I was wide awake now, and raising myself noiselessly from my horse's side, I crawled to the side of the stall and peered over.
"By the uncertain light of a small fire of sticks which they had made, I saw two men sitting on the floor regaling themselves with bread and meat and the contents of a bottle.

The sight of these good things made me still more inclined to disclose my presence, but prudence again forbade; besides which there was something strange about the look of the men, and the place where they were, which excited my curiosity.
"For a long time they continued their meal in silence.

It went to my heart to see the victuals disappearing at such a rate, as you may suppose.
"At length, when, for the present at any rate, their appetites seemed to be appeased, they began to talk once more.
"`You're sure there's no mistake this time ?' said one.
"`I have his own word for it,' replied the other.

`I tell you, Tom, he's planned it all out like Bonaparte himself.' "`All I can say is,' said he who was called Tom, `I hope something will come of it, for I'm sick of all this doing nothing.' "`You may be sure something will come of this,' replied the other; `and it will be something worth the while too, unless I'm mistaken, for the old gentleman is very rich; see here,' said he, producing some papers from his pocket, `this is what he says.' "He began to read a letter, and you may fancy how I, listening behind the partition, started as I heard it.
"`Jack,' it said, `I'm watched and can't come.

You and Tom must do it without me.