第28部分(第2/8 頁)

There　were　ashes　of　a　fire　on　the　big　open　hearth。　The　pots　hung　over　the　ashes；　but　they　were　empty。　I　looked　around　but　I　could　not　find　anything　to　eat。

〃We　ought　to　lie　up　in　the　barn；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　think　you　could　find　anything　to　eat；　Piani；　and　bring　it　up　there？〃

〃I'll　look；〃　Piani　said。

〃I'll　look　too；〃　Bonello　said。

〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　go　up　and　look　at　the　barn。〃　I　found　a　stone　stairway　that　went　up　from　the　stable　underneath。　The　stable　smelt　dry　and　pleasant　in　the　rain。　The　cattle　were　all　gone；　probably　driven　off　when　they　left。　The　barn　was　half　full　of　hay。　There　were　two　windows　in　the　roof；　one　was　blocked　with　boards；　the　other　was　a　narrow　dormer　window　on　the　north　side。　There　was　a　chute　so　that　hay　might　be　pitched　down　to　the　cattle。　Beams　crossed　the　opening　down　into　the　main　floor　where　the　hay…carts　drove　in　when　the　hay　was　hauled　in　to　be　pitched　up。　I　heard　the　rain　on　the　roof　and　smelled　the　hay　and；　when　I　went　down；　the　clean　smell　of　dried　dung　in　the　stable。　We　could　pry　a　board　loose　and　see　out　of　the　south　window　down　into　the　courtyard。　The　other　window　looked　out　on　the　field　toward　the　north。　We　could　get　out　of　either　window　onto　the　roof　and　down；　or　go　down　the　hay　chute　if　the　stairs　were　impractical。　It　was　a　big　barn　and　we　could　hide　in　the　hay　if　we　heard　any　one。　It　seemed　like　a　good　place。　I　was　sure　we　could　have　gotten　through　to　the　south　if　they　had　not　fired　on　us。　It　was　impos