fearful that he might lose him. Thus they passed
through the thicket and out beyond, their eyes
puzzled, their hearts full of an undefined dread, their
childish faces pale in the twilight. Yet when they at
last returned to their homes, neither of the boys spoke
of what had occurred — for some inexplicable reason
they were silent.

After this Jan left the couleuvres in peace, turning
firmly aside from the frequent temptation of their
innocent but foolhardy coils, though he still remained
secretly of the opinion that the couleuvres, like all the
rest of their kind, were sinful, being closely allied to
Satan.

Le tout petit Loup was growing more and more
aggressive, making up by the surprising strength of
his will for what he lacked of strength in his body.
He was now never willing to be left out of things,
but must always be taken upon every excursion.
Thus if Christophe and Jan went down to the beach
and paddled, as they did on half holidays, le tout
petit Loup would also paddle although he was for-
bidden to go near the water. If they went to the port
to meet certain school-friends who had recently made
up their minds to be pirates, le tout petit Loup would
join in the melee and would usually get himself hurt
in the process. If they went for a walk on the neigh-
bouring hills, le tout petit Loup must make one of the
party although he would quickly begin to wilt,
and would end by getting a pain in his stomach.
'I have a hot ache in my middle,5 he would say;
then as likely as not would squat down in the dust
if nothing more propitious chanced to be handy.
Jan would grumble: *It all comes of your being
such a baby. You spoil everything, why cannot you
stay with your mother?*