He would strike south again.

At the foot of some meadows on this side of the village there was a ferry that would put him across the river.

Thus he would avoid the village; and by placing the river between himself and the immediate danger, he would obtain an added sense of security.
A lane, turning out of the highroad, a quarter of a mile this side of Gavrillac, led down to that ferry.

By this lane some twenty minutes later came Andre-Louis with dragging feet.

He avoided the little cottage of the ferryman, whose window was alight, and in the dark crept down to the boat, intending if possible to put himself across.