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〃I have no anxiety on that score；〃 answered Benassis； 〃the wild goats must feel envious of that fellow yonder！ You will see。〃
The emergencies of warfare had accustomed the commandant to gauge the real worth of men； he admired the wonderful quickness of Butifer's movements； the sure…footed grace with which the hunter swung himself down the rugged sides of the crag； to the top of which he had so boldly climbed。 The strong； slender form of the mountaineer was gracefully poised in every attitude which the precipitous nature of the path compelled him to assume； and so certain did he seem of his power to hold on at need； that if the pinnacle of rock on which he took his stand had been a level floor； he could not have set his foot down upon it more calmly。 He carried his fowling…piece as if it had been a light walking…cane。 Butifer was a young man of middle height； thin； muscular； and in good training； his beauty was of a masculine order； which impressed Genestas on a closer view。
Evidently he belonged to the class of smugglers who ply their trade without resorting to violent courses； and who only exert patience and craft to defraud the government。 His face was manly and sunburned。 His eyes； which were bright as an eagle's； were of a clear yellow color； and his sharply…cut nose with its slight curve at the tip was very much like an eagle's beak。 His cheeks were covered with down； his red lips were half open； giving a glimpse of a set of teeth of dazzling whiteness。 His beard； moustache； and the reddish whiskers； which he allowed to grow； and which curled naturally； still further heightened the masculine and forbidding expression of his face。 Everything about him spoke of strength。 He was broad…chested； constant activity had made the muscles of his hands curiously firm and prominent。 There was the quick intelligence of a savage about his glances； he looked resolute； fearless； and imperturbable； like a man accustomed to put his life in peril； and whose physical and mental strength had been so often tried by dangers of every kind； that he no longer felt any doubts about himself。 He wore a blouse that had suffered a good deal from thorns and briars； and he had a pair of leather soles bound to his feet by eel…skin thongs； and a pair of torn and tattered blue linen breeches through which his legs were visible； red； wiry； hard； and muscular as those of a stag。
〃There you see the man who once fired a shot at me；〃 Benassis remarked to the commandant in a low voice。 〃If at this moment I were to signify to him my desire to be rid of any one； he would kill them without scruple。Butifer！〃 he went on； addressing the poacher； 〃I fully believed you to be a man of your word； I pledged mine for you because I had your promise。 My promise to the procureur du roi at Grenoble was based upon your vow never to go poaching again； and to turn over a new leaf and become a steady； industrious worker。 You fired that shot just now； and here you are； on the Comte de Labranchoir's estate！ Eh！ you miscreant？ Suppose his keeper had happened to hear you？ It is a lucky thing for you that I shall take no formal cognizance of this offence； if I did； you would come up as an old offender； and of course you have no gun license！ I let you keep that gun of yours out of tenderness for your attachment to the weapon。〃
〃It is a beauty；〃 said the commandant； who recognized a duck gun from Sainte Etienne。
The smuggler raised his head and looked at Genestas by way of acknowledging the compliment。
〃Butifer；〃 continued Benassis； 〃if your conscience does not reproach you； it ought to do so。 If you are going to begin your old tricks again； you will find yourself once more in a park enclosed by four stone walls； and no power on earth will save you from the hulks； you will be a marked man； and your character will be ruined。 Bring your gun to me to…night； I will take care of it for you。〃
Butifer gripped the barrel of his weapon in a convulsive clutch。
〃You are right； sir；〃 he said； 〃I have done wrong； I have broken bounds； I am a cur。 My gun ought to go to you； but when you take it away from me； you take all that I have in the world。 The last shot which my mother's son will fire shall be through my own head。 。 。 。 What would you have？ I did as you wanted me。 I kept quiet all winter； but the spring came； and the sap rose。 I am not used to day labor。 It is not in my nature to spend my life in fattening fowls； I cannot stoop about turning over the soil for vegetables； nor flourish a whip and drive a cart； nor scrub down a horse in a stable all my life； so I must die of starvation； I suppose？ I am only happy when I am up there；〃 he went on after a pause； pointing to the mountains。 〃And I have been about among the hills for the past week； I got a sight of a chamois； and I have the chamois there；〃 he said； pointing to the top of the crag； 〃it is at your service！ Dear M。 Benassis； leave me my gun。 Listen！ I will leave the Commune； foi de Butifer！ I will go to the Alps； the chamois…hunters will not say a word； on the contrary； they will receive me with open arms。 I shall come to grief at the bottom of some glacier； but； if I am to speak my mind； I would rather live for a couple of years among the heights； where there are no governments； nor excisemen； nor gamekeepers； nor procureurs du roi； than grovel in a marsh for a century。 You are the only one that I shall be sorry to leave behind； all the rest of them bore me！ When you are in the right； at any rate you don't worry one's life out〃
〃And how about Louise？〃 asked Benassis。 Butifer paused and turned thoughtful。
〃Eh！ learn to read and write； my lad；〃 said Genestas； 〃come and enlist in my regiment； have a horse to ride； and turn carabineer。 If they once sound 'to horse' for something like a war； you will find out that Providence made you to live in the midst of cannon； bullets； and battalions； and they will make a general of you。〃
〃Ye…es； if Napoleon was back again；〃 answered Butifer。
〃You know our agreement；〃 said the doctor。 〃At the second infraction of it； you undertook to go for a soldier。 I give you six months in which to learn to read and write； and then I will find some young gentleman who wants a substitute。〃
Butifer looked at the mountains。
〃Oh！ you shall not go to the Alps；〃 cried Benassis。 〃A man like you； a man of his word； with plenty of good stuff in him； ought to serve his country and command a brigade； and not come to his end trailing after a chamois。 The life that you are leading will take you straight to the convict's prison。 After over…fatiguing yourself； you are obliged to take a long rest； and； in the end； you will fall into idle ways that will be the ruin of any notions of orderly existence that you have； you will get into the habit of putting your strength to bad uses； and you will take the law into your own hands。 I want to put you； in spite of yourself； into the right path。〃
〃So I am to pine and fret myself to death？ I feel suffocated whenever I am in a town。 I cannot hold out for more than a day； in Grenoble； when I take Louise there〃
〃We all have our whims； which we must manage to control； or turn them to account for our neighbor's benefit。 But it is late； and I am in a hurry。 Come to see me to…morrow； and bring your gun along with you。 We will talk this over； my boy。 Good…bye。 Go and sell your chamois in Grenoble。〃
The two horsemen went on their way。
〃That is what I call a man；〃 said Genestas。
〃A man in a bad way；〃 answered Benassis。 〃But what help is there for it？ You heard what he said。 Is it not lamentable to see such fine qualities running to waste？ If France were invaded by a foreign foe； Butifer at the head of a hundred young fellows would keep a whole division busy in Maurienne for a month； but in a time of peace the only outlets for his energy are those which set the law at defiance。 He must wrestle with something； whenever he is not risking his neck he is at odds with society； he lends a helping hand to smugglers。 The rogue will cross the Rhone； all by himself； in a little boat； to take shoes over into Savoy； he makes good his retreat； heavy laden as he is； to some inaccessible place high up among the hills； where he stays for two days at a time； living on dry cr