PART III


THE FORESTS OF CHANTILLY




CHAPTER XII


PRECY-SUR-OISE

The light of dawn touched Paris, the wastes of snow surrounding her,
forests, villages scattered in the forest and plains around Senlis,
Chantilly, Boran, Precy. The dark receded in the west; in the east a
green light spread upwards from the horizon, touched the banks of the
black Oise, the roofs of the houses of Precy, the dark window panes, and
the flanks of the granite piers that stood beheaded in the water--all
that was left of the great bridge that had crossed from bank to bank.

Above the river stood the station hut and the wooden gates of the level
crossing, upon which the night lantern still hung; above again a strip
of snow divided the railway line from the road, at the other side of
whose stone wall the village itself began, and stretched backwards up
a hill.

Upon a patch of snow above the river and below the road stood a
flourishing little house covered with gables and turrets; and odd shapes
like the newel-posts of staircases climbed unexpectedly about the roof.