walking was good and hard.

There were no paths here; and the young fir-trees were so thick, you could not see three yards before your nose.
When they had gone some way in this, Martin sat down; and, having learned in war to lose all impression of danger with the danger itself, took a piece of bread and a slice of ham out of his wallet, and began quietly to eat his breakfast.
The young ones looked at him with dismay.

He replied to their looks.
"All Sevenbergen could not find you now; you will lose your purse, Gerard, long before you get to Italy; is that the way to carry a purse ?" Gerard looked, and there was a large triangular purse, entangled by its chains to the buckle and strap of his wallet.
"This is none of mine," said he.

"What is in it, I wonder ?" and he tried to detach it; but in passing through the coppice it had become inextricably entangled in his strap and buckle.

"It seems loath to leave me," said Gerard, and he had to cut it loose with his knife.