Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/113

Rh I go there, that thou art starving thyself to feed him!”

“No, no, Gysbert!” she cried in genuine alarm, “thou must not do that! It would grieve him unto death, for I have told him  that we have plenty.”

“Ah! does that worry thee? Then if thou wilt do something to please me, I promise  not to tell him.”

“Yes, yes,” said Jacqueline eagerly. “Anything, Gysbert, will I do if thou wilt only keep that secret!” The boy did not  answer, but running to the wall of the fortress, lifted a good-sized stone and took from  the hollow underneath something which he  brought to his sister. It was the legs and body of a wild rabbit which had been prepared and cooked evidently before an open  fire.

“Why, Gysbert!” exclaimed Jacqueline in astonishment. “Where didst thou get this?”