Nobody was to be seen.
Arvers said: 'Now quickly, monsieur, before a German passes on the road.
There is the cart.
You have everything quite clear?
You take the dung to Loudeac, who lives up on the hill above l'Abervrach, half a mile from the port.
There you unload it; Mademoiselle Rougeron must bring back the cart tomorrow to this place.
Focquet will be in the estaminet tonight at nine o'clock, and he will be expecting you.
He will ask for Pernod des Anges.
It is all clear?'
'One thing,' the old man said.
This road leads straight to Lannilis?'
'Assuredly.'
The horse-dealer glanced nervously around.
'How do we get through Lannilis?
How do we find the road out of the town to l'Abervrach?'
The hot sun beat down on them warmly from a cloudless sky; the scent of briar mingled with the odour of manure about them.
Arvers said:
'This road leads straight to the great church in the middle of the town.
From the west end of the church a road runs westwards; follow that.
Where it forks at the outskirts of the town, by an advertisement for Byrrh, take the right-hand fork.
From there to l'Abervrach is seven kilometres.'
Nicole said: 'I have been that way before.
I think I know the road.'
The horse-dealer said: 'I will not linger, mademoiselle.
And you, you must move off from here at once.'
He turned to Howard.
'That is all that I can do for you, monsieur.
Good luck.
In happier days, we may meet again.'
The old man said: 'I shall look forward to thanking you again for so much kindness.'
Arvers swung himself into the seat of the old van, reversed out into the road, and vanished in a white cloud of dust.
Howard looked around; there was no movement from the house, which stood deserted in the afternoon sun.
Nicole said: 'Come, children, up you go.'
Willem and Marjan swung themselves up into the cart; the English children, with Pierre and Rose, hung back.
Ronnie said doubtfully:
'Is this the cart you said we were going to have a ride in?'
Rose said: 'It is a dung-cart.
It is not correct to ride in a cart full of horse-dung, mademoiselle.
My aunt would be very cross with me if I did that.'
Nicole said brightly: 'Well, I'm going to.
You can walk with monsieur and help lead the horse, if you like.'
She bustled the other children into the cart before her; it was only half full and there was room for all of them to stand and sit on the edges of the sides in front of the load.
Pierre said: 'May I walk with Rose and lead the horse?'
Nicole said: 'No, Pierre, you're too small for that and the horse walks too quickly.
You can stroke his nose when we get there.'
Howard untied the bridle from the gate and led the horse out into the road.
He fell into a steady, easy shamble beside the horse, head hanging down.
For an hour and a half they went on like that before they reached the first houses of Lannilis.
In the cart Nicole kept the children happy and amused; from time to time the old man heard a little burst of laughter above the clop, clop of the hooves of the old horse.
La petite Rose walked on beside him, barefoot, treading lightly.