Basil and Lucien looked, and saw them as well.

They were about the size of wolves, but appeared to be quite black, and not like wolves at all.

What could they be?
They had suddenly passed into a darker aisle among the trees, and the boys had only caught a glimpse of them as they went in.

They could still distinguish their two bodies in the shade, but nothing more.

What could they be?
Perhaps javalies?
This thought, no doubt, occurred to the brothers, because of their late adventure with these animals.
"They are too large, and run too clumsily, for javalies," said Lucien.
"Bears ?" suggested Francois.
"No, no; they are not large enough for bears." All three were puzzled.
They had risen upon their hands and knees, disencumbered themselves of their blankets, and each had grasped his gun, which they always kept close by them when asleep.
They remained in this position, straining their eyes up the gloomy alley after the two black objects that had stopped about fifty yards distant.
All at once the form of a man rose up before them, and directly in front of the animals.