CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE MEN OF BLOOD.

So unexpected was the blow that even De Lhut, hardened from his childhood to every shock and danger, stood shaken and dismayed. Then, with an oath, he ran at the top of his speed towards the line of figures, his companions following at his heels.

As they drew nearer they could see through the dusk that it was not indeed a line. A silent and motionless officer stood out some twenty paces in front of his silent and motionless men. Further, they could see that he wore a very high and singular head-dress. They were still rushing forward, breathless with apprehension, when to their horror this head-dress began to lengthen and broaden, and a great bird flapped heavily up and dropped down again on the nearest tree-trunk. Then they knew that their worst fears were true, and that it was the garrison of Poitou which stood before them.

They were lashed to low posts with willow withies, some twenty of them, naked all, and twisted and screwed into every strange shape which an agonised body could assume. In front where the buzzard had perched was the gray-headed commandant, with two cinders thrust into his sockets and his flesh hanging from him like a beggar's rags. Behind was the line of men, each with his legs charred off to the knees, and his body so haggled and scorched and burst that the willow bands alone seemed to hold it together. For a moment the four comrades stared in silent horror at the dreadful group. Then each acted as his nature bade him. De Catinat staggered up against a tree-trunk and leaned his head upon his arm, deadly sick. Du Lhut fell down upon his knees and said something to heaven, with his two clenched hands shaking up at the darkening sky. Ephraim Savage examined the priming of his gun with a tightened lip and a gleaming eye, while Amos Green, without a word, began to cast round in circles in search of a trail. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. was de lhut surprised by the blow?
2. when was he hardened?
3. did he run slowly?
4. who followed him?
5. how far in front was the officer?
6. were the men loud?
7. were they motionless?
8. what did they wear?
9. what did it turn into?
10. how many of them were lashed?
11. what were they wearing?
12. where was the buzzard?
Answer: 1. yes
2. childhood
3. no
4. companions
5. some twenty paces
6. no
7. yes
8. very high and singular head-dress
9. garrison of Poitou
10. some twenty of them
11. nothing
12. In front

Charlie woke up from his nap. He had finished eating all the delicious food on the table that Samantha had made for him and he was tired. With a laugh, Charlie looked at the green balloon that his daughter Samantha had put over his head to float. Bobo the dog walked into the room where Charlie was sitting and made a noise. Bobo barked. abCharlie looked at Bobo and smiled, and then grabbed his brown hat from the table. Next to his hat there was a picture of a rainbow that Samantha had drawn for Charlie. It was a pretty rainbow. Chelsea the cat walked in on Bobo with his barking and Charlie with his hat in hand and then meowed. Chelsea and Bobo looked at each other. Charlie, seeing the two looking at each other, made the choice that enough was enough and opened the door to walk outside. Samantha was standing outside the house on the lawn, and with a yell, she surprised Charlie! With a wave of her hand, she showed him the duck that she was watching. Samantha gave the duck the name Wilfred, and Charlie was pleased. He and Samantha watched Wilfred walk away and they saw a real rainbow in the distance. It was a beautiful start to the day. Bluebird the blue bird was flying high in the sky, and Charlie smiled. In the distance, he saw a white airplane. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who had made the food for Charlie?
2. What did she put over his head?
3. What was her relation to him?
4. Who was Bobo?
5. What did Charlie get from the table?
6. What was next to it?
7. Who was Chelsea?
8. Who was outside?
9. Why?
10. Who was he?
11. What else did they see?
Answer: 1. Samantha
2. balloon
3. his daughter
4. the dog
5. his brown hat
6. a picture of a rainbow
7. the cat
8. Samantha
9. She found Wilfred.
10. a duck
11. a rainbow in the distance, a blue bird, and a white airplane.

It was Christmas Eve. When everyone went to bed, Bunny couldn't fall asleep. He still couldn't think of what he wanted as a special Christmas present. He wondered how Santa -- Father Christmas would know what to bring him if he didn't know himself.,. . As he was sitting up in bed, Bunny heard a big noise on the roof and a sound downstairs. It was Santa Claus, he realized. Bunny jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to the stairs. He hoped to take a look at the old man before Santa left for his next stop. By the time Bunny was at the bottom of the stairs, everything was silent again. Lots of presents were put under the Christmas tree, but Santa was gone. A little disappointed , Bunny turned to climb back upstairs when he heard a cry. "Hello," said Bunny. "Is somebody there?" He was answered by another cry. Bunny looked around the big pile of presents to see what was making the noise. Right under the tree was a funny looking brown animal with big feet and sad eyes. It also had antlers on its head. Bunny almost mistook it for a dog. "Are you a reindeer?" asked Bunny. "Yes," replied the brown animal with antlers. "My name is Ralph." "And you were pulling Santa's sled ?" "I was until I got air-sick," replied Ralph. "Santa had to leave me here and go on with the other seven reindeer." "Isn't it a bit unusual for a reindeer to get air-sick? I mean, isn't flying what reindeer are famous for?" "Not me, I'm afraid. It makes me scared. I always feel sick when it comes to flying," replied Ralph. "But everyone wanted me to pull Santa's sled, so when it was my turn I gave it a try. I'm afraid I just wasn't _ for the job. Now I'm stuck here and I don't know how to get back to the North Pole." "Well, if you like, you can stay with us as a friend," said Bunny. As he made the offer, Bunny suddenly realized the special present he wanted from Santa was a new friend! What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who heard a big noise?
2. Did he know what he wanted for Christmas?
3. Where did he run to after he jumped out of bed?
4. What did he find under the tree?
5. What else?
6. What color was it?
7. Was it a zebra?
8. What was it?
9. Was he happy?
10. What was he called?
11. Why wasn't he pulling the sled?
12. Does flying make him scared?
13. Why is he stuck there?
14. Why couldn't he get back to the North Pole?
15. What did Bunny say to him when he found out Ralph was stuck?
16. What did Bunny think the reindeer was at first?
17. What did Bunny realize was his special present?
Answer:
1. Bunny
2. no
3. to the stairs
4. presents
5. an animal
6. brown
7. no
8. a reindeer
9. no
10. Ralph
11. he got air-sick
12. yes
13. Santa had to leave him
14. He doesn't know how
15. you can stay with us as a friend
16. a dog
17. a new friend