With an arm round the neck of each, and resting almost my entire weight on their shoulders, I managed to scuffle along, very slowly and with fearful pain, towards Les Arenes.

We paused now and then, under the deep shadow of a wall, for me to regain my strength.

I was astonished at my mother's utter forgetfulness of herself in her care for me; and said, "Were you much burnt, my mother ?" "No, my son; no," she answered, cheerfully; but in truth she was sadly seared and blistered, and her heroism under suffering might be likened to that of the martyrs of old.
"What took place after I fainted ?" said I.
"They believed you were dead, and threw you into the road," said my mother, "saying they hoped the dogs would come and lick your blood like Ahab's.

After that a trumpet was blown, and there seemed something going on in the town, and they all ran off.

The children had meanwhile taken refuge with Madeleine; and I then took the opportunity of raising your father, after cutting his bonds, and sending him off to the factory, whence he was to return with men to carry you away, but they have never come, and I fear some mischief may have befallen him.