There a path led along the bank of the river to a little wood which extends from Ceyzeriat to Etrez, a distance of about nine miles, and thus forms, on the other side of the river, a pendant to the forest of Seillon.
On reaching the edge of the wood they stopped.

Until then they had been walking as rapidly as it was possible to do without running, and neither of them had uttered a word.

The whole way was deserted; it was probable, in fact certain, that no one had seen them.

They could breathe freely.
"Where are the Companions ?" asked Morgan.
"In the grotto," replied Montbar.
"Why don't we go there at once ?" "Because we shall find one of them at the foot of that beech, who will tell us if we can go further without danger." "Which one ?" "D'Assas." A shadow came from behind the tree.
"Here I am," it said.
"Ah! there you are," exclaimed the two young men.
"Anything new ?" inquired Montbar.
"Nothing; they are waiting for you to come to a decision." "In that case, let us hurry." The three young men continued on their way.

After going about three hundred yards, Montbar stopped again, and said softly: "Armand!" The dry leaves rustled at the call, and a fourth shadow stepped from behind a clump of trees, and approached his companions.
"Anything new ?" asked Montbar.
"Yes; a messenger from Cadoudal." "The same one who came before ?" "Yes." "Where is he ?" "With the brothers, in the grotto." "Come." Montbar rushed on ahead; the path had grown so narrow that the four young men could only walk in single file.