wo broken legs and could not rise.
The old man was caught in the wheels.
The fall had been so unlucky that the whole weight of the vehicle rested on his breast.
The cart was quite heavily laden.
Father Fauchelevent was rattling in the throat in the most lamentable manner.
They had tried, but in vain, to drag him out.
An unmethodical effort, aid awkwardly given, a wrong shake, might kill him.
It was impossible to disengage him otherwise than by lifting the vehicle off of him.
Javert, who had come up at the moment of the accident, had sent for a jack-screw.
M. Madeleine arrived.
People stood aside respectfully.
"Help!" cried old Fauchelevent.
"Who will be good and save the old man?"
M.Madeleine turned towards those present:--
"Is there a jack-screw to be had?"
"One has been sent for," answered the peasant.
"How long will it take to get it?"
"They have gone for the nearest, to Flachot''s place, where there is a farrier; but it makes no difference; it will take a good quarter of an hour."
"A quarter of an hour!" exclaimed Madeleine.
It had rained on the preceding night; the soil was soaked.
The cart was sinking deeper into the earth every moment, and crushing the old carter''s breast more and more. It was evident that his ribs would be broken in five minutes more.
"It is impossible to wait another quarter of an hour," said Madeleine to the peasants, who were staring at him.