672 Les Miserables
through the forest.
It was the man who had just met Cosette.
As he walked through the thicket in the direction of
Montfermeil, he had espied that tiny shadow moving with
a groan, depositing a burden on the ground, then taking it
up and setting out again. He drew near, and perceived that
it was a very young child, laden with an enormous bucket
of water. Then he approached the child, and silently grasped
the handle of the bucket.