The night passed peacefully（平安地）. I was beginning to think that all was well. Then, just before daybreak I heard the man of the house talking to his wife. With my ear to the chimney（烟囱）that connected our rooms, I heard what they were saying,“Okay, okay, but must I kill them both?”

　　To which the wife answered,“Yes.”Then I heard nothing more...

　　What can I tell you? I couldn't breathe. My body ___(1)____ cold. God! There were the two of us, without anything to ____(2)____ ourselves. How could we fight against half a dozen men with guns and other weapons（武器）? ____(3)___, my friend was asleep. Should I wake him? I didn't want to ____(4)___ a sound. Should I try to run away? I couldn't. I looked ____(5)____ of the window.“Maybe I could ____(6)____ out.”I said to myself. But there were two big dogs just ____(7)___ me.

　　I was still wondering what to do ____(8)____ I heard a sound on the stairs. The door was a little open. Through the ___(9)____, I saw the husband. He was carrying a lamp（油灯）in one hand. In the other hand he carried one of his big ___(10)____. His wife was right behind him. I ran behind the door just as ____(11)____ was opened. He gave the lamp to her and came into the room.

　　“Go ____(12)___!”said the woman, as she put her hand in front of the lamp.

　　He walked to the ladder and started ___(13)____ it. He was holding the knife between his ____(14)___. When he reached the top, he ___(15)____ over my young friend sleeping peacefully. Then the man took the knife in his right hand, and with his ___(16)____ hand he took...ah!... a ham（火腿）from the shelf （架子）. He cut off a big piece, and left the ___(17)_____ he came. The door closed, the ____(18)____ was gone.

　　When ___(19)____ came, the whole family came ____(20)___ to wake us. They placed a large breakfast in front of us--and an excellent meal it was, too! When we were almost done, the wife came in. She was carrying one more plate of food. It had two cooked chickens on it.

　　“We just cooked these for you,”she said.“Eat one now, and take one on your journey.”That was when I understood the meaning of those terrible words.“Must I kill them both?”