Page:Kéraban the Inflexible Part 1 (Jules Verne).djvu/67

Rh was profound beyond the small space illumined by the carriage lamps. Nevertheless, while straining his eyes into the darkness, Bruno fancied he perceived, about sixty yards from his perch, some brilliant points of light, which moved about rapidly, and appeared sometimes on the ground, and sometimes about two or three feet above it.

The valet at first thought that the spots were the effects of "will-o'-the-wisp" or ignis fatuus, caused by the escape of gases from the marshy ground. But even if his reason led him into error, the horses would not have been conscious of the phenomenon, and they began to evince symptoms of uneasiness, and snorted loudly.

"Ah! what can this be?" said Bruno to himself. "Some new complication, no doubt. Perhaps they may be wolves yonder!" This surmise was in no way extravagant; for these hungry animals are very numerous in the delta of the Danube, and they had on this occasion no doubt been attracted by the smell of the horses.

"Diable!" muttered Bruno. "These are worse foes than mosquitos, or the gnats of our pig-headed friend. Tobacco will be no safeguard this time!"

Meanwhile the horses displayed great uneasiness which it was impossible not to understand. They attempted to struggle through the slough, and tried to rear, shaking the carriage violently at every attempt. The luminous points which had been observed were approaching. A kind of growling was audible, carried down by the wind to the travellers' ears.

"I think," said Bruno to himself, "that it is about time to rouse my master and Seigneur Kéraban."

The incident was sufficiently serious. Bruno slid down from his perch, let down the steps of the carriage, opened the door, and, having entered, closed it behind him. The two friends were sleeping soundly.

"Monsieur!" said Bruno, putting his hand on Van Mitten's shoulder, "Master!"

"Go to the Devil!" was the Dutchman's reply, as, half asleep, he regarded his servitor.

"There is no use sending people to the Devil when he is so close by," muttered Bruno.