grasshoppers sang all the summer, and starved all the winter.

from what he had been led to expect, that he more than once gave

the matter up for lost, and persuaded himself, either that they

had stopped far above, or had resorted to some entirely different

spot to hold their mysterious conversation. He was on the point

of emerging from his hiding-place, and regaining the road above,

when he heard the sound of footsteps, and directly afterwards of

voices almost close at his ear.

He drew himself straight upright against the wall, and, scarcely