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Updated: June 10, 2025
There was the sudden report of a gun, followed by an involuntary exclamation from Benassis, who said, with an impatient gesture, "If that is Butifer, we shall see which of us two is the stronger." "The shot came from that quarter," said Genestas, indicating a beech-wood up above them on the mountain side. "Yes, up there; you may trust an old soldier's ear."
"And I have been about among the hills for the past week; I got a sight of a chamois, and I have the chamois there," he said, pointing to the top of the crag; "it is at your service! Dear M. Benassis, leave me my gun. Listen! I will leave the Commune, foi de Butifer! I will go to the Alps; the chamois-hunters will not say a word; on the contrary, they will receive me with open arms.
Seeing that the officer made as though he were about to dismount, Butifer promptly went to hold the horse, while Adrien sprang forward and flung his arms about his father's neck. Genestas was deeply touched by the boy's affection, though no sign of this appeared in the soldier's words or manner. "Why, Adrien," he said, "you certainly are set up again. My goodness!
If you are going to begin your old tricks again, you will find yourself once more in a park enclosed by four stone walls, and no power on earth will save you from the hulks; you will be a marked man, and your character will be ruined. Bring your gun to me to-night, I will take care of it for you." Butifer gripped the barrel of his weapon in a convulsive clutch.
"If at this moment I were to signify to him my desire to be rid of any one, he would kill them without scruple. Butifer!" he went on, addressing the poacher, "I fully believed you to be a man of your word; I pledged mine for you because I had your promise.
And after that you can go back to your work; and you will be a man some of these days. Butifer is an honest young fellow. We can trust him with the money necessary for traveling expenses and your hunting expeditions. The responsibility will keep him steady for six months, and that will be a very good thing for him." Genestas' face brightened more and more at every word the doctor spoke.
"Yes," answered Goguelat, "he was the Napoleon of our valley, barring the battles." As they reached the parsonage, Genestas saw a little group about the door; Butifer and Adrien were talking with M. Janvier, who, no doubt, had just returned from saying mass.
The man of whom he was in search soon appeared on the top of a perpendicular crag, a hundred feet above the level of the two horsemen. "Butifer!" shouted Benassis when he saw that this figure carried a fowling-piece; "come down!" Butifer recognized the doctor, and replied by a respectful and friendly sign which showed that he had every intention of obeying.
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