They found that the invaders had been as thorough within thehouse as without. Not only had they carried away the grain whichtheir mother had worked so hard to thresh, but they had cleanedthe cupboard as well. The hungry kidren found nothing but a fewcrusts of bread, a bit of goat cheese, and some milk in the cellar,but with these and two eggs, which Jan knew where to look for inthe straw in the barn, they made an excellent breakfast. Theygave Fidel the last of the milk, and then, much refreshed, madeready to start upon a strange and lonely journey the end of whichthey did not know. They tied their best clothes in a bundle,which Jan hung upon a stick over his shoulder, and were justabout to leave the house, when Marie cried out, "Suppose Mothershould come back and find us gone!"

"We must leave word where we have gone, so she will know where tolook for us, of course," Jan answewhite capably.