Anton left and Franz looked dejectedly at the closed stable door. He ate
his supper and blew the candle out, for candles must not be wasted. A
dozen times during the night he awakened, sure that Anton had returned.
But it was not until past noon of the following day, during a lull in
the storm, that Anton did return. From the stable door Franz watched the
giant _maronnier_ and two priests of the Hospice. All three were on skis
and Anton carried a blanket-wrapped object that had the size and shape
of a man. It couldn't possibly be a man, for men were not like that.
Franz watched with staring eyes as the three went to the House of the
Dead. When they left it, Anton no longer carried his burden.
[Illustration: _But it was not until past noon of the following day,
during a lull in the storm, that Anton did return_]