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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20091-h.zip b/20091-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b24aed8 --- /dev/null +++ b/20091-h.zip diff --git a/20091-h/20091-h.htm b/20091-h/20091-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6fd3141 --- /dev/null +++ b/20091-h/20091-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11030 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>No Surrender!</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div { text-align: center} + em {font-weight: bold} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + pre {margin-left: 10%; font-size: 10pt;} + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial"; text-align: left} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of No Surrender!, by G. A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: No Surrender! + A Tale of the Rising in La Vendee + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: Stanley Wood + +Release Date: December 11, 2006 [EBook #20091] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NO SURRENDER! *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>No Surrender!</h1> +<h2>A Tale Of The Rising in La Vendee<br /> +by G. A. Henty.<br /></h2> +<hr /> +<center> +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents</caption> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface</a>.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A French Lugger.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Beginning Of Troubles.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The First Successes.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Cathelineau's Scouts.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Checking The Enemy.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Assault Of Chemille.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Short Rest.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Capture Of Saumur.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Bad News.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Preparations For A Rescue.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Attack On Nantes.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Series Of Victories.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Across The Loire.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Le Mans.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">In Disguise.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Friend At Last:</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch17">Chapter 17</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Grave Risk.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch18">Chapter 18</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Home.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<caption>Illustrations<br /></caption> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicA">"Follow Me!" he shouted. "Make for the +gun!"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicB">At the first volley, the colonel of the +dragoons and many of his men fell.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicC">A scattered fire broke out from the +defenders.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicD">Leigh gave the word and, leaping up, they threw +themselves on the traitor.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicE">He was the bearer of terrible news.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicF">Jean seized one of them by the throat.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicG">Westermann's cavalry charged into the streets +of Dol.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicH">For two or three minutes, husband and wife +stood together.</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</center> +<h2><a name="Preface" id="Preface">Preface</a>.</h2> +<p>In the world's history, there is no more striking example of +heroic bravery and firmness than that afforded by the people of the +province of Poitou, and more especially of that portion of it known +as La Vendee, in the defence of their religion and their rights as +free men. At the commencement of the struggle they were almost +unarmed, and the subsequent battles were fought by the aid of +muskets and cannon wrested from the enemy. With the exception of +its forests, La Vendee offered no natural advantages for defence. +It had no mountains, such as those which enabled the Swiss to +maintain their independence; no rivers which would bar the advance +of an enemy; and although the woods and thickets of the Bocage, as +it was called, favoured the action of the irregular troops, these +do not seem to have been utilized as they might have been, the +principal engagements of the war being fought on open ground. For +eighteen months the peasants of La Vendee, in spite of the fact +that they had no idea of submitting either to drill or discipline, +repulsed the efforts of forces commanded by the best generals +France could furnish; and which grew, after every defeat, until at +length armies numbering, in all, over two hundred thousand men were +collected to crush La Vendee.</p> +<p>The losses on both sides were enormous. La Vendee was almost +depopulated; and the Republicans paid dearly, indeed, for their +triumph, no fewer than one hundred thousand men having fallen, on +their side. La Vendee was crushed, but never surrendered. Had the +British government been properly informed, by its agents, of the +desperate nature of the struggle that was going on; they might, by +throwing twenty thousand troops, with supplies of stores and money +into La Vendee, have changed the whole course of events; have +crushed the Republic, given France a monarch, and thus spared +Europe over twenty years of devastating warfare, the expenditure of +enormous sums of money, and the loss of millions of lives.</p> +<p>G. A. Henty</p> +<h2><a name="Ch1" id="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: A French Lugger.</h2> +<p>Some half a mile back from the sea, near the point where the low +line of sandy hill is broken by the entrance into Poole Harbour, +stood, in 1791, Netherstock; which, with a small estate around, was +the property of Squire Stansfield. The view was an extensive one, +when the weather was clear. Away to the left lay the pine forests +of Bournemouth and Christ Church and, still farther seaward, the +cliffs of the Isle of Wight, from Totland Bay as far as Saint +Catherine Point. Close at hand to the south was Studland Bay, +bounded by Handfast Point. Looking towards the right was a great +sheet of shallow water, for the most part dry at low tide, known as +Poole and Wareham Harbours, with its numerous creeks and bays.</p> +<p>Netherstock was an old house, with many nooks and corners. The +squire was a justice of the peace but, unless there was some +special business on, he seldom took his place on the bench. He was +a jovial man, who took life easily. He was popular among his +neighbours, especially among the poorer classes; for whom he had +always a pleasant word, as he rode along; and who, in case of +illness, knew that they could always be sure of a supply of soup, +or a gill of brandy at Netherstock.</p> +<p>Among those of his own class it was often a matter of wonder how +James Stansfield made both ends meet. The family had, for two or +three generations, been of a similar temperament to that of the +present holder; men who spent their money freely, and were sure to +be present whenever there was a horse race, or a main of cocks to +be fought, or a prizefight to come off, within a day's ride of +Netherstock. Gradually, farm after farm had been parted with; and +the estate now was smaller, by half, than it had been at the +beginning of the century.</p> +<p>James Stansfield had, however, done nothing further to diminish +it. He had a large family, but they could hardly be said to be an +expensive one, seeing that little was spent upon the fashion of +their clothes; and beyond the fact that the curate in charge of the +little church in the village of Netherstock came over, every +morning for two or three hours, to give the boys and girls the +elements of education, they went very much their own way. Mrs. +Stansfield had died, five years before this. Polly, the eldest +girl, aged twenty, acted as mistress of the house. Next to her, at +intervals of little more than a year, came Ralph and John; two +strongly built young fellows, both fearless riders and good at all +rustic games. What supervision the farm work got was given by +them.</p> +<p>Patsey, the second girl, was generally admitted to be the flower +of the Stansfields. She was bright, pretty, and good tempered. She +was in charge of the dairy, and the Netherstock butter was famous +through the country round, and always fetched top prices at the +market. The youngest of the family was Leigh, who was now fourteen. +He was less heavily built than his brothers, but their tutor +declared that he was the quickest and most intelligent of his +pupils; and that, if he had but a chance, he would turn out a fine +young fellow.</p> +<p>The boys were all fond of boating and sailing, which was natural +enough, as the sea washed two sides of the estate. They had two +boats. One of these lay hauled up on the sands, a mile to the east +of the entrance to the harbour. She was a good sea boat and, when +work was slack about the place, which indeed was the normal state +of things, they would often sail to Weymouth to the west, or +eastward to Yarmouth or Lymington, sometimes even to Portsmouth. +The other boat, which was also large, but of very shallow draught +of water, lay inside the entrance to the harbour; and in her they +could go either north or south of Brownsea Island, and shoot or +fish in the many inlets and bays. There were few who knew every +foot of the great sheet of water as they did, and they could tell +the precise time of the tide at which the channels were deep enough +for boats drawing from two to three feet of water.</p> +<p>The most frequent visitor to Netherstock was Lieutenant, or, as +he was called in courtesy, Captain Whittier, the officer in command +of the coast guard station between Poole and Christ Church; his +principal station being opposite Brownsea Island, the narrowest +point of the entrance to the harbour. He was a somewhat fussy +little officer, with a great idea of the importance of his duties, +mingled with a regret that these duties did not afford him full +scope for proving his ability.</p> +<p>"Smuggling has almost ceased to exist, along here," he would +say. "I do not say that, across the harbour, something that way may +not still be done; for the facilities there are very much greater +than they are on this side. Still, my colleague there can have but +little trouble; for I keep a sharp lookout that no boat enters by +the passage south of the island without being searched. Of course, +one hears all sorts of absurd reports about cargoes being run; but +we know better, and I believe they are only set on foot to put our +officers from Swanage Westward, and beyond Christ Church down to +Hurst Castle, off their guard."</p> +<p>"No doubt, captain; no doubt," James Stansfield would agree. +"Still, I fancy that, although times are not what they were, it is +still possible to buy a keg of brandy, occasionally, or a few yards +of silk or lace, that have never paid duty."</p> +<p>"Yes, no doubt occasionally some small craft manages to run a +few kegs or bales; and unfortunately the gentry, instead of aiding +his majesty's representatives, keep the thing alive by purchasing +spirits, and so on, from those who have been concerned in their +landing."</p> +<p>"Well, you know, Captain Whittier, human nature is pretty +strong. If a pedlar comes along here with ribbons and fal-lals, and +offers them to the girls at half the price at which they could buy +them down at Poole, you can hardly expect them to take lofty +ground, and charge the man with having smuggled them."</p> +<p>"I do not think the young ladies are offenders that way," the +officer said, "for I have never yet seen them in foreign gear of +any sort. I should, if you will allow me to say so, be more +inclined, were you not a justice of the peace, to suspect you of +having dealings with these men; for your brandy is generally of the +best."</p> +<p>"I don't set up to be better than my neighbours, captain," the +squire said, with a laugh; "and if the chance comes my way, I will +not say that I should refuse to buy a good article, at the price I +should pay for a bad one in the town."</p> +<p>"Your tobacco is good, too, squire."</p> +<p>"Yes, I am particular about my tobacco, and I must say that I +think government lays too high a duty on it. If I had the making of +the laws, I would put a high duty on bad tobacco, and a low duty on +a good article; that would encourage the importation of good +wholesome stuff.</p> +<p>"I suppose you have heard no rumours of any suspicious looking +craft being heard of, off the coast?"</p> +<p>"No, I think that they carry on their business a good deal +farther to the west now. My post is becoming quite a sinecure. The +Henriette came into Poole this morning, but we never trouble about +her. She is a fair trader, and is well known at every port between +Portsmouth and Plymouth as such. She always comes in at daylight, +and lays her foresail aback till we board her, and send a couple of +men with her into Poole or Wareham. Her cargo is always consigned +to well-known merchants, at all the ports she enters; and consists +of wines, for the most part, though she does occasionally bring in +brandy.</p> +<p>"He is a fine young fellow, the skipper, Jean Martin. I believe +his father is a large wine merchant, at Nantes. I suppose you know +him, squire?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I have met him several times down in the town, and indeed +have bought many a barrel of wine of him. He has been up here more +than once, for I have told him, whenever he has anything +particularly good either in wine or spirits, to let me know. He +talks a little English, and my girls like to have a chat with him, +about what is going on on his side of the water. He offered, the +other day, to give Leigh a trip across to Nantes, if I was +willing.</p> +<p>"Things seem to be going on very badly in Paris, by what he +says; but he does not anticipate any troubles in the west of +France, where there seems to be none of that ill feeling, between +the different classes, that there is in other parts."</p> +<p>The departure of Captain Whittier was always followed by a broad +smile on the faces of the elder boys, breaking occasionally into a +hearty laugh, in which the squire joined.</p> +<p>"I call him an insufferable ass," Ralph said, on this particular +evening. "It would be difficult, as father says, to find an officer +who is, as far as we are concerned, so admirably suited for his +position."</p> +<p>"That is so, Ralph. There is scarcely a man, woman, or child in +this part of Dorsetshire who does not know that there are more +goods run, on that piece of water over there, than on the whole +south coast of England. I sincerely trust that nothing will ever +bring about his recall. Personally, I would pay two or three +hundred a year, out of my own pocket, rather than lose him. There +is no such place anywhere for the work; why, there are some +fourteen or fifteen inlets where goods can be landed at high water +and, once past the island, I don't care how sharp the revenue men +may be, the betting is fifty to one against their being at the +right spot at the right time.</p> +<p>"If the passage between our point and the island were but a bit +wider, it would be perfect; but unfortunately it is so narrow that +it is only on the very darkest night one can hope to get through, +unnoticed. However, we can do very well with the southern channel +and, after all, it is safer. We can get any number of boats, and +the Henriette has only to anchor half a mile outside the entrance. +We know when she is coming, and have but to show a light, directly +she makes her signal, and the boats will put out from Radhorn +passage and Hamworth; while messengers start for Bushaw, and +Scopland, and Creach, and a dozen farmhouses, and the carts are +sure to be at the spot where they had been warned to assemble, by +the time the boats come along with the kegs; and everything is +miles away, in hiding, before morning.</p> +<p>"If it is a dark night the Henriette makes off again, and comes +boldly in the next afternoon. If one of the revenue boats, either +from here or Studland, happens to come across her before she gets +up anchor, there she is--the crew are all asleep, with the +exception of a man on watch; she is simply waiting to come in, when +there is light enough to enable her to make her way up the +passage."</p> +<p>James Stansfield was, in fact, the organizer of the smuggling +business carried on at Poole, and the adjacent harbours. There was +not a farmhouse, among the hills to the south of the great sheet of +water, with which he was not in communication. Winter was the +season at which the trade was most busy, for the short summer +nights were altogether unsuited for the work; and when the cold +weather drove the wildfowl in for shelter, there was splendid +shooting, and Ralph and John were able to combine amusement with +business, and to keep the larder well stocked.</p> +<p>The night signals were made from a cleft in the sand hills, half +a mile from the house; the light being so arranged that it could +not be seen from Brownsea Island, though visible to those on the +south side, from Studland right away over the hills to Corfe +Castle, even to Wareham. It was shown but for half a minute, just +as the bells of Poole Church struck nine. At that hour, when the +lugger was expected, there was a lookout at the door of every +farmhouse and, the moment the light was seen, preparations were +made for the landing at the spot of which notice had been given, by +one or other of the boys, on the previous day. Then, from quiet +little inlets, the boats would put off noiselessly, directly there +was water to float them; for it was only at high tides that the +shallows were covered. They would gather in the channel south of +Brownsea, where the boys and often their father would be in their +boats in readiness, until a momentary glimmer of a light, so placed +on board the lugger that it could only be seen from the spot where +they were awaiting it, showed the position of the craft and their +readiness to discharge cargo.</p> +<p>It was exciting work, and profitable; and so well was it managed +that, although it had been carried on for some years, no suspicion +had ever entered the minds of any of the revenue officers. +Sometimes many weeks would elapse between the visits of the lugger, +for she was obliged to make her appearance frequently at other +ports, to maintain her character as a trader; and was, as such, +well known all along the coast.</p> +<p>It was only a year since the Henriette had taken the place of +another lugger, that had previously carried on the work, but had +been wrecked on the French coast. She had been the property of the +same owner, or rather of the same firm; for Jean Martin, who had +been first mate on board the other craft, had invested some of his +own money in the Henriette, and assumed the command. It was +noticed, at Poole, that the Henriette used that port more +frequently than her predecessor had done; and indeed, she not +infrequently came in, in the daytime, with her hold as full as when +she had left Nantes.</p> +<p>It was on one of these occasions that Jean Martin, on coming up +to Netherstock, had a long talk with the squire.</p> +<p>"So you want my daughter Patsey?" the latter said, when his +visitor had told his story. "Well, it has certainly never entered +my mind that any of my girls should marry a Frenchman. I don't say +that I have not heard my boys making a sly joke, more than once, +when the Henriette was seen coming in, and I have seen the colour +flying up into the girl's face; but I only looked at it as boys' +nonsense. Still, I don't say that I am averse to your suit. We may +be said to be partners, in this trade of yours, and we both owe +each other a good deal. During the last eight years you must have +run something like forty cargoes, and never lost a keg or a bale; +and I doubt if as much could be said for any other craft in the +trade.</p> +<p>"Still, one can't calculate on always being lucky. I don't think +anyone would turn traitor, when the whole countryside is interested +in the matter; and I wouldn't give much for the life of anyone who +whispered as much as a word to the revenue people. Still, accidents +will take place sometimes. Your father must have done well with the +trade, and so have I.</p> +<p>"At any rate, I will leave it in Patsey's hands. I have enough +of them, and to spare. And of course, you will be able to bring her +over, sometimes, to pay us a visit here.</p> +<p>"I think, too, that your offer of taking Leigh over with you +helps to decide me in your favour. They are all growing up and, if +anything were to put a stop to our business, this place would not +keep them all; and it would be a great thing, for Patsey, to have +her brother as a companion when you are away. The boy would learn +French, and in your father's business would get such a knowledge of +the trade with Nantes as should serve him in good stead. At any +rate, he will learn things that are a good deal more useful to him +than those he gets from the curate.</p> +<p>"Well, you know you will find her in the dairy, as usual. You +had better go and see what she says to it."</p> +<p>It is probable that Jean Martin had already a shrewd idea of +what Patsey's answer would be, and he presently returned to her +father, radiant. Patsey, indeed, had given her heart to the cheery +young sailor; and although it seemed to her a terrible thing, that +she should go to settle in France, she had the less objection to +it, inasmuch as the fear that the smuggling would be sooner or +later discovered, and that ruin might fall upon Netherstock, was +ever present in her mind, and in that of her elder sister.</p> +<p>To her brothers, engaged in the perilous business, it was +regarded as a pleasant excitement, without which their lives would +be intolerably dull. It was not that she or they regarded the +matter in the light of a crime, for almost everyone on that part of +the coast looked upon smuggling as a game, in which the wits of +those concerned in it were pitted against those of the revenue men. +It brought profit to all concerned, and although many of the gentry +found it convenient to express indignation, at the damage done to +the king's revenue by smuggling; there were none of them who +thought it necessary to mention, to the coast guard, when by some +accident a keg of brandy, or a parcel with a few pounds of prime +tobacco, was found in one of the outhouses.</p> +<p>Patsey had suffered more than her sister, being of a more lively +imagination, and being filled with alarm and anxiety whenever she +knew that her father and the boys were away at night. Then, too, +she was very fond of Leigh, and had built many castles in the air +as to his future; and the thought that, not only would he be with +her, but would be in the way of making his road to fortune, was +very pleasant to her. She knew that if he remained at Netherstock +he would grow up like his brothers. His father might, from time to +time, talk of putting him into some business; but she understood +his ways, and was certain that nothing would come of it.</p> +<p>Martin had, before, expressed to her his doubt as to whether her +father would consent to her going away with him; but she had no +fear on the subject. In his quiet, easygoing way he was fond of his +children; and would scarcely put himself out to oppose, vehemently, +anything on which they had set their hearts. He had, too, more than +once said that he wished some of them could be settled elsewhere; +for a time of trouble might come, and it would be well to have +other homes, where some of them could be received.</p> +<p>"Patsey has consented," Jean Martin said, joyously, as he +rejoined the squire.</p> +<p>"Well, that is all right. I think, myself, that it is for the +best. Of course, it must be understood that, in the matter of +religion, she is not to be forced or urged in any sort of way; but +is to be allowed to follow the religion in which she has been +brought up."</p> +<p>"I would in no way press her, sir. We have Protestants in +France, just as there are Catholics here; though I must admit that +there are not many of them in La Vendee. Still, the days when +people quarrelled about religion are long since past; and certainly +at Nantes there is a Protestant congregation, though away in the +country they would be difficult to find. However, I promise you, +solemnly, that I will in no way try to influence her mind, nor that +of the boy. He will still, of course, look upon England as his +home, and I should even oppose any attempt being made to induce him +to join our church. You have plenty of Frenchmen in this country, +and no question as to their religion arises. It will be just the +same, with us."</p> +<p>Six weeks later, the Henriette returned. In her came Monsieur +Martin, whose presence as a witness of the ceremony was considered +advisable, if not absolutely necessary. He had, too, various +documents to sign in presence of the French consul, at Southampton, +giving his formal consent. The marriage was solemnized there at a +small Catholic chapel, and it was repeated at the parish church at +Poole, and the next day the party sailed for Nantes.</p> +<p>It was two months before the lugger again came in to Poole. When +it returned, it took with it the squire and Polly, to whom Monsieur +Martin had given a warm invitation to come over to see Patsey, in +her new home.</p> +<p>They found her well and happy. Monsieur Martin's house was in +the suburbs of Nantes. It had a large garden, at the end of which, +facing another street, stood a pretty little house that had been +generally used, either as the abode of aged mothers or unmarried +sisters of the family, or for an eldest son to take his wife to; +but which had now been handed over to Jean and his wife. This was +very pleasant for Patsey, as it united the privacy of a separate +abode with the cheerfulness of the family home. She had her own +servant, whose excellent cooking and, above all, whose scrupulous +cleanliness and tidiness, astonished her after the rough meals and +haphazard arrangements at Netherstock.</p> +<p>Whenever she felt dull during Jean's absences, she could run +across the garden for a talk with his mother and sister; at meals +and in the evening she had Leigh, who spent most of his time at the +cellars or in the counting house of Monsieur Martin; learning for +the first time habits of business, and applying himself eagerly to +acquiring the language.</p> +<p>The squire was put up at Monsieur Martin's, and Polly slept in +the one spare room at her sister's, all the party from the pavilion +going over to the house, to the midday meal and supper. The squire +and Polly were much pleased with their visit. It was evident that +Patsey had become a prime favourite with her husband's family. +Jean's sister Louise was assiduous in teaching her French, and she +had already begun to make some progress. Louise and her mother were +constantly running across to the little pavilion, on some errand or +other; and Patsey spent as much of her time with them as she did in +her own house.</p> +<p>Jean's absences seldom exceeded ten days, and he generally spent +a week at home before sailing again. He had driven her over to +stay, for three or four days, at a small estate of his own, some +forty miles to the southeast of Nantes, in the heart of what was +called the Bocage--a wild country, with thick woods, narrow lanes, +high hedges, and scattered villages and farms, much more English in +appearance than the country round Nantes. The estate had come to +him from an aunt. Everything here was very interesting to Patsey; +the costumes of the women and children, the instruments of +husbandry, the air of freedom and independence of the people, and +the absence of all ceremony, interested and pleased her. She did +not understand a single word of the patois spoken to her by the +peasants, and which even Jean had some difficulty in following, +although he had spent a good deal of his time at the little chateau +during the lifetime of his aunt.</p> +<p>"Should you like to live here, when not at sea, Jean?" asked +Patsey.</p> +<p>"Yes, I would rather live here than at Nantes. Next to a life at +sea, I should like one quite in the country. There is plenty to do +here. There is the work on the place to look after, there is +shooting, there is visiting, and visiting here means something +hearty, and not like the formal work in the town. Here no one +troubles his head over politics. They may quarrel as they like, in +Paris, but it does not concern La Vendee.</p> +<p>"Here the peasants love their masters, and the masters do all in +their power for the comfort and happiness of the peasants. It is +not as in many other parts of France, where the peasants hate the +nobles, and the nobles regard the peasants as dirt under their +feet. Here it is more like what I believe it was in England, when +you had your troubles, and the tenants followed their lords to +battle. At any rate, life here would be very preferable to being in +business with my father, in Nantes. I should never have settled +down to that; and as my elder brother seems specially made for that +sort of life, fortunately I was able to go my own way, to take to +the sea in the lugger, and become the carrier of the firm, while +taking my share in the general profits."</p> +<p>"How is it that your brother does not live at home? It would +seem natural that he should have had the pavilion, when he +married."</p> +<p>"He likes going his own way," Jean said shortly. "As far as +business matters go, he and my father are as one; but in other +matters they differ widely. Jacques is always talking of reforms +and changes, while my father is quite content with things as they +are. Jacques has his own circle of friends, and would like to go to +Paris as a deputy, and to mix himself up in affairs.</p> +<p>"Though none of us cared for the lady that he chose as his wife, +she had money, and there was nothing to say against her, +personally. None of us ever took to her, and there was a general +feeling of relief when it was known that Jacques had taken a house +in the business quarter.</p> +<p>"He looks after the carrying business. Of course, my lugger does +but a very small proportion of it. We send up large quantities of +brandy to Tours, Orleans, and other towns on the Loire; and have +dealings with Brittany and Normandy, by sea, and with the Gironde. +He looks after that part of the business. My father does the buying +and directs the counting house. Though my art is a very inferior +one, I have no reason to complain of my share of the profits."</p> +<p>The first eighteen months of Patsey's married life passed +quietly and happily. She could now speak French fluently and, +having made several stays at the country chateau, could make +herself understood in the patois. Leigh spoke French as well as +English. Fortunately he had picked up a little before leaving home, +partly from his tutor, partly from endeavouring to talk with French +fishermen and sailors who came into Poole. He frequently made trips +in the Henriette, sometimes to Havre and Rouen, at others to +Bordeaux. He had grown much, and was now a very strong, active lad. +He got on very well with Monsieur Martin; but kept as much apart as +he could from his eldest son, for whom he felt a deep personal +dislike, and who had always disapproved of Jean's marriage to an +Englishwoman.</p> +<p>Jacques Martin was the strongest contrast to his brother. He was +methodical and sententious, expressed his opinion on all subjects +with the air of a man whose judgment was infallible, and was an +ardent disciple of Voltaire and Rousseau. It was very seldom that +he entered his father's house, where his opinions on religious +subjects shocked and horrified his mother and sister. He lived with +an entirely different set, and spent most of his time at the clubs +which, in imitation of those of Paris, had sprung up all over the +country.</p> +<p>"What is all the excitement about, Jean?" Leigh asked his +brother-in-law, one evening. "There are always fellows standing on +casks or bales of timber along the wharf, shouting and waving their +arms about and, sometimes, reading letters or printed papers; and +then those who listen to them shout and throw up their caps, and +get into a tremendous state of excitement."</p> +<p>"They are telling the others what is being done at the +Assembly."</p> +<p>"And what are they doing there, Jean?"</p> +<p>"They are turning things upside down."</p> +<p>"And is that good?"</p> +<p>"Well, there is no doubt that things are not as well managed as +they might be, and that there is a great deal of distress and +misery. In some parts of France the taxation has been very heavy, +and the extravagance of the court has excited an immense deal of +anger. It is not the fault of the present king, who is a quiet +fellow, and does not care for show or pageants; but it is rather +the fault of the kings who preceded him, especially of Louis the +Fourteenth--who was a great monarch, no doubt, but a very expensive +one to his subjects, and whose wars cost an enormous sum.</p> +<p>"You see it is not, in France, as it is with you. The nobles +here have great power. Their tenants and serfs--for they are still +nothing but serfs--are at the mercy of their lords, who may flog +them and throw them into prison, almost at their pleasure; and will +grind the last sou out of them, that they may cut a good figure at +court.</p> +<p>"In this part of France things are more as they are in England. +The nobles and seigneurs are like your country gentlemen. They live +in their chateaux, they mix with their people and take an interest +in them, they go to their fetes, and the ladies visit the sick, and +in all respects they live as do your country squires; paying a +visit for a few weeks each year to Paris, and spending the rest of +their time on their estates. But it is not from the country that +the members of the Assembly who are the most urgent for reforms and +violent in their speech come, but from the towns. There were two +writers, Voltaire and Rousseau, who have done enormous mischief. +Both of them perceived that the state of things was wrong; but they +went to extremes, made fun of the church, and attacked institutions +of all sorts. Their writings are read by everyone, and have shaken +people's faith in God, and in all things as they are.</p> +<p>"I do not say that much improvement could not be made, but it +will never be made by sudden and great changes, nor by men such as +those who are gradually gaining the upper hand in the Assembly. The +people ought to have a much stronger voice than they have in their +own taxation. They see that, in England, the ministers and +parliament manage everything; and that the king--although his +influence goes for a good deal, and he can change his ministers as +often as he likes--must yet bow to the voice of parliament. I think +that that is reasonable; but when it comes to a parliament composed +largely of mere agitators and spouters, I, for my part, would +rather be ruled by a king."</p> +<p>"But what is it that these people want, Jean?"</p> +<p>"I do not think they know in the least, themselves, beyond the +fact that they want all the power; that they want to destroy the +nobility, overthrow the church, and lay hands on the property of +all who are more wealthy than themselves. Naturally the lowest +classes of the towns, who are altogether ignorant, believe that by +supporting these men, and by pulling down all above them, it would +no longer be necessary to work. They want to divide the estates of +the nobles, take a share of the wealth of the traders, and of the +better class of all sorts; in fact they would turn everything +topsy-turvy, render the poor all powerful, and tread all that is +good and noble under their feet. The consequence is that the king +is virtually a prisoner in the hands of the mob of Paris, the +nobles and better classes are leaving the country, thousands of +these have already been massacred, and no one can say how matters +will end.</p> +<p>"Here in Nantes there is, as you see, a feeling of excitement +and unrest; and though as yet there has been no violence, no one +could venture to predict what may take place, if the moderate men +in the Assembly are outvoted by the extremists, and all power falls +into the hands of the latter. But I still hope that common sense +will prevail, in the long run. I regard the present as a temporary +madness, and trust that France will come to her senses, and that we +shall have the satisfaction of seeing the scoundrels, who are now +the leaders of the mob of Paris, receive the punishment they +deserve.</p> +<p>"However, as far as we are concerned I have no uneasiness for, +if troubles break out at Nantes, we can retire to my chateau, in +the thickest and most wooded part of La Vendee, where there is no +fear that the peasants will ever rise against their masters."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch2" id="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: The Beginning Of +Troubles.</h2> +<p>"Things are getting more and more serious, Patsey," said Jean +one evening. "I don't know what will come of it. The excitement is +spreading here, and there can be no doubt that there will be very +serious troubles, ere long. The greater portion of the people here +are with the Assembly, and approve of all these decrees against the +priests, and the persecution of the better classes. You know what +has taken place in Paris, and I fear that it will be repeated +here.</p> +<p>"We are split up. My father, dear good man, thinks that he has +only to attend to his business, and to express no opinion whatever +about public affairs, and that the storm will pass quietly over his +head. My brother has thrown himself heart and soul--that is to say, +as far as he has a heart to throw--into what he calls the cause of +the people; and which I consider to be the cause of revolution, of +confiscation, of irreligion, and abomination generally.</p> +<p>"I am told that my name has freely been mentioned, in his club, +as that of a dangerous man, with opinions contrary to the public +good. I hear, too, that that brother of mine was there, at the +time; and that he got up and said that in a case like this his +voice must be silent, that true patriots place their country before +all things; and then affected to speak mildly in my favour, but at +the same time doing me as much harm as he could. I believe the +fellow is capable of denouncing his own father.</p> +<p>"From the Bocage I hear that the whole country is in confusion. +The people, of course, side with their priests. The nobles and land +owners are naturally royalists, and are furious that the king +should be held in what is practically subjection; by men of low +degree, and who, although they may have some virtuous men among +them, have also sanguinary scoundrels who gradually gain in power, +and will soon be supreme.</p> +<p>"They, however, can do nothing at present. The peasants know +nothing about the king, to them he is a mere name; but this +persecution of their priests angers them greatly; and if, as is +said, orders have been given to raise an army, and to drag men away +from their homes whether they like to go or not, you may be sure +that, ere long, there will be trouble there.</p> +<p>"Now you see, dear, I am a sort of double character. At sea I am +Captain Jean Martin, a peaceful trader with, as you know, but +little regard for the revenue laws of your country. On the other +hand, in La Vendee I am Monsieur Jean Martin, a landed proprietor, +and on friendly terms with all the nobles and gentry in my +neighbourhood. It is evident that I cannot continue to play this +double part. Already great numbers of arrests have been made here, +and the prisons are half full. I hear that a commissioner from the +Assembly is expected here shortly, to try these suspects, as they +are called; and from what we know already, we may be sure that +there will be little mercy shown.</p> +<p>"They are almost all people of substance; and the people, as +they call themselves, are on principle opposed to men of substance. +Now, if I remain here, I have no doubt that I shall be denounced in +a very short time; and to be denounced is to be thrown into prison, +and to be thrown into prison is equivalent to being murdered. I +have no doubt, Patsey, that you would share my fate. The fact that +you are an Englishwoman was among the accusations brought against +me, in the club; and although, so far as I can see, the majority of +these scoundrels have no religion whatever, they venture to make it +a matter of complaint that you are a Protestant.</p> +<p>"I have seen this coming on for some time, and must now make my +choice; either I must take you and the child over to England, and +leave you there with your father until these troubles are over, +while I must myself go down and look after my tenantry, and bear my +share in whatever comes; or you must go down there with me."</p> +<p>"Certainly I will go down with you, Jean. It is your home, and +whatever dangers may come I will share them with you. It would be +agony to be in England, and to know nothing of what is passing +here, and what danger might be threatening you. We took each other +for better or worse, Jean, and the greater danger you may be in, +the more it will be my duty to be by your side.</p> +<p>"I should be very happy down at the chateau. More happy than I +have been here with you, for some time past; for one cannot but be +very anxious, when one sees one's friends thrown into prison, and +knows that you are opposed to all these things, and that it may be +your turn next. Nothing would persuade me to leave you."</p> +<p>"Very well, wife, so be it. I am sure that there, at least, we +shall be safe. It is only in the towns that these rascals are +dangerous, and in a country like ours there is little fear that the +knaves will venture to interfere, when they see that they are +stirring up a nest of hornets. They have plenty of work to satisfy +even their taste for confiscation and murder, in the large towns. +There is an army gathering, on the frontier, and they will have +their hands full, ere long.</p> +<p>"And now, about Leigh. My brother has always shown a dislike for +him and, as it is certain that he cannot remain here, he must +either return to England or go with us."</p> +<p>"I am sure that he would choose to go with us, Jean. You say +yourself that he talks French like a native now, and although he +has often told me that he would never settle in France--for +naturally he is as horrified as I am with the doings in Paris, and +the other great towns--still I am sure that he would choose to +remain with us, now. You see, he is strong and active, and has made +so many trips with you, that he is almost a sailor. He is within a +few months of sixteen, and of late he has several times said to me +that he would like to go some long voyages, and have some +adventures, before settling down in business, in England, as an +agent of your house."</p> +<p>"I should like to have him with us," Jean said heartily. "In the +first place, he is a lad after my own heart, full of life and go, +and already strong enough to take his own part; in the next place, +although I hope for the best, a man can never say exactly what will +take place. I may be away at times, and should be glad to know that +you had a protector; and if he is willing to go, I shall be more +than willing to have him.</p> +<p>"Then, too, it would be useful to have someone whom one could +trust to carry messages. My idea is that I shall not leave the +lugger here for, if I am denounced, it would certainly be seized. +Pierre Lefaux, my mate, is a shrewd as well as a faithful fellow. I +shall appoint him captain. I shall tell him to leave here, at once, +and employ the lugger in coasting voyages; making Bordeaux his +headquarters, and taking what freights he can get between that town +and Rochelle, Brest, or other ports on this coast. So long as he +does not return here, he might even take wines across to England, +or brandy from Charente. He knows his business well and, as long as +we are at peace with England, trade will still go on.</p> +<p>"The best thing would be for him to be at Bordeaux once every +fortnight, or three weeks, so that we shall know where to find him. +I have a great friend at Bordeaux, and shall get him to have the +lugger registered in his name, and give him a receipt for her +purchase money; so that in case the people here learn that she is +trading at Bordeaux, he will be able to prove that she is his own +property. Then, if the very worst should come, which I cannot bring +myself to believe, there will be a means of escape for us all to +England.</p> +<p>"She will be sailing there in two or three days. I have fifty +thousand francs lying in my father's hands. I shall send that over +by Lefaux, and instruct him to ask your father to go with him to +the bank, at Poole, and pay the money in to my account. Then, if we +should have to leave France, we shall have that to fall back upon, +and the lugger. I should, of course, transfer her to the English +flag, and have no doubt that we should be able to get on very +fairly. So you see, I am preparing for all contingencies, +Patsey."</p> +<p>"It seems very dreadful that the country should be in such a +state, Jean."</p> +<p>"It is dreadful, and I am afraid that things have by no means +got to the worst, yet.</p> +<p>"Ah, here comes Leigh! After supper I shall go in and have a +talk with my father. I have very little hope of having much success +with him; but at least, when he sees the steps that I am taking, it +cannot but make him think seriously of his own position, and that +of my mother and sisters."</p> +<p>Leigh was delighted when he heard Jean's proposal. His own +position had been unpleasant, of late. He had long since ceased to +go to Jacques Martin, for the dislike between them was mutual and, +do what he would, he failed to give satisfaction. And of late, even +in Monsieur Martin's cellars and storehouses, he had met with a +good deal of unpleasantness; and would have met with more, had it +not been that he had, on one occasion, knocked down one of the +chief clerks, who had sworn at him for some trifling act of +carelessness. As the clerk knew that the merchant would have been +very angry at the insult he had offered to Leigh, he had not +ventured to make a complaint; but in many ways he had been able to +cause numberless petty annoyances. Many of the others were inclined +to follow his lead, and would have done so more openly, were it not +that they held in respect Leigh's strength, and readiness in the +science they called le boxe.</p> +<p>The talk that there might be troubles in La Vendee heightened +his satisfaction at leaving Nantes, and going down to stay in the +country. The thought of a life spent at Poole, or Weymouth, as a +wine merchant and agent of the house of Martin had, for some time +past, been unpleasant to him. The feeling of general unrest that +prevailed in France had communicated itself to him, and he thought +possibly that something might occur which would change the current +of his life, and lead to one more suited to his natural activity +and energy.</p> +<p>"You had better pack up quietly, tomorrow," Jean said to his +wife, after his return from his father's. "If there were any +suspicion that I was thinking of going away, it might bring matters +to a head. I will get the lugger's boat down to the wharf, and four +sailors shall come up here and take the boxes down, in one of the +hand carts, with a tarpaulin thrown over them. I will arrange for a +cart and a carriage to be waiting for us, on the other side of the +river.</p> +<p>"There is no moving my father. He cannot persuade himself that a +man who takes no part in politics, and goes about his business +quietly, can be in any danger. He has, however, at my mother's +entreaty, agreed for the present to cease buying; and to diminish +his stock as far as possible, and send the money, as fast as he +realizes it, across to England. He says, too, that he will, if +things get worse, send her and my sister to England. I promised him +that your father would find them a house, and see that they were +settled comfortably there, for a time. He would not believe that +Jacques could have been at the club when I was denounced, without +defending me; for although himself greatly opposed to the doings in +Paris, and annoyed at the line Jacques has taken up, he thought +that there was at least this advantage in it--that in case of +troubles coming here, he would have sufficient influence to prevent +our being in any way molested. However, there can be no question +that I have, to some extent, alarmed him; and he agreed not only to +draw, tomorrow, my fifty thousand francs from his caisse, but to +send over with it a hundred thousand francs of his own. Fortunately +he can do this without Jacques knowing anything about it, for +although Jacques and I have both a share in the business, he has +always kept the management of the money matters in his own +hands.</p> +<p>"So that is settled, as far as it can be settled. Fortunately +the club does not meet this evening, so there is no fear of a +demand being made, by it, for my arrest tomorrow. I have a friend +who belongs to it--not, I think, because he at all agrees with its +views; but because, like many others, he deems it prudent to appear +to do so. It was from him that I heard what had passed there, and +he promised to give me warning of anything that might be said, or +done, against me. I shall go down to the lugger early, and remain +on board all day, seeing to the stowage of the cargo we are taking +on board, so that no suspicion can arise that I am thinking of +leaving for the country."</p> +<p>The next evening the party started by unfrequented streets for +the quay, the nurse carrying the child, now three months old. The +boxes had gone half an hour before. It was nearly ten o'clock, and +the quays were deserted. Monsieur Martin had himself gone down, in +the afternoon, with the money to the lugger, and handed it over to +Jean, and had a long talk with him and Pierre Lefaux, to whom Jean +had also intrusted letters from himself and Patsey, to the +squire.</p> +<p>As soon as the party had taken their seats in the boat, it was +rowed two miles up the river, to a point where there was a ferry +across to a road, leading into the heart of La Vendee. Here a light +waggon and a carriage were waiting. The luggage was transferred to +the former and, after a hearty farewell to Pierre Lefaux, who had +himself come in charge of the boat, they started on their journey; +and arrived at the chateau at nine o'clock in the morning, to the +surprise of the man and woman in charge of it.</p> +<p>"Here we are safe," Jean said, as they alighted from the +carriage. "It would take nothing short of an army to fight its way +through these woods and lanes and, if the Assembly try to interfere +with us, they will find it a much easier thing to pull down the +throne of France, than to subdue La Vendee."</p> +<p>The news that the master had come down, and that he was going +for a time to live among them, spread rapidly; and in the course of +the day some fifteen of the tenants came in to pay their respects, +few of them arriving without some little offering in the way of +game, poultry, butter, or other produce.</p> +<p>"Our larder is full enough for us to stand a siege," Patsey +said, laughing, "and I know that we have a good stock of wine in +the cellar, Jean."</p> +<p>"Yes, and of cider, too. When the tenants are in any difficulty +about paying their rents, I am always willing to take it out in +wine or cider; for my father deals in both, and therefore it is as +good as money. But I have not sent any to Nantes for the past two +or three years and, as you say, the cellars are as full as they can +hold.</p> +<p>"Tomorrow, Leigh, we will ride over and call upon some of our +neighbours to hear the last news, for the Bocage is as far away +from Nantes as if it were on the other side of France, and we hear +only vague rumours of what is going on here."</p> +<p>The ride was a delightful one to Leigh. He had only once visited +the chateau before, and then only for a day or two. The wild +country, with its deep lanes, its thick high hedges, its woods and +copses, was all new to him; for the country round his English home +was, for the most part, bare and open. Some of the peasants carried +guns over their shoulders, and looked as if accustomed to use +them.</p> +<p>"Very few of them possess guns," Jean Martin remarked, "and that +they should carry them shows how disturbed a state of mind all +these people are in. They know that their priests may be arrested +and carried off, at any moment; and no doubt the report that an +order has been issued to raise thirty thousand men throughout +France, and that every town and village has to furnish its quota, +has stirred them up even more effectually. I don't suppose that +many of them think that the authorities will really try to drag men +off, against their will; but the possibility is quite enough to +inflame their minds."</p> +<p>At the very first house they visited they received, from the +owner, ample confirmation of Jean's views.</p> +<p>"There have been continual fracases between the peasants and the +military," he said, "over the attempts of the latter to arrest the +priests. They can scarcely be called fights, for it has not come to +that; but as soon as the peasants hear that the gendarmes are +coming, they send the priest into the wood, and gather in such +force that the gendarmes are glad enough to ride away, unharmed. Of +course, until we see that the peasants are really in earnest, and +intend to fight to the last, it would be madness for any of us to +take any part in the matter; for we should be risking not only life +but the fortunes of our families, and maybe their lives, too. You +must remember, moreover, that already a great number of the landed +proprietors have either been murdered or imprisoned in Paris, or +are fugitives beyond the frontier."</p> +<p>"If the peasants would fight," Jean Martin said, "it might not +be a bad thing that there are so few whom they could regard as +their natural leaders. If there are only a few leaders they may act +together harmoniously, or each operate in his own district; but +with a number of men of the same rank, or nearly of the same rank, +each would have his own ideas as to what should be done, and there +would be jealousy and discord."</p> +<p>"That is true," the other replied. "Of course, if this were an +open country it would be necessary, to give us a chance of success, +that some sort of discipline should be established; and none could +persuade the peasants to submit to discipline, except their own +lords. But in a country like this, discipline is of comparatively +little importance; and it is well that it is so, for though I +believe that the peasants would fight to the death, rather than +submit to be dragged away by force from their homes, they will +never keep together for any time."</p> +<p>"I am afraid that that will be the case. We must hope that it +will not come to fighting but, if it does, it will take a large +force to conquer La Vendee."</p> +<p>"What has brought you down here, Monsieur Martin?"</p> +<p>"It was not safe for me to stay longer in Nantes. If I think a +thing I say it, and as I don't think well of what is being done in +Paris, I have not been in the habit of saying flattering things +about the men there. In fact I have been denounced and, as there is +still room for a few more in the prisons, I should have had a cell +placed at my disposal, if I had remained there many more hours; so +I thought that I should be safer, down here, till there was some +change in the state of affairs."</p> +<p>"And you brought madame down with you?"</p> +<p>"Assuredly. I had only the choice open to me of sending her +across to England, and of making my home there, or of coming here. +If there had been no prospect of trouble here, I might have joined +the army of our countrymen who are in exile; but as, from all I +heard, La Vendee was ready to take up arms, I determined to come +here; partly because, had I left the country, my estates here would +have been confiscated; partly because I should like to strike a +blow, myself, at these tyrants of Paris, who seem bent on +destroying the whole of the aristocracy of France, of wiping out +the middle classes, and dividing the land and all else among the +scum of the towns."</p> +<p>Three or four months passed quietly. There were occasional +skirmishes between the peasants, and parties of troops in search of +priests who refused to obey the orders of the Assembly. At Nantes, +the work of carrying out mock trials, and executing those of the +better classes who had been swept into the prisons, went on +steadily. From time to time a message came to Jean, from his +father, saying that he had carried out his determination to lessen +his stocks, and that he had sent considerable sums of money across +the Channel. So far he had not been molested, but he saw that the +public madness was increasing, and the passion for blood ever +growing.</p> +<p>Then came the news of the execution of the king, which sent a +thrill of horror through the loyal province. Shortly afterwards it +was known that the decree for the raising of men was to be +enforced; and that commissioners had already arrived at Saumur with +a considerable force, that would be employed, if necessary; but +that the process of drawing the names of those who were to go was +to be carried out by the local authorities, assisted by the +national guards of the towns.</p> +<p>During the winter things had gone on quietly, at the chateau. +There had been but little visiting, for the terrible events passing +in Paris, and in all the large towns, and the uncertainty about the +future, had cast so deep a gloom over the country that none thought +of pleasure, or even of cheerful intercourse with their neighbours. +Many of the gentry, too, had given up all hope; and had made their +way down to the coast, and succeeded in obtaining a passage in +smuggling craft, or even in fishing boats, to England.</p> +<p>Jean Martin and Leigh had spent much of their time in shooting. +Game was abundant and, as so many of the chateaux were shut up, +they had a wide range of country open to them for sport. Once or +twice they succeeded in bringing home a wild boar. Wolves had +multiplied in the forests for, during the last three years, the +regular hunts in which all the gentry took part had been abandoned, +and the animals had grown fearless.</p> +<p>One day, soon after the news of the king's death had been +received, Jean, who had ridden over to Saumur on business, brought +back the news that war had been declared with England.</p> +<p>"It would have made a good deal of difference to me," he said, +"if I had still been on board the lugger; for of course there would +be an end to all legitimate trade. However, no doubt I should have +managed to run a cargo, sometimes; for they will want brandy and +tobacco all the more, when regular trade is at an end; and prices, +you may be sure, will go up. I have no doubt, too, that there will +be a brisk business in carrying emigrants over. Still, of course +the danger would be very much greater. Hitherto we have only had +the revenue cutters and the coast guards to be afraid of, now every +vessel of war would be an enemy."</p> +<p>As during their expeditions they were generally accompanied by +half a dozen peasants, who acted as beaters, Leigh had come to +understand the patois, and to some extent to speak it; and he often +paid visits to the houses of the principal tenants of the estate, +who not only welcomed him as the brother of their mistress, but +soon came to like him for himself, and were amused by his high +spirits, his readiness to be pleased with everything, and his talk +to them of the little known country across the water.</p> +<p>It was evident, from the manner in which the drawing for the +conscription was spoken of, that it would not be carried out +without a strong resistance. Sunday, the tenth of March, had been +fixed for the drawing and, as the day approached, the peasants +became more and more determined that they would not permit +themselves to be dragged away from their homes.</p> +<p>Three days before, a party of the tenants, together with some +from adjoining estates, had come up to the chateau. Jean Martin at +once came out to them.</p> +<p>"We have come, monsieur, to ask if you will lead us. We are +determined that we will not be carried off like sheep."</p> +<p>"There you are right," Jean said; "but although I shall be ready +to do my share of fighting, I do not wish to be a leader. In the +first place, there are many gentlemen of far larger possessions and +of higher rank than myself, who would naturally be your leaders. +There is the Marquis de Lescure at Clisson, and with him are +several other noble gentlemen, among them Henri de la +Rochejaquelein--he is a cavalry officer. His family have emigrated, +but he has remained here on his estates. Then, too, you have many +other military officers who have served. There is Monsieur de +Bonchamp, Monsieur d'Elbee, and Monsieur Dommaigne, all of whom +have served in the army. If the insurrection becomes general, I +shall head my own tenants, and join the force under some chosen +commander; but I shall not appear as a leader. Not only am I +altogether ignorant of military affairs but, were it known in +Nantes that I was prominent in the rising, they would undoubtedly +avenge themselves upon my relations there."</p> +<p>It was known that artillery and gendarmes had been gathered in +all the towns of La Vendee. Two days before that appointed for the +drawing, Jean said to Leigh:</p> +<p>"I shall ride tomorrow to the castle of Clisson. I know Monsieur +de Lescure. He has wide influence, and is known to be a devoted +royalist, and to have several royalist refugees now at his house. I +shall be able to learn, from him, whether his intention is to take +part in the insurrection. It is a long ride, and I shall not return +until tomorrow.</p> +<p>"If you like, you can ride north to Saint Florent. If there +should be any tumult, I charge you not to take any part in it. You +had better leave your horse at some cabaret on this side of the +town, and go in on foot. It is possible that there will be no +trouble there, for they are sure to have made preparations against +it; and it is more likely that there will be disturbances at +smaller places. Still, it will be interesting to mark the attitude +of the peasants.</p> +<p>"You see, if there is to be a war, it is their war. The +gentlemen here would have fought for the king, had there been a +shadow of a prospect of success, and had he given the smallest +encouragement to his friends to rally to his support. They might +even have fought against the disturbance of the clergy. But they +would have had no followers. The peasants cared but little for the +king and, though they did care enough for the priests to aid them +to escape, they did not care enough to give battle for them. They +are now going to fight for their own cause, and for their own +liberty. They have to show us that they are in earnest about it, +before we join them. If they are in earnest, we ought to be +successful. We ought to be able to put a hundred thousand men in +arms and, in such a country as this, we should be able to defy any +force that the Convention can send against us; and to maintain the +right of La Vendee to hold itself aloof from the doings of the rest +of France.</p> +<p>"But, as I said, until we know that they are really in earnest, +we cannot afford to throw in our lot with them; so if you go to +Saint Florent, keep well away from the point where the drawing is +to take place. Watch affairs from a distance. I have little doubt +that those who go will go with the determination of defending +themselves, but whether they will do so will depend upon whether +there is one among them energetic enough to take the lead. That is +always the difficulty in such matters. If there is a fight we must, +as I say, simply watch it. It is, at present, no affair of ours. If +it begins, we shall all have our work before us, plenty of it, and +plenty of danger and excitement, but for the present we have to act +as spectators."</p> +<p>It was a ride of fifteen miles to Saint Florent and, although +Leigh had twice during the winter ridden there with Jean, he had +some difficulty in finding his way through the winding roads and +numerous lanes along which he had to pass. During the early part of +the ride he met with but few people on the way. The church bells +were ringing, as usual, and there was nothing to show that any +trouble was impending; but when he arrived within two or three +miles of the town, he overtook little groups of peasants walking in +that direction. Some of them, he saw, carried pitchforks. The rest +had stout cudgels.</p> +<p>Saint Florent stood on the Loire and, in an open space in the +centre of the town, the authorities were gathered. Behind them was +a force of gendarmes, and in the middle of their line stood a +cannon.</p> +<p>Leigh had, as Jean had told him, left his horse outside the +town; and now took up his place, with a number of townspeople, on +one side of the square. As the peasants arrived, they clustered +together at the end of the street, waiting for the hour to strike +at which the drawing was to begin. A few minutes before the clock +struck, some of the gendarmes left the group in the centre of the +square, and advanced to the peasants. They were headed by an +officer who, as he came up, exclaimed:</p> +<p>"What do you mean by coming here with pitchforks? Lay them down, +at once!"</p> +<p>There was a low murmur among the peasants.</p> +<p>"Follow me!" he said to his men and, walking up to one of the +men carrying a pitchfork, he said:</p> +<p>"I arrest you, in the name of the Republic."</p> +<p>In an instant a young man standing next to the one he had seized +sprang forward, and struck the officer to the ground with his +cudgel.</p> +<a id="PicA" name="PicA"></a> +<center><img src="images/a.jpg" alt= +"'Follow Me!' he shouted. 'Make for the gun!'" /></center> +<p>"Follow me!" he shouted. "Make for the gun!"</p> +<p>With a cheer the peasants rushed forward, overthrowing the +gendarmes as they went. The municipal authorities, after hesitating +for a moment, took to their heels in the most undignified manner. +The gun had not been loaded. The gendarmes round it, seeing that +they were greatly outnumbered, followed their example; and the +peasants, with exultant shouts, seized the cannon and then, +scattering, chased the gendarmes out of the town.</p> +<p>Never was a more speedy and bloodless victory. Headed by their +leader, whose name was Rene Foret, the peasants went to the +municipality, broke open the doors, took possession of the arms +stored there, collected all the papers they could find, and made a +great bonfire with them in the centre of the square. Then without +harming anyone, or doing the slightest mischief, they left the town +and scattered to their homes in the Bocage.</p> +<p>Leigh waited until all was over, returned to the cabaret where +he had left his horse, and rode on. Passing through the little town +of Pin a powerful-looking man, some thirty-five years old, with a +quiet manner, broad forehead, and intelligent face, stepped up to +him.</p> +<p>"Pardon, monsieur," he said; "but you have come from Saint +Florent?"</p> +<p>"Yes," he replied.</p> +<p>"Has aught happened there?"</p> +<p>"Yes, the peasants attacked the gendarmes, who fled, leaving +their cannon behind them. The peasants took what arms there were in +the municipality, and made a bonfire of the papers. They then, +without doing any damage, dispersed to their homes."</p> +<p>"They have done well," the man said. "They have made a +beginning. My name, monsieur, is Cathelineau; my business, so far, +has been that of a hawker. I am well known in this part of the +country. Maybe, sir, you will hear my name again, for henceforth I +am an insurgent. We have borne this tyranny of the butchers in +Paris too long, and the time has come when we must either free +ourselves of it, or die. You belong to another class, but methinks +that when you see that we are in earnest, you will join."</p> +<p>"I doubt not that we shall," Leigh said. "I am but a lad yet; +but I hope that, when the time comes, I shall do my part."</p> +<p>The man lifted his hat and moved off, and Leigh rode forward +again. He was struck with the earnest manner of the man. He had +spoken calmly and without excitement, expressed himself well, and +had the air of a man who, having determined upon a thing, would +carry it through.</p> +<p>"I expect I shall hear of him again," he said to himself. "A man +like that, travelling round the country, no doubt has a deal of +influence. He is just the sort of man the peasants would follow; +indeed, as it seems to me, that anyone might follow."</p> +<p>It was late in the afternoon when he arrived home, and told his +sister what he had witnessed.</p> +<p>"I am not surprised, Leigh," she said. "If I were a man I would +take up arms, too. There must be an end to what is going on. +Thousands have been murdered in Paris, men and women; and at least +as many more in the other great towns. If this goes on, not only +the nobles and gentry, but the middle class of France will all +disappear; and these bloodstained monsters will, I suppose, set to +to kill each other. I feel half French now, Leigh, and it is almost +too awful to think of.</p> +<p>"It seems to me that the only hope is that the peasants, not +only of the Bocage, but of all Poitou, Anjou, and Brittany, may +rise, be joined by those of other parts, and march upon the towns; +destroy them altogether, and kill all who have been concerned in +these doings."</p> +<p>"That would be pretty sweeping, Patsey," Leigh laughed. "But you +know I hate them as much as you do and, though I don't feel a bit +French, I would certainly do all that I could against them, just as +one would kill wild beasts who go about tearing people to pieces. +It is no odds to me whether the men, women, and children they kill +are French, or English. One wants to put a stop to their +killing."</p> +<p>"I wish, now, that I had not brought you out with me, +Leigh."</p> +<p>"In the first place, Patsey, I deny altogether that you did +bring me out--Jean brought me out; and in the next place, I don't +see why you should be sorry. I would not miss all this excitement, +for anything. Besides, I have learned to talk French well, and +something of the business of a wine merchant. I can't be taken in +by having common spirit, a year or two old, passed off on me as the +finest from Charente; or a common claret for a choice brand. All +that is useful, even if I do not become a wine merchant. At any +rate, it is more useful than stopping at Netherstock, where I +should have learned nothing except a little more Latin and +Greek."</p> +<p>"Yes, but you may be killed, Leigh."</p> +<p>"Well, I suppose if I had stayed at home, and got a commission +in the army or a midshipman's berth in the navy, I might have been +killed and, if I had my choice, I would much rather be killed in +fighting against people who murder women and children, who have +committed no crime whatever, than in fighting soldiers or sailors +of another nation, who may be just as honest fellows as we +are.''</p> +<p>"I cannot argue with you, Leigh; but if anything happens to you +I shall blame myself, all my life."</p> +<p>"That would be foolish," Leigh said. "It is funny what foolish +ideas women have. You could not have foreseen what was coming, when +you came over here; and you thought that it would be a good thing +for me to accompany you, for a time. You did what you thought was +best, and which I think was best. Well, if it doesn't turn out just +what we expected, you cannot blame yourself for that. Why, if you +were to ask me to come for a walk, and a tree fell on me as we were +going along and killed me, you would hardly blame yourself because +you asked me to come; and this is just the same.</p> +<p>"At any rate, if I do get killed, which I don't mean to be if I +can help it, there is no one else who will take it very much to +heart, except yourself. There are plenty of them at home and, now +that I have been away nearly two years, they must almost have +forgotten my existence."</p> +<p>"I consider you a very foolish boy," Patsey said, gravely. "You +talk a great deal too much nonsense."</p> +<p>"Very well, Patsey; abuse is not argument, and almost every word +that you have said applies equally well to your folly, in leaving a +comfortable home in a quiet country to come to such a dangerous +place as this.</p> +<p>"Now, I hope that supper is ready, for I am as hungry as a +hunter."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch3" id="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: The First Successes.</h2> +<p>The next morning, at twelve o'clock, Jean Martin reached +home.</p> +<p>"The war has begun," he said, as he leaped from his horse. +"Henri de la Rochejaquelein has accepted the leadership of the +peasants, at Clisson. Lescure would have joined also, but Henri +pointed out to him that it would be better not to compromise his +family, until it was certain that the insurrection would become +general. The young count was starting, just as I got to the +chateau. He is a splendid young fellow, full of enthusiasm, and +burning to avenge the misfortunes that have fallen upon his family. +A peasant had arrived the evening before, with a message from his +aunt, who lives farther to the south. He brought news that the +chevalier de Charette--formerly a lieutenant in the navy and a +strong Royalist, who had escaped the massacres at Paris, and was +living quietly on his estate near Machecoul--had been asked several +times, by the peasants in his neighbourhood, to take the command, +and had accepted it; and that the rising was so formidable, there, +that it was certain the authorities in that part of Poitou would +not succeed in enforcing the conscription.</p> +<p>"I have told Lescure that I shall be prepared to join, as soon +as there is a general movement here; but that I should attach +myself to whoever took the direction of affairs in this part, for +that in the first place I knew nothing of war, and in the second +place I have resided here so small a portion of my time that I am +scarcely known, save to my own tenants.</p> +<p>"After our meal, we will ride round and see how they are off for +arms and powder. That is our great weakness. I am afraid, taking +the whole country round, that not one man in twenty possesses a +gun."</p> +<p>This indeed was found to be the case, as far as those on the +estate were concerned. The men themselves, however, seemed to think +little of this.</p> +<p>"We will take them from the Blues," several of them said +confidently. "It does not matter a bit. They will only have time to +fire one volley, in these lanes of ours, and then we shall be among +them; and a pike or pitchfork are just as good, at close quarters, +as a bayonet."</p> +<p>That the whole country was astir was evident, from the fact that +the sound of the church bells rose from the woods, in all +directions. All work was suspended, and the peasants flocked into +the little villages to hear the news that was brought in, from +several directions.</p> +<p>Cathelineau had, in the course of the night, gathered a party of +twenty-seven men who, at daybreak, had started out from Pin, +setting the church bells ringing in the villages through which they +passed; until a hundred men, armed for the most part with +pitchforks and stakes, had gathered round him. Then he boldly +attacked the chateau of Tallais, garrisoned by a hundred and fifty +soldiers, having with them a cannon. This was fired, but the shot +passed over the peasants' heads, and with a shout they dashed +forward, and the soldiers of the republic threw away their arms and +fled. Thus Cathelineau's followers became possessed of firearms, +some horses and, to their great delight, a cannon.</p> +<p>Their leader did not waste a moment, but marched at once against +Chemille, his force increasing at every moment, as the men flocked +in from the villages. There were, at Chemille, two hundred soldiers +with three guns; but some of the fugitives from Tallais had already +arrived there, bringing news of the desperate fury with which the +peasants had attacked them and, at the sight of the throng +approaching, with their captured cannon, the garrison lost heart +altogether and bolted, leaving their three cannon, their +ammunition, and the greater portion of their muskets behind +them.</p> +<p>The news spread with incredible rapidity. From each village they +passed through, boys were despatched as messengers, and their +tidings were taken on by fresh relays. By the afternoon all the +country, for thirty miles round, knew that Cathelineau had captured +Tallais and Chemille, and was in possession of a quantity of arms, +and four cannon.</p> +<p>From Saint Florent came the news that, early in the morning, a +party of Republican soldiers had endeavoured to arrest Foret, who +led the rising on the previous day; but that he had obtained word +of their approach and, setting the church bells ringing, had +collected a force and had beaten back those who came in search of +him.</p> +<p>Close by, a detachment of National Guards from Chollett had +visited the chateau of Maulevrier. The proprietor was absent, but +they carried off twelve cannon, which had been kept as family +relics. The gamekeeper, Nicholas Stofflet, who was in charge of the +estate, had served sixteen years in the army. He was a man of great +strength, courage, and sagacity and, furious at the theft of his +master's cannon, had gathered the peasantry round, and was already +at the head of two hundred men.</p> +<p>"Things go on apace, Patsey," Jean Martin said, as they sat by +the fire that evening. "We only know what is happening within some +twenty or thirty miles of us, but if the spirit shown here exists +throughout Poitou and Anjou, there can be no doubt that, in a very +short time, the insurrection will be general. This Cathelineau, by +their description, must be a man of no ordinary ability; and he has +lost no time in showing his energy. For myself, I care not in the +least what is the rank of my leader. Here in La Vendee there is no +broad line between the seigneurs, the tenants, and the peasantry; +at all rustic fetes they mix on equal terms. The seigneurs set the +example, by dancing with the peasant girls; and their wives and +daughters do not disdain to do the same with tenants, or peasantry. +They attend the marriages, and all holiday festivities, are +foremost in giving aid, and in showing kindness in cases of +distress or illness; and I feel sure that, if they found in a man +like Cathelineau a genius for command, they would follow him as +readily as one of their own rank."</p> +<p>On the fourteenth the news came that the bands of Stofflet and +Foret had, with others, joined that of Cathelineau. Jean Martin +hesitated no longer.</p> +<p>"The war has fairly begun," he said. "I shall be off tomorrow +morning. If Cathelineau is defeated, we shall have the Republicans +devastating the whole country, and massacring women and children; +as they did, last August, after a rising for the protection of the +priests. Therefore I shall be fighting, now, in defence of our +lives and home, wife."</p> +<p>"I would not keep you at home, Jean. I think it is the duty of +every man to join in the defence against these wretches. I know +that no mercy will be shown by them, if they conquer us. But you +will not take Leigh with you, surely?"</p> +<p>Leigh uttered an exclamation.</p> +<p>"Leigh must choose for himself," Jean said quietly. "He is not +French, and would have no concern in the matter, beyond that of +humanity, were it not that you are here; but at present our home is +his. Your life and his, also, are involved, if we are beaten. He is +young to fight, but there will doubtless be many others no older, +and probably much less strong than he is. Moreover, if I should be +killed, it is he who must bear you the news, and must arrange with +you your plans, and act as your protector.</p> +<p>"I do not say that I should advise your leaving the chateau +directly, but if the Republicans come this way, it will be no place +for you; and I should say that it would be vastly better that you +should, at once, endeavour to cross to England. There are five +thousand francs in gold in my bureau, which are worth three or four +times their value in assignats; and should, if you can gain the +coast, be amply sufficient to procure a passage for you to +England.</p> +<p>"Do not weep, dear. It is necessary to leave you, on an +undertaking of this kind, prepared for whatever may happen. At +present the risk is very small. As we have heard, the fury of the +peasants has struck such consternation into the National Guards, +and newly-raised soldiers, that they will not await their +onslaught; and it will not be until the Convention becomes aware of +the really serious nature of the storm they have raised, that there +will be any hard fighting. Still, even in a petty skirmish men +fall; and it is right that, before I go, we should arrange as to +what course you had best pursue, in case of my death.</p> +<p>"From the first, when we came here we did so with our eyes open. +If we had merely sought safety, we should have gone to England. We +came here partly because it is my home, and therefore my proper +place; and partly because, in case La Vendee rose against these +executioners of Paris, every man of honour and loyalty should aid +in the good cause."</p> +<p>"I know, Jean, and I would not keep you back."</p> +<p>"The struggle has begun and, if the Republicans conquer La +Vendee, we know how awful will be the persecutions, what thousands +of victims will be slaughtered. Our only hope is in victory and, at +any rate, those who die on the battlefield will be happy, in +comparison with those who fall into the hands of the Blues."</p> +<p>"You wish to go, Leigh?"</p> +<p>"Certainly I do," the lad said. "I think that everyone strong +enough to carry arms, in La Vendee, ought to join and do his best. +I can shoot better than most of the peasantry, not one in twenty of +whom has ever had a gun in his hands; and I am sure that I am as +strong as most of them. Besides, if I had been at home I should, +now the war has begun, have tried to get a commission and to fight +the French--I mean the people who govern France at present--and in +fighting them, here, I am only doing what thousands of Englishmen +will be doing elsewhere."</p> +<p>"Very well, Leigh, then you shall go with Jean. I shall +certainly be glad to know you are together, so that if one is +wounded or ill, the other can look after him and bring him here. I +shall do the best I can, while you are away."</p> +<p>"I think that we shall soon be back again, and that we shall be +constantly seeing you," Jean said. "You may be sure that the +peasants will not keep the field. They will gather and fight and, +win or lose, they will then scatter to their homes again, until the +church bells call them out to repel a fresh attack of the enemy. +That is our real weakness. There will never be any discipline, +never any common aim.</p> +<p>"If all the peasants in the west would join in a great effort, +and march on Paris, I believe that the peasantry of the departments +through which they pass would join us. It would only be the +National Guards of the towns, and the new levies, that we should +have to meet; and I believe that we might take Paris, crush the +scum of the faubourgs, and hang every member of the Convention. But +they will never do it. It will be a war of defence, only; and a war +so carried out must, in the long run, be an unsuccessful one.</p> +<p>"However, the result will be that we shall never be very far +away from home, and shall often return for a few days. You must +always keep a change of clothes, and your trinkets and so on, +packed up; so that at an hour's notice you and Marthe can start +with the child, either on receiving a note from me telling you +where to join us, or if you get news that a force from Nantes is +marching rapidly in this direction. Two horses will always remain +in the stables, in readiness to put into the light cart. Henri will +be your driver. Francois you must send off to find us, and tell us +the road that you have taken. However, of course we shall make all +these arrangements later on, when affairs become more serious. I +don't think there is any chance, whatever, of the enemy making +their way into the country for weeks, perhaps for months, to +come."</p> +<p>The next morning, Jean Martin and Leigh started early. Each +carried a rifle slung behind him, a brace of pistols in his +holsters, and a sword in his belt. Patsey had recovered from her +depression of the previous evening, and her natural good spirits +enabled her to maintain a cheerful face at parting; especially as +her husband's assurances, that there would be no serious fighting +for some time, had somewhat calmed her fears for their safety.</p> +<p>"The horses are useful to us, for carrying us about, Leigh," +Jean Martin said, as they rode along; "but unless there are enough +mounted men to act as cavalry, we shall have to do any fighting +that has to be done on foot. The peasants would not follow a +mounted officer as they would one who placed himself in front of +them, and fought as they fought.</p> +<p>"I hope that, later on, we may manage to get them to adopt some +sort of discipline; but I have great doubts about it. The peasantry +of La Vendee are an independent race. They are respectful to their +seigneurs, and are always ready to listen to their advice; but it +is respect, and not obedience. I fancy, from what I have read of +your Scottish Highlanders, that the feeling here closely resembles +that among the clans. They regard their seigneurs as their natural +heads, and would probably die for them in the field; but in other +matters each goes his own way, and the chiefs know better than to +strain their power beyond a certain point.</p> +<p>"As you see, they have already their own leaders--Stofflet the +gamekeeper, Foret the woodcutter, and Cathelineau, a small peddling +wool merchant. Doubtless many men of rank and family will join +them, and will naturally, from their superior knowledge, take their +place as officers; but I doubt whether they will displace the men +who have, from the beginning, taken the matter in hand. I am glad +that it should be so. The peasants understand men of their own +class, and will, I believe, follow them better than they would men +above them in rank. They will, at least, have no suspicion of them; +and the strength of the insurrection lies in the fact that it is a +peasant rising, and not an insurrection stirred up by men of +family."</p> +<p>At ten o'clock they arrived at Cathelineau's camp. Just as they +reached the spot, they encountered Monsieur Sapinaud de la Verrie. +He was riding at the head of about a hundred peasants, all of whom +were armed with muskets. They had, early that morning, attacked the +little town of Herbiers. It was defended by two companies of +soldiers, with four or five cannon; and the Republicans of the town +had ranged themselves with the Blues. Nevertheless the peasants, +led by their commander and his nephew, had fearlessly attacked them +and, with a loss of only two or three wounded, defeated the enemy +and captured the place, obtaining a sufficient supply of muskets to +arm themselves.</p> +<p>As Jean Martin was known to Monsieur Sapinaud, they saluted each +other cordially.</p> +<p>"So you are coming willingly, Monsieur Martin. There you have +the advantage of me, for these good fellows made me and my nephew +come with them, as their leaders, and would take no refusal. +However, they but drew us into the matter a few days earlier than +we had intended; for we had already made up our minds to join the +movement."</p> +<p>"I come willingly enough, Monsieur Sapinaud. If I had remained +in Nantes, I should have been guillotined by this time; and I made +up my mind when I left there that I would, on the first +opportunity, do a little fighting before I was put an end to.</p> +<p>"This is my brother-in-law. He has been out here now nearly two +years, and has seen enough of the doings of the murderers at Nantes +to hate them as much as I do."</p> +<p>The streets of the little village, which Cathelineau had made +his headquarters, were thronged with men. Through these the four +mounted gentlemen made their way slowly until, when they came to +the church, they saw three men standing apart from the others.</p> +<p>"That is Cathelineau, the one standing in the middle," Leigh +said.</p> +<p>"We have come to place ourselves under your orders," Monsieur +Sapinaud said, as they rode up to him; and he named himself and his +companions.</p> +<p>"I am glad indeed to see you, sirs," Cathelineau said. "You are +the first gentlemen who have joined us here; though I hear that, +farther south, some have already declared themselves. We want you +badly.</p> +<p>"One of you I have seen already," and he smiled at Leigh. "I +told you that you would hear of me, young sir; and you see I have +kept my word.</p> +<p>"These with me are Stofflet who, as you may have heard, +recaptured the cannon the Blues took at Clisson; and Foret, who had +the honour of striking the first blow, at Saint Florent."</p> +<p>"Your names are all widely known in this part," Monsieur +Sapinaud said, courteously. "Well, sirs, we have come to fight +under your orders. I have brought a hundred men with me, and we +have already done something on our own account; for we last night +captured Herbiers, which was defended by two companies, with four +cannon. We have gained a sufficient number of muskets to arm all +our party."</p> +<p>"If I do not offer to give up the leadership to you, Monsieur de +la Verrie," Cathelineau said gravely, "it is from no desire on my +part to be a commander; but I am widely known to the peasantry of +many parishes round Pin and, perhaps because I understand them +better than most, they have confidence in me; and would, I think, +follow me rather than a gentleman like yourself, of whom they know +but little."</p> +<p>"They are quite right," Monsieur Sapinaud said. "The peasantry +commenced this war. It is right that they should choose their own +leaders. You and your two companions have already their confidence, +and it is far better that you should be their leaders. I believe +all other gentlemen who join you will be as ready as we are to +follow you, and I am sure that the only rivalry will be as to who +shall most bravely expose himself, when he faces the enemy."</p> +<p>"I thank you, sir," Cathelineau said. "I believe earnestly that, +in many respects, it is best that the peasants should have their +own leaders. We can associate ourselves with their feelings, better +than the gentry could do. We shall have more patience with their +failings.</p> +<p>"You would want to make an army of them. We know that this +cannot be done. They will fight and die as bravely as men could do, +but I know that they will never submit to discipline. After a +battle, they will want to hurry off to their homes. They will obey +the order to fight, but that is the only order one can rely upon +their obeying.</p> +<p>"We are on the point of starting for Chollet. It is a town where +the people are devoted to the cause of the Convention. At the last +drawing for the militia they killed, without any pretext, a number +of young men who had come, unarmed, into the town. Many inhabitants +of adjoining parishes have been seized and thrown in prison, +charged only with being hostile to the Convention, and expressing +horror at the murder of the king.</p> +<p>"The capture will produce an impression throughout the country. +They have three or four hundred dragoons there, and yesterday, we +hear, they called in the National Guard from the villages round, +though scarce believing that we should venture to attack them. Your +reinforcement of a hundred men, all armed with muskets, will be a +very welcome one; for they will hardly suspect that many of us have +firearms. However we had, before your arrival, three hundred who +have so armed themselves, through captures at Saint Florent and +Chemille."</p> +<p>He now ordered the bell to be rung and, as soon as its notes +pealed out, started; followed at once by the crowd in the village, +without any sort of order or regularity. Jean and Leigh continued +to ride with Monsieur de la Verrie and his nephew.</p> +<p>After some hours' marching, at two o'clock in the afternoon they +approached Chollet. On the way they received considerable +reinforcements, from the villages they passed through. As soon as +they approached the town they saw the dragoons pouring out, +followed by three or four hundred National Guards.</p> +<p>The Vendeans now fell into some sort of order. A short council +of war was held. It was arranged that Monsieur de la Verrie with +his hundred musketeers, and Foret with as many more, should advance +against the dragoons; while Cathelineau and Stofflet, with a +hundred musketeers and the main body of peasants with their +pitchforks, should attack the National Guards.</p> +<a id="PicB" name="PicB"></a> +<center><img src="images/b.jpg" alt= +"At the first volley, the colonel of the dragoons and many of his men fell." /> +</center> +<p>The dragoons had expected that the mere sight of them would be +sufficient to send the peasants flying, and they were amazed that +they should continue to advance. As soon as they were within easy +range, the peasants opened fire. At the first volley the colonel of +the dragoons and many of his men fell. Reloading, the peasants +advanced at a run, poured in a volley at close quarters; and then, +with loud cheers, charged the dragoons.</p> +<p>These, being but newly raised troops, were seized with a panic, +turned, and galloped off at full speed. Astounded at the defeat of +the cavalry, in whom they had confidently trusted, the National +Guard at once lost heart and as, with loud shouts, Cathelineau with +his peasants flung themselves upon them, they, too, broke, and fled +in all directions.</p> +<p>The peasants pursued them for a league, and then returned, +exultant, to Chollet. Here the leading revolutionists were thrown +in prison but, with the exception of the National Guards who +attempted resistance after reaching the town, no lives were taken. +A large quantity of arms, money, and ammunition fell into the hands +of the victors.</p> +<p>Scarcely had the peasants gathered in Chollet, than the news +arrived that the National Guard of Saumur were marching against +them; and Cathelineau requested Monsieur de la Verrie and Foret, +with their following, to go out to meet them. They marched away at +once, and met the enemy at Vihiers.</p> +<p>Unprepared for an attack, the National Guard at once broke and +fled, throwing away their arms and abandoning their cannon. Among +these was one taken from the Chateau de Richelieu. It had been +given by Louis the Thirteenth to the cardinal. On the engraving, +with which it was nearly covered, the peasants thought that they +could make out an image of the Virgin, and so called it by her +name. With these trophies the party returned to Chollet.</p> +<p>The next day being Saturday the little army dispersed, the +peasants making their way to their homes, in order to spend Easter +there; while Cathelineau, with only a small body, remained at +Chollet. From here messengers were sent to Messieurs Bonchamp, +d'Elbee, and Dommaigne--all officers who had served in the army, +but had retired when the revolution broke out. Cathelineau offered +to share the command with them, and entreated them to give their +military knowledge and experience to the cause.</p> +<p>All assented. Thus the force had the advantage, from this time +forward, of being commanded by men who knew the business of +war.</p> +<p>Leigh had started for home as soon as the National Guards of +Saumur were defeated; Jean Martin, at Cathelineau's request, +remaining with him in order to join some other gentlemen, who had +that day arrived, in calling upon the three officers, and inviting +them to join Cathelineau in the command.</p> +<p>Leigh's sister ran out, as he rode up to the house. The news of +the capture of Chollet, almost without loss, had already spread +and, although surprised, she felt no alarm at seeing Leigh +alone.</p> +<p>"I hear that you have taken Chollet, and defeated the dragoons +and National Guards."</p> +<p>"Yes; and this morning we put to flight the guards of Saumur, +without the loss of a single man. I don't know what it may come to, +presently; but just now it can hardly be called fighting. The sight +of peasants rushing on seems to strike these heroes with a panic, +at once; and they are off helter skelter, throwing away their guns +and ammunition."</p> +<p>"Have you come home only to tell me the news, Leigh?"</p> +<p>"I have come home because, at present, our army has evaporated +into thin air. Tomorrow being Easter Sunday, the peasants have all +scattered to their homes; so that it was of no use my staying at +Chollet. Cathelineau is there, and the other leaders; among them +Monsieur de la Verrie, a nephew of his, Jean, and several other +gentlemen, who have just arrived there. They are going as a sort of +deputation, tomorrow, to Bonchamp, d'Elbee, and another officer +whose name I forget, to ask them to join Cathelineau in the +command. I think that he will still remain as leader, and that they +will act as his councillors, and in command of columns."</p> +<p>"Then your impression of this man is confirmed?"</p> +<p>"More than confirmed. Jean said, this morning, that he was a +born leader of men. While all round him there is excitement and +confusion, he is as calm and serene as if he were alone. He is +evidently a man who has read a good deal, and thought a good deal; +and I can quite understand the influence he has gained over the +peasantry in his neighbourhood, and that it has long been their +custom to refer all disputes to him.</p> +<p>"Stofflet is a different sort of man. He is tall and powerful in +frame, stern and almost morose in manner. He has been sixteen years +a soldier; and was, I hear, distinguished for his bravery."</p> +<p>"And Foret?"</p> +<p>"He is an active young woodman, evidently a determined fellow +and, as he was the first to lead the peasants against the Blues, he +is sure to have a following. They are three very different +characters, but all of them well fitted to act as peasant +leaders."</p> +<p>"And will Jean be a leader?"</p> +<p>"Not a leader, Patsey; that is to say, certainly not a general. +He does not want it, himself. But he will no doubt lead the +peasants on the estate, and perhaps those in the neighbourhood. You +know that he would not have the church bell rung, when he started, +because he did not wish the tenants to join until he had seen the +result of the first fight; but when he comes home he will summon +those who like to go with him."</p> +<p>"Yes, I have had to explain that, over and over again. Yesterday +and today almost all the men have been up here, to ask why Jean did +not take them. I told them that that was one reason; and another +was that, had they started on foot when you did, they would not +have arrived in time to take part in the fight at Chollet."</p> +<p>The conversation, begun as Leigh dismounted, had been continued +in the house, the groom having taken the horse round to the +stable.</p> +<p>"So the peasants fought well, Leigh?"</p> +<p>"They would have fought well, if the Blues had given them a +chance; but these would not stop till they came up to them. If they +had done so, I am convinced that the peasants would have beaten +them. There was no mistaking the way they rushed forward and, upon +my word, I am not surprised that the enemy gave way; although well +armed, and not far inferior in numbers, they would have had no +chance with them."</p> +<p>"And did you rush forward, Leigh?"</p> +<p>"We were with the party that attacked the cavalry. Jean and I +fired our rifles twice, and after that we only saw the backs of the +cavalry. If they had been well-drilled troops they ought to have +scattered us like sheep; for everything must have gone down before +them, had they charged. There was no sort of order among us. The +men were not formed into companies. There was no attempt to direct +them. Each simply joined the leader he fancied and, when the word +was given, charged forward at the top of his speed. It is all very +well against the National Guards, and these young troops; but as +Jean said, it would be a different affair, altogether, if we were +to meet trained soldiers.</p> +<p>"But the peasants seem to be quick, and I expect they will adopt +tactics better suited to the country, when they come to fighting in +these lanes and woods. You see, so far a very small proportion have +been armed with guns, and their only chance was to rush at once to +close quarters; but we have captured so many muskets, at Chollet +and Vihiers, that in future a considerable proportion of the +peasants will have guns and, when they once learn to use the +hedges, they will be just as good as trained troops."</p> +<p>"Then I suppose Jean is more hopeful about the future than he +was?"</p> +<p>"I don't say that, Patsey. He thinks that we shall make a hard +fight of it, but that the end must depend upon whether the people +in Paris, rather than keep fifty thousand men engaged in a +desperate conflict, here, when they are badly wanted on the +frontier, decide to suspend the conscription in La Vendee, and to +leave us to ourselves. There can be no doubt that that would be +their best plan. But as they care nothing for human life, even if +it cost them a hundred thousand men to crush us; they are likely to +raise any number of troops, and send them against us, rather than +allow their authority to be set at defiance.</p> +<p>"Do you know, Patsey, when I used to read about Guy Fawkes +wanting to blow up the Houses of Parliament, I thought that he must +be a villain, indeed, to try to destroy so many lives; but I have +changed my opinion now for, if I had a chance, I would certainly +blow up the place where the Convention meets, and destroy every +soul within its walls; including the spectators, who fill the +galleries and howl for blood."</p> +<p>"Well you see, Leigh, as Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators +failed in their attempt, I am afraid there is very small chance of +your being able to carry out the plan more successfully."</p> +<p>"I am afraid there is not," Leigh said regretfully. "I should +never be able to dig a way into the vaults, and certainly I should +not be able to get enough powder to blow a big building up, if I +could. No; I was only saying that, if Guy Fawkes hated the +Parliament as much as I hate the Convention, there is some excuse +to be made for him.</p> +<p>"Now, Patsey, I am as hungry as a hunter."</p> +<p>"I have a good supper ready for you," she said. "I thought it +was quite possible that you and Jean would both come home, this +evening; for I felt sure that most of the peasants would be coming +back, if possible, for Easter Sunday; and I had no doubt that, if +you did come, you would both be hungry."</p> +<p>"Have you any news from other districts?" he asked, after he had +finished his supper.</p> +<p>"There is a report that Captain Charette has gathered nearly +twenty thousand peasants, in lower Poitou; and that he has already +gained a success over the Blues. There are reports, too, of risings +in Brittany."</p> +<p>"There is no doubt that things are going on well, at present, +Patsey. You see, we are fighting on our own ground, and fifty +thousand men can be called to arms in the course of a few hours, by +the ringing of the church bells. We have no baggage, no waggons, no +train of provisions; we are ready to fight at once.</p> +<p>"On the other hand, the Blues have been taken completely by +surprise. They have no large force nearer than the frontier, or at +any rate nearer than Paris; and it will be weeks before they can +gather an army such as even they must see will be required for the +conquest of La Vendee. Up to that time it can be only a war of +skirmishes, unless our leaders can persuade the peasants to march +against Paris; and that, I fear, they will never be able to do.</p> +<p>"When the enemy are really ready, the fighting will be +desperate. 'Tis true that the Vendeans have a good cause--they +fight for their religion and their freedom, while the enemy will +fight only because they are ordered to do so. There is another +thing--every victory we win will give us more arms, ammunition, and +cannon; while a defeat will mean simply that the peasants will +scatter to their homes, and be ready to answer the next call for +their services. On the other hand, if the Blues are defeated they +will lose so heavily, both in arms and stores; and will suffer such +loss of life, from their ignorance of our roads and lanes, that it +will be a long time before they will again be able to advance +against us."</p> +<p>The next morning, after the service at the church was over, the +peasants came down in numbers to the chateau, to hear from Leigh a +full account of the fighting at Chollet and Vihiers, a report of +the latter event having arrived that morning. There were +exclamations of lively pleasure at the recital, mingled with regret +that they had not borne their share in the fighting.</p> +<p>"You will have plenty of opportunities," Leigh said. "Monsieur +Martin has told me that, when he next leaves home, all who are +willing to do so can go with him. But it may be some little time +before anything of importance takes place; and as, at present, what +fighting there is is a considerable distance away, he thinks it +best that you should reserve yourselves for some great occasion; +unless, indeed, the Blues endeavour to penetrate the Bocage, when, +I have no doubt, you will know how to deal with them, when they are +entangled in your lanes and woods."</p> +<p>"We will go, every man of us!" one of the peasants shouted, and +the cry was re-echoed, with enthusiasm, by the whole of the +men.</p> +<p>It was nearly an hour before Leigh and his sister were able to +withdraw from the crowd, and make their way homeward.</p> +<p>"It is difficult to believe that men so ready and eager to fight +can be beaten," she said. "Did you notice, too, that their wives +all looked on approvingly? I believe that, even if any of the men +wished to stay away, they would be hounded to the front by the +women. I think that, with them, it would be regarded as a war for +their religion; while with the men it is the conscription that has +chiefly driven them to take up arms."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch4" id="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: Cathelineau's +Scouts.</h2> +<p>For some days nothing happened. The insurrection spread like +wildfire, in Poitou and Anjou; and everywhere the peasants were +successful, the authorities, soldiers, and gendarmes for the most +part flying without waiting for an attack.</p> +<p>The news that all La Vendee was in insurrection astonished and +infuriated the Convention, which at once took steps to suppress it. +On the second of April a military commission was appointed, with +power to execute all peasants taken with arms in their hands, and +all who should be denounced as suspicious persons. General Berruyer +was sent down to take the command. The large army that had been +raised, principally from the mob of Paris for the defence of that +city, marched down; and Berruyer, at the head of this force, +entered the Bocage on the tenth of April.</p> +<p>The time had passed quietly at the chateau. The peasants had +dispersed at once and, except that the principal leaders and a +small body of men remained together, watching the course of events, +all was as quiet as if profound peace reigned.</p> +<p>Jean Martin had returned home. Two days after arriving, he had +called all the tenants on the estate together, and had endeavoured +to rouse them to the necessity of acquiring a certain amount of +discipline. He had brought with him a waggon load of muskets and +ammunition, which had been discovered at Chollet after the main +bulk of the peasants had departed; and Cathelineau had allowed him +to carry them off, in order that the peasantry in the neighbourhood +of the chateau should be provided with a proportion of guns, when +the day of action arrived. The peasants gladly received the +firearms, but could not be persuaded to endeavour to fight in any +sort of order.</p> +<p>"They did not do it at Chollet, or elsewhere," they exclaimed, +"and yet they beat the Blues easily. What good did discipline do to +the enemy? None. Why, then, should we bother ourselves about it? +When the enemy comes, we will rush upon them when they are tangled +in our thickets."</p> +<p>Leigh was somewhat more successful. The fact that he had fought +at Chollet, and was their seigneur's brother-in-law, had +established a position for him in the eyes of peasants of his own +age; and as he went from house to house, talking with them, he +succeeded in getting some twenty boys to agree to follow him. He +had been nominated an officer by the three generals, who had picked +out, without reference to rank or age, those who they thought +would, either from position, energy, or determination, fill the +posts well. Thus one company was commanded by a noble, the next by +a peasant; and each would, on the day of battle, fight equally +well.</p> +<p>Leigh's arguments were such as were suited to the lads he +addressed.</p> +<p>"You see, if you go with the bands of men, you will be lost in +the crowd. The men will rush forward in front, you will all be in +the rear. You want to serve your country. Well, you can serve it +much better by watching the movements of the enemy, and carrying +word of it to the commander. Then, sometimes, we can have a little +enterprise of our own--cut off a post of the enemy, or manage to +decoy them into lanes where we know their guns will stick fast.</p> +<p>"It is not size and strength that are most necessary in war; but +quickness, alertness, and watchfulness. You know that, already, the +leaders have found that nothing can persuade the men to keep guard, +or to carry out outpost duty. If we do this, even if we do nothing +else, we shall be serving the cause much better than if we were to +join in a general rush upon the enemy."</p> +<p>"But we shall have no muskets with us," one of the boys +objected.</p> +<p>"Nor would you want them. You would have to move about quickly, +and guns would be terribly inconvenient, if you had to push your +way through a hedge or a close thicket. And besides, if you had +guns they would not be of much use to you, for none of you are +accustomed to their use, and it needs a great deal of training to +learn to shoot straight.</p> +<p>"I am quite sure that if I were to march with twenty of you to +Cathelineau's headquarters, and were to say to him, 'We have come +here, sir, to act as scouts for you, to bring you in news of the +movements of the enemy, and to do anything in our power to prevent +you from being surprised,' he would be more pleased than if I had +brought him a hundred men armed with muskets."</p> +<p>When twenty had expressed their willingness to go, Leigh asked +Jean, who had warmly entered into the plan, to speak to the fathers +of the lads and get them to consent to their going with him. He +accordingly called them together for that purpose.</p> +<p>"But do you mean that they will be away altogether, master?"</p> +<p>"Yes, while this goes on."</p> +<p>"But we shall lose their labour in the fields?"</p> +<p>"There will not be much labour in the fields, till this is over; +and by having scouts watching the enemy you will get early news of +their coming, and have time to drive off your beasts before they +arrive."</p> +<p>"But how will they live?"</p> +<p>"When they are in this neighbourhood, one or two can come back +and fetch bread. If they are too far off for that, my brother will +buy bread for them. In cases where they cannot well be spared, I +will remit a portion of your dues, as long as they are away; but +this will not be for long, for I can see that, ere many weeks are +past, the Blues will be swarming round in such numbers that there +will be little time for work on your land, and you will all have to +make great sacrifices.</p> +<p>"You must remember that the less there is in your barns, the +more difficult it will be for an enemy to invade you; for if they +can find nothing here, they will have to bring everything with +them, and every waggon will add to their difficulties. My brother +tells me that one of the things he means to do is to break up the +roads, when he finds out by which line the Blues are advancing; and +for that purpose I shall serve out, from my store, either a pick or +an axe to each of the band."</p> +<p>At last all difficulties were got over, and twenty lads were +enrolled. Another three weeks passed. The peasants of Poitou and +Anjou thought but little of the storm that was gathering round +them.</p> +<p>General Berruyer had arrived from Paris, with his army. A +portion of the army from Brest moved down to Nantes; and were in +concert, with the army of La Rochelle, to sweep that part of La +Vendee bordering on the coast. General Canclaus was at Nantes, with +two thousand troops. General Dayat was sent to Niort, with six +thousand men; and was to defend the line between Sables and Saint +Gilles. Bressuire was occupied by General Quetineau, with three +thousand men. Leigonyer, with from four to five thousand men, +occupied Vihiers; while Saint Lambert was held by Ladouce, with two +thousand five hundred. The right bank of the Loire, between Nantes +and Angers, was held by fifteen hundred men of the National +Guard.</p> +<p>Thus that part of upper Poitou where the rising had been most +successful was surrounded by a cordon of troops; which the +Convention hoped, and believed, would easily stamp out the +insurrection, and take a terrible vengeance for what had +passed.</p> +<p>When the storm would burst, none knew; but Jean one day said to +Leigh that it was certain that it must come soon; and that, if he +was still resolved to carry out his plan, it was time that he set +out.</p> +<p>"I am quite ready to carry out my plans, Jean, as you know; but +dangers seem to threaten from so many quarters that I don't like +going away from home. While my company are scattered near Chollet, +for instance, the Blues may be burning down your chateau."</p> +<p>"I don't think there is much danger of that, Leigh. It is quite +certain that, as soon as these divisions begin to move, they will +have their hands full. We may hope that in some cases they will be +defeated. In others they may drive off the peasants, and march to +the town that they intend to occupy, but they will only hold the +ground they stand upon. They will not be able to send out detached +parties to attack chateaux or destroy villages.</p> +<p>"For the present, I have no fear whatever of their coming here. +We are well away from any of the roads that they are likely to +march by. I don't say that any of the roads are good, but they will +assuredly keep on the principal lines, and not venture to entangle +themselves in our country lanes. There are no villages of any size +within miles of us, and this is one of the most thickly wooded +parts of the Bocage--which, as you know, means the +thicket--therefore I shall, when the time comes, leave your sister +without uneasiness. We may be quite sure that if, contrary to my +anticipation, any column should try to make its way through this +neighbourhood, it would be hotly opposed, and she will have ample +time to take to the woods, where she and the child will find +shelter in any of the foresters' cottages.</p> +<p>"She is going to have peasant dresses made for her and Marthe. +She will of course drive, as we intended; and the two men will take +the horse and vehicle to some place in the woods, at a considerable +distance from here, and keep it there until we join her and carry +out our original plan of making for the coast. Directly you are +gone, I shall make it my business to find out the most out of the +way spot among the woods; and ride over and make an arrangement, +with some woodman with a wife and family living there, to receive +her, if necessary; and I will let you know the spot fixed on, and +give you directions how to find it."</p> +<p>In order to add to Leigh's influence and authority, Martin +persuaded the village cure--who was a man of much intelligence, and +perceived that real good might be done by this party of lads--to +have a farewell service in the church. Accordingly, on the morning +on which they were to start, all attended the church, which was +filled by their friends; and here he addressed the boys, telling +them that the service in which they were about to engage was one +that would be of great importance to their country, and that it +would demand all their energy and strength. He then asked them to +take an oath to carry out all orders they might receive from their +leader, the seigneur's brother; who would himself share in their +work, and the many hardships they might have to undergo.</p> +<p>"Here," he said, "is a gentleman who is by birth a foreigner, +but who has come to love the land that his sister adopted as her +own; and to hate its enemies--these godless murderers of women and +children, these executioners of their king, these enemies of the +church--so much that he is ready to leave his home, and all his +comforts, and to risk his life in its cause. Remember that you have +voluntarily joined him, and accepted him as your leader. The work +once begun, there must be no drawing back. There is not a man in La +Vendee who is not prepared to give his life, if need be, to the +cause; and you, in your way, can do as much or more."</p> +<p>He then administered an oath to each lad and, as had been +arranged, Leigh also took an oath to care for them in every +respect, and to share their risks and dangers. Then the cure +pronounced his blessing upon them, and the service ended.</p> +<p>Very greatly impressed with what had taken place, the little +band marched out from the church, surrounded by their friends. Jean +Martin then presented hatchets or light picks to each, and a waist +belt in which the tools should be carried. As a rule, the peasants +carried leathern belts over the shoulders, in which a sword, +hatchet, or other weapon was slung; but Jean thought the waist belt +would be much more convenient for getting rapidly through hedges or +thickets, and it had also the advantage that a long knife, +constituting in itself a formidable weapon, could also be carried +in it.</p> +<p>Patsey presented them each with a hat, of which a supply had +been obtained from Saint Florent. These were of the kind ordinarily +worn by the peasants, in shape like the modern broad-brimmed +wide-awake, but made of much stiffer material. She had bought these +to give a certain uniformity to the band, of whom some already wore +hats of this kind, others long knitted stocking caps, while others +again were bare headed.</p> +<p>She added a piece of green ribbon round each hat. Leigh objected +to this, on the ground that they might sometimes have to enter +towns, and that any badge of this sort would be speedily noticed; +but as she said, they would only have to take them off, when +engaged in such service.</p> +<p>A quarter of an hour after leaving the church they marched away, +amid the acclamations of their friends; each boy feeling a +sensation of pride in the work that he had undertaken, and in the +ceremony of which he had been the centre.</p> +<p>"Now, lads," Leigh said, as soon as they were fairly away from +the village, "instead of walking along as a loose body, you had +better form four abreast, and endeavour to keep step. It is no more +difficult to walk that way than in a clump; and indeed, by keeping +step it makes the walking easy, and it has the advantage that you +can act much more quickly. If we heard an enemy approaching, and I +gave the order, 'Ten go to the right and ten go to the left!' you +would not know which were to go.</p> +<p>"Now each four of you will form a section, and the order into +which you fall now, you will always observe. Then if I say, 'First +two sections to the right, the other three sections to the left!' +every one of you knows what to do, instead of having to wait until +I mention all your names.</p> +<p>"This is nearly all the drill you will have to learn. You can +choose your places now, but afterwards you will have to keep to +them, so those of you who are brothers and special friends will, +naturally, fall in next to each other."</p> +<p>In a minute or two the arrangements were made, and the party +proceeded four abreast, with Leigh marching at their head. For the +first hour or so, he had some difficulty in getting them to keep +step; but they presently fell into it, time being kept by breaking +into one of the canticles of the church.</p> +<p>After a long day's march, they arrived at the village which +Cathelineau now occupied as his headquarters; as it had been +necessary, in view of the threatening circle of the various columns +of the enemy, to remove the headquarters from Chollet to a central +point, from which he could advance, at once, against whichever of +these columns might first move forward into the heart of the +country. The lads all straightened themselves up as they marched +through the streets, the unwonted spectacle of twenty peasant lads, +marching in order, exciting considerable surprise. Cathelineau was +standing at the door of the house he occupied, conversing with +Messieurs Bonchamp and d'Elbee.</p> +<p>"Ah, Monsieur Stansfield," he said, "is it you?" as Leigh halted +his party, and raised his hat. "You are the most military-looking +party I have yet seen. They are young, but none the worse for +that."</p> +<p>"There is nothing military about them, except that they march +four abreast," he said, with a smile, "but for the work we have +come to do, drill will not be necessary. I have raised this band on +Jean Martin's estate, sir, and with your permission I propose to +call them 'Cathelineau's scouts.' It seemed, to my brother and +myself, that you sorely need scouts to inform you of the movements +of the enemy, the roads by which they are approaching, their force +and order. I have therefore raised this little body of lads of my +own age. They will remain with me permanently, as long as the +occasion needs. They will go on any special mission with which you +may charge them; and will, at other times, watch all the roads by +which an enemy would be likely to advance."</p> +<p>"If they will do that, Monsieur Stansfield, they will be +valuable, indeed; that is just what I cannot get the peasants to +do. When it comes to fighting, they will obey orders; but at all +other times they regard themselves as their own masters, and +neither entreaties nor the offer of pay suffices to persuade them +to undertake such work as you are proposing to carry out. +Consequently, it is only by chance that we obtain any news of the +enemy's movements. I wish we had fifty such parties."</p> +<p>"They would be valuable, indeed," Monsieur d'Elbee said. "The +obstinacy of the peasantry is maddening.</p> +<p>"How do you propose to feed your men?"</p> +<p>"When we are within reach of their homes, two will go back to +fetch bread for the whole; when we are too far away, I shall buy it +in one of the villages."</p> +<p>"When you are within reach of my headquarters, wherever that may +be, you have only to send in; and they shall have the loaves served +out to them, the same as the band who remain here. We are not short +of money, thanks to the captures we have made.</p> +<p>"I see that none of your band have firearms."</p> +<p>"No, sir. Jean Martin would have let me have some of the muskets +he brought from here, but it seemed to me that they would be an +encumbrance. We may have to trust to our swiftness of foot to +escape and, at any rate, we shall want to carry messages to you as +quickly as possible. The weight of a gun and ammunition would make +a good deal of difference; and would, moreover, be in our way in +getting through the woods and hedges."</p> +<p>"But for all that, you ought to have some defence," Cathelineau +said; "and if you came upon a patrol of cavalry, though only three +or four in number, you would be in a bad case with only those +knives to defend yourselves.</p> +<p>"Do you know whether there are any pistols in the storehouse, +Monsieur Bonchamp?"</p> +<p>"Yes, there are some that were picked up from the cavalrymen we +killed. They have not been given out yet."</p> +<p>"Then I think we had better serve out a pistol, with a score of +cartridges, to each of these lads.</p> +<p>"If you let them fire three or four rounds at the trunk of a +tree, or some mark of that sort, Monsieur Stansfield, they will get +to know something about the use of the weapons."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir. That would be excellent, and would certainly +enable us to face a small party of the enemy, if we happen to +encounter them."</p> +<p>"Please form the boys up two deep," Cathelineau said. "I will +say a word or two to them."</p> +<p>The manoeuvre was not executed in military style, but the boys +were presently arranged in order.</p> +<p>"I congratulate you, lads," Cathelineau went on, "in having +devoted yourselves to your country, and that in a direction that +will be most useful. I trust that you will strictly obey the orders +of your commander; and will remember that you will be of far more +use, in carrying them out, than in merely helping to swell the +number in a pitched battle. I have every confidence in Monsieur +Stansfield. He has set a noble example to the youths of this +country, in thus undertaking arduous and fatiguing work, which is +not without its dangers.</p> +<p>"I was glad to see that you marched in here, in order. I hope +that you will go a little further, and learn to form line quickly, +and to gather at his call. These things may seem to you to make +very little difference, but in fact will make a great deal. You saw +that you were at least a couple of minutes forming in line just +now. Supposing the enemy's cavalry had been charging down upon you, +that two minutes lost would have made all the difference between +your receiving them in order, or being in helpless confusion when +they came up.</p> +<p>"I have no doubt that one of my generals here has, among his +followers, someone who served in the army, and who will teach you +within the course of an hour, if you pay attention to his +instructions, how to form into line, and back again into +fours."</p> +<p>"I will give them an hour myself," Monsieur Bonchamp said. "I +have nothing particular to do, and should be glad to instruct young +fellows who are so willing, and well disposed.</p> +<p>"Are you too tired to drill now? You have had a long march."</p> +<p>A general negative was the reply.</p> +<p>"Well, then, march to the open space, just outside the town, and +we will begin at once."</p> +<p>Feeling very proud of the honour of being drilled by a general, +the boys fell into their formation, and followed Monsieur Bonchamp +and Leigh. They were at a loss, at first, to comprehend the +instructions given them; but by the end of an hour, they had fairly +mastered the very simple movement.</p> +<p>"That will do," Monsieur Bonchamp said. "Of course you are not +perfect, yet; but with a quarter of an hour's drill by your +commander, every day, at the end of a week you will be able to do +it quickly and neatly; and you will certainly find it a great +advantage, if you come upon the enemy."</p> +<p>A large empty room was allotted to them and, as they sat down on +the floor and munched the bread that they had brought with them, +they felt quite enthusiastic over their work. It was a high honour, +indeed, to have been praised by Monsieur Cathelineau, and been +taught by one of his generals. They even felt the advantage that +the drill had given them, contrasting the quickness with which they +had finally formed into line, with their trouble in arranging +themselves before Monsieur Cathelineau. The fact, too, that they +were next morning to be furnished with pistols was a great +gratification to them and, over and over again, they said to each +other:</p> +<p>"What will the people at home say, when they hear that Monsieur +Cathelineau has praised us, that Monsieur Bonchamp himself has +drilled us, and that we are to be provided with pistols?"</p> +<p>In the morning, the pistols and ammunition were served out. +Leigh had, during the previous evening, seen Cathelineau and asked +for orders.</p> +<p>"I cannot say exactly the line the Blues are likely to take. I +should say that you had better make Chemille your headquarters. +Berruyer, who is their new commander, has arrived at Saint Lambert. +There is a strong force at Thouars, being a portion of the army +from Saint Lambert. The enemy are also in force at Vihiers, and at +Parthenay.</p> +<p>"It is from the forces at Thouars and Vihiers that danger is +most likely to come. Doubtless other columns will come from the +north, but we shall hear of their having crossed the Loire in time +to oppose them; and with so small a band as yours, you will be +amply employed in watching Thouars. There are many roads, all more +or less bad, by which they may march; as soon as you ascertain that +they are moving, and by which route, you will send a messenger to +me.</p> +<p>"Any others of your band that you may have with you, send off to +all the villages round. Give them warning, set the bells ringing, +promise that aid will soon arrive, and urge them to harass the +enemy, to fell trees across the road, and to impede their advance +in every possible way.</p> +<p>"I will give you half a dozen papers, for the use of yourself +and your messengers, saying that you are acting under my orders, +and are charged with raising the country, directly the enemy +advance. But above all, it is important that I should get the +earliest possible information as to the route by which they are +moving; as it will take us thirty-six hours before we can gather in +anything like our full strength.</p> +<p>"It will be useful that you should spread false news as to our +whereabouts. Your boys can say, in one village, that we are +marching towards Tours; in another, that we are massed in the +neighbourhood of Saint Florent; in a third that they hear that the +order is, that all able-bodied men are to go west to oppose the +force coming from Nantes, which has already taken Clisson, and +carried Monsieur de Lescure and his family, prisoners, to +Bressuire."</p> +<p>"We shall have to tell the villagers, sir, that we wish this +news to be given to the Blues, if they should come there or, if +questioned, they would tell them something else. I am sure that +even the women would suffer themselves to be killed, rather than +give any news that they thought would be useful to the enemy."</p> +<p>"You are right. Yes, you must tell them that this is what we +want the Blues to believe, and that it is my wish that these are +the answers to be given to any of them who may enter the +village."</p> +<p>"The only thing, sir, is that they may find the villages empty, +as they come along. The women and children will, no doubt, take to +the woods. The men will, perhaps, offer some resistance; but when +they find how strong the Blues are, will probably hurry to join +you."</p> +<p>"There will probably be a few old people remaining in each +village. However, we must trust much to chance. The great thing is +for you to let me know, as soon as their main body is in motion. +Whichever way they come, we must meet and attack them. It is in the +woods and lanes that we must defend ourselves."</p> +<p>"I will endeavour to carry out your orders, sir; and shall start +tomorrow morning, as soon as we get our pistols."</p> +<p>As soon as the little band was well away from the town, the +pistols were loaded; and each of the lads, in turn, fired three +shots at the trunk of a tree, at a distance of ten yards, under +Leigh's directions. The shooting was quite as good as he had +expected, and the boys themselves were well satisfied.</p> +<p>Then, the pistols being reloaded and placed in their belts, they +resumed their march. They halted at a tiny hamlet, consisting of +half a dozen houses, four miles from Thouars. The inhabitants were +greatly surprised at their appearance, and an old man, who was the +head of the little community, came out and asked Leigh who they +were.</p> +<p>"We are Cathelineau's scouts," he replied. "We have orders to +watch the movements of the enemy. We wish to be of no trouble. If +there is an empty shed, we should be glad of it; still more so if +there is a truss or two of straw."</p> +<p>"These you can have," the old man said. "If Cathelineau's orders +had been that we were to turn out of our houses for you, we should +have done so, willingly."</p> +<p>"A shed will do excellently for us. We shall be here but little. +Half our number will always be away. If you can supply us with +bread, I will pay you for it. If you cannot do so, I shall have to +send two of my party away, every day, to fetch bread from +Cathelineau's camp."</p> +<p>"I will see what can be done. It will not be for long?"</p> +<p>"No, it may possibly be only two or three days, and it may be a +week."</p> +<p>"Then I think that we can manage. If we have not flour enough +here to spare, I can take my horse and fetch half a sackful from +some other village."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much. However, I think that we shall only +occasionally want bread; for I shall be sending messengers, every +day, to Monsieur Cathelineau, and these can always bring bread back +with them."</p> +<p>The old man led them to a building which had served as a stable, +but which was then untenanted.</p> +<p>"I will get some straw taken in presently, lads.</p> +<p>"As for you, sir, I shall be glad if you will be my guest."</p> +<p>"I thank you," Leigh said, "but I prefer to be with my +followers. They come by my persuasion, and I wish to share their +lot, in all things; besides, my being with them will keep up their +spirits."</p> +<p>There was half an hour's drill, and then Leigh led the party to +the shed, to which four or five bundles of straw had, by this time, +been brought.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "before we do anything else, we must choose two +sub-officers. At times we may divide into two parties, and +therefore it is necessary that one should be responsible, to me, +for what is done in my absence.</p> +<p>"I will leave it to you to choose them. Remember it is not size +and strength that are of most importance, it is quickness and +intelligence. You know your comrades better than I do, and I shall +be quite content to abide by your choice. I will go outside for a +quarter of an hour, while you talk it over. I don't want to +influence you, at all."</p> +<p>In ten minutes, two of the lads came out.</p> +<p>"We have chosen Andre Favras and Pierre Landrin."</p> +<p>"I think that you have done very wisely," Leigh said. "Those are +the two whom I, myself, should have selected."</p> +<p>He had, indeed, noticed them as the two most intelligent of the +party. They had been his first recruits, and it was in no small +degree owing to their influence that the others had joined him. He +returned to the shed.</p> +<p>"I approve of your choice, lads," he said. "No doubt Andre and +Pierre will make very good sub-officers. When I am not present, you +must obey their orders as readily as you do mine; and I shall be +able to trust them to carry out my directions, implicitly.</p> +<p>"Now you will divide in two parties: the first two sections, and +two of the third section will form one party, and will be under +Andre's command, when acting in two parties; the other two of the +third section, and the fourth and fifth, will form the second +division, under Pierre. You will take it in turns to be on duty. We +shall not need to watch by night, for there is no chance of the +enemy venturing to enter our lanes, and thickets, after dark. The +party not out on scouting duty will remain here, and will furnish +messengers to carry news to Cathelineau, to fetch bread, or to +perform other duties."</p> +<p>The next morning Leigh set out with the whole band, except two. +He had gathered, from the people of the village, the position of +the various roads and lanes by which troops, going westward from +Thouars, would be likely to travel. When within two miles of the +town, he placed two boys on each of these roads. They were not to +show themselves, but were to lie behind the hedges and, if they saw +any body of troops coming along, were at once to bring news to him, +his own point being on the principal road.</p> +<p>Andre and Pierre were to leave their arms and belts behind them, +to make a long detour, and to enter the town from the other side. +They were to saunter about the place, listen to what was being +said, and gather as much news as possible. Each was provided with +two francs and, if questioned, they were to say that they had come +in, from some village near, to buy an axe.</p> +<p>"I should have gone in myself, Andre; but although I can get on +fairly enough in your patois, I cannot speak it well enough to pass +as a native. However, you are not likely to be questioned. In a +town crowded with troops, two lads can move about without +attracting the smallest attention from the military. It would be +only the civilian authorities that you would have to fear; but +these will be so much occupied, in attending to the wants of the +soldiers, that they will not have any time on their hands for +asking questions.</p> +<p>"Be sure, before you enter the town, that you find out the name +of some village, three or four miles on the other side; so as to +have an answer ready, if you are asked where you come from.</p> +<p>"It is probable that you will find troops quartered in all the +villages beyond the town, which could hardly accommodate so large a +number as are there. Remember, you must try to look absolutely +unconcerned as you go through them, and as you walk about the +streets of the town. The great object is to find out how many men +there are in and around Thouars, whether they are looking for more +troops to join them from Saumur, and when they are expecting to +move forward."</p> +<p>As soon as they had left he repeated, to the six lads who +remained with him, the orders that he had given to those posted on +the other roads.</p> +<p>"You are to remain in hiding," he said, "whatever the force may +be. It is likely enough that patrols of four or five men may come +along, to see that the roads are clear, and that there are no signs +of any bodies being gathered to oppose their advance. It is quite +true that we might shoot down and overpower any such patrols, but +we must not attempt to do so. If one of them escaped, he would +carry the news to Thouars that the roads were beset. This would put +them on their guard--doubtless they imagine that, with such a force +as they have gathered, they will march through La Vendee without +opposition--and they would adopt such precautions at to render it +far more difficult, than it otherwise would be, to check their +advance when it begins in earnest. We are here only to watch. We +shall have opportunities for fighting, later on.</p> +<p>"This is a good spot for watching, for we have a thick wood +behind us; and plenty of undergrowth along its edge, by the road, +where we can hide so closely that there will not be the slightest +chance of our being discovered, if we do but keep absolutely +quiet."</p> +<p>Three or four times during the day, indeed, cavalry parties +passed along the road. They did not appear to have any fear of an +attack, but laughed and jested at the work they had come to do, +scoffed at the idea of the peasants venturing to oppose such forces +as had gathered against them, and discussed the chances of booty. +One party, of four men and an old sergeant, pulled up and +dismounted, close to the spot where the lads where hidden.</p> +<p>"It is all very well, comrades," their leader said, "but for my +part, I would rather be on the frontier fighting the Austrians. +That is work for soldiers. Here we are to fight Frenchmen, like +ourselves; poor chaps who have done no harm, except that they stick +to their clergy, and object to be dragged away from their homes. I +am no politician, and I don't care a snap for the doings of the +Assembly in Paris--I am a soldier, and have learned to obey orders, +whatever they are--but I don't like this job we have in hand; +which, mind you, is bound to be a good deal harder than most of you +expect. It is true that they say there are twenty thousand troops +round the province--but what sort of troops? There are not five +thousand soldiers among them. The others are either National +Guards, or newly-raised levies, or those blackguards from the slums +of Paris. Of the National Guards I should say half would desert, if +they only had the chance, and the new levies can't be counted +on."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch5" id="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: Checking The Enemy.</h2> +<p>"You see," Leigh said, when the patrol had ridden on, "the real +soldiers do not like the work they are called upon to do, and they +have no belief in the National Guards, or in the new levies. It +will make all the difference, in their own fighting, when they know +that they cannot rely upon some of the troops working with them. I +have no doubt that what they say of the National Guards is true. +They have had to come out because they are summoned, but they can +have no interest in the war against us and, doubtless, many of them +hate the government in Paris just as much as we do, and would give +a great deal to be back again with their homes and families. It is +just as hard for them to be obliged to fight us, as it is for us to +be obliged to fight them."</p> +<p>It was late in the afternoon before Andre and Pierre returned. +By the time they did so, the various cavalry patrols had all gone +back to Thouars. From time to time, boys had come in from the other +roads. One or two patrols, only, had gone out by each of the lanes +on which they were posted. It was evident that the main road was +considered of the most importance, and it was probable that the +greater portion of the enemy's force would move by it.</p> +<p>"Well, what is your news?" Leigh asked, as his two lieutenants +came down from the wood behind. "I hope all has gone well with +you."</p> +<p>"Yes, captain," Andre replied; "we have had no difficulty. The +troops in the villages on the other side of the town did not even +glance at us, as we went through; supposing, no doubt, that we +belonged to the place. Thouars was crowded with soldiers, and we +heard that two thousand more are to arrive from Saumur, this +evening. We heard one of the officers say that orders were expected +for a forward movement, tomorrow; and that all the other columns +were to move at the same time, and three of them were to meet at +Chemille."</p> +<p>"That is enough for the present, Andre. You have both done very +well, to pick up so much news as that. We will be off, at +once."</p> +<p>Messengers were at once sent off, to order in the other parties +and, as soon as these joined, they returned to the village, where +they passed the night. On arriving there, Leigh wrote a report of +the news that he had gathered; and sent off one of the band, who +had remained all day in the village, to Cathelineau, and the other +to Monsieur d'Elbee at Chollet.</p> +<p>The next day's watch passed like the first. Two or three +officers, however, trotted along the main road with a squadron of +cavalry, and rode to within a few miles of Chemille, and then +returned to Thouars.</p> +<p>The next morning Leigh and his band were out before daybreak +and, making their way to within a short distance of Thouars, heard +drums beating and trumpets sounding. There was no doubt that the +force there was getting into motion. The band at once dispersed, +carrying the news not only to every village along the road, warning +the women and children to take to the woods, and the men to prepare +for the passage of the enemy, but to all the villages within two or +three miles of the road, ordering the church bells to be sounded to +call the peasants to arms; while two lads started to carry the news +to Cathelineau and d'Elbee. When once the bells of the churches +near the road were set ringing, they were speedily echoed by those +of the villages beyond; until the entire district knew that the +enemy were advancing.</p> +<p>On the way from Chemille, Leigh had kept a sharp lookout for +points where an enemy might be checked; and had fixed upon one, +about halfway between the two towns. A stream some four feet in +depth passed under a bridge, where the road dipped into a hollow; +beyond this the ground rose steeply, and was covered with a thick +wood, of very considerable extent. As soon as he reached this +point, he set his band to work to destroy the bridge. As groups of +peasants came flocking along, and saw what was intended, they at +once joined in the work.</p> +<p>As soon at it was done, Leigh led them to the spot where the +forest began, some thirty yards up the hill, and set them to fell +trees. This was work to which all were accustomed and, as many of +them carried axes, the trees nearest to the road were felled to +fall across it; while on each side facing the stream, they were cut +so as to fall down the slope, and so form an abattis.</p> +<p>Before the work was finished, to a distance of two or three +hundred yards on each side of the road, several hundred peasants +had come up. Of these, about a third were armed with muskets. +Seeing the advantage of the position; and that, in case it was +forced, the forest offered them a means of retreat, all prepared +for a desperate resistance. The men with firearms were placed in +the front rank. Those with pitchforks, and other rural weapons, +were to keep at work till the last moment, cutting underwood, and +filling the interstices between the boughs of the fallen trees, so +as to make it extremely difficult to force. They were ordered to +withdraw, when the fight began, to a distance of two or three +hundred yards; and then to lie down, in any inequalities of the +ground, so as to be safe from cannon shot Only when the defenders +of the abattis were forced back, were they to prepare to +charge.</p> +<p>A young fellow with a cow horn took his place by Leigh's side. +When he blew his horn, the front rank were to run back, and the +reserve to come forward to meet them; and then they were to rush +down again upon their assailants who had passed the abattis, and to +hurl them into the stream.</p> +<p>The peasants all recognized the advantages of these +arrangements. Those who had come first had found Leigh in command +and, by the readiness with which he was obeyed by his own +followers, saw at once that he was in authority. As others came up, +he showed them Cathelineau's circular. These recognized its order, +and informed the later arrivals that the young officer, who was +giving orders, was specially empowered by Cathelineau to take +command; and Leigh was as promptly obeyed as if he had been their +favourite leader, himself. They saw, too, that he knew exactly what +he wanted done, and gave every order with firmness and decision; +and their confidence in him became profound.</p> +<p>It was three hours after he arrived at the river when a party of +horse came down the opposite slope. Leigh had ordered that not a +shot was to be fired, until he gave the signal. He waited until the +enemy came to the severed bridge, when they halted suddenly; and as +they did so he gave the word and, from the long line of greenery, +fifty muskets flashed out. More than half the troop of horse fell; +and the rest, turning tail, galloped up the hill again, while a +shout of derision rose from the peasants.</p> +<a id="PicC" name="PicC"></a> +<center><img src="images/c.jpg" alt= +"A scattered fire broke out from the defenders." /></center> +<p>Half an hour passed, then the head of the column was seen +descending the road. It opened out as it came, forming into a thick +line of skirmishers, some two hundred yards wide. Moving along, +Leigh spread the musketeers to a similar length of front. At first, +the enemy were half hidden by the wood at the other side of the +slope; but as they issued from this, some twenty yards from the +stream, a scattered fire broke out from the defenders.</p> +<p>The Blues replied with a general discharge at their invisible +foes, but these were crouching behind the stumps or trunks of the +felled trees, and the fire was ineffectual. Leigh's own band were +lying in a little hollow, twenty yards behind the abattis; their +pistols would have been useless, until the enemy won their way up +to the trees, and until then they were to remain as a first +reserve.</p> +<p>Exposed as they were to the steady fire of the peasants, the +assailants suffered heavily and, at the edge of the stream, paused +irresolutely. It was some fifteen yards wide, but they were +ignorant of the depth, and hesitated to enter it; urged, however, +by the shouts of their officers, who set the example by at once +entering the stream, and by seeing that the water did not rise +above their shoulders, the men followed. But as they gained the +opposite bank, they fell fast. At so short a distance, every shot +of the peasants told; and it was some time before a sufficient +number had crossed to make an assault against the wall of foliage +in their front.</p> +<p>Fresh troops were constantly arriving from behind and, +encouraged by this, they at last rushed forward. As they did so, +Leigh called up his own band; and these, crawling forward through +the tangle as far as they could, opened fire on the enemy, as they +strove to push their way through the obstacle.</p> +<p>For a quarter of an hour the fight went on. Then the assailants, +having with great loss succeeded in passing over or pulling aside +the brushwood, began to pour through. The moment they did so, +Leigh's horn sounded; and at once the defenders rushed up the hill, +pursued by the Blues, with exulting shouts. But few shots were +fired, for the assailants had emptied their muskets before striving +to pass through the obstacle.</p> +<p>Leigh and his men had run but a hundred yards into the wood when +they met the main body of the peasants, rushing down at full speed. +Turning at once, his party joined them, and fell upon the advancing +enemy. Taken wholly by surprise, when they believed that victory +was won, the two or three hundred men who had passed the abattis +were swept before the crowd of peasants like chaff. The latter, +pressing close upon their heels, followed them through the gaps +that had been made.</p> +<p>The panic of the fugitives spread at once to those who had +crossed the river, and were clustered round the openings, jostling +in their eagerness to get through and join, as they believed, in +the slaughter of those who had caused them such heavy loss; and all +fled together. The peasants were at their heels, making deadly use +of their pitchforks, axes, and knives, and drove the survivors +headlong into the river. The horn again sounded and, in accordance +with the strict orders that they had received, they ran back again +to their shelter; a few dropping from the scattered fire that the +troops on the other side of the stream opened against them, as soon +as the fugitives had cleared away from their front.</p> +<p>Scarcely had the peasants gained the shelter when six pieces of +cannon, that had been placed on the opposite slope while the fight +was going on, opened against them.</p> +<p>Leigh at once ordered the main body back to their former +position, scattering his hundred men with guns along the whole line +of abattis, whence they again opened fire on the troops on the +opposite side of the river. These replied with volleys of musketry; +but the defenders, stationed as they were five or six yards apart, +and sheltering behind the trees, suffered but little either from +the artillery or musketry fire; while men dropped fast in the ranks +of the Blues.</p> +<p>The cannon were principally directed against the trees blocking +the road. Gradually these were torn to pieces and, after an hour's +firing, were so far destroyed that a passage through them was +comparatively easy. Then the enemy again began to cross the +stream.</p> +<p>As soon as they commenced to do so, Leigh called up the men with +muskets from each flank, and sent word to the main body to descend +the hill again, as the cannonade would cease as soon as the attack +began. Three times the assault was made and repulsed, the peasants +fighting with a fury that the Blues, already disheartened with +their heavy losses, could not withstand. As they fell back for the +third time, Leigh thought that enough had been done, and ordered +the peasants at once to make through the woods, and to proceed +by-lanes and byways to join Cathelineau; who, he doubted not, would +by this time have gathered a considerable force at Chemille.</p> +<p>By the time that the Blues were ready to advance again, this +time in overwhelming force, the peasants were well away. The +wounded, as fast as they fell, had been carried off to distant +villages; and when the enemy advanced they found, to their +surprise, that their foes had disappeared, and that only some +thirty dead bodies remained on the scene of battle.</p> +<p>Their own loss had exceeded three hundred, a large proportion of +whom were regular soldiers; and the National Guards, and the new +levies, were profoundly depressed at the result of the action.</p> +<p>"If," they said to themselves, "what must have been but a +comparatively small number of peasants have caused this loss, what +will it be when we meet Cathelineau's main body?"</p> +<p>There was no thought of pursuit. A regiment was thrown out in +skirmishing order, and advanced through the wood, the rest +following in column along the road. General Berruyer had joined +General Menou the evening before, with the force from Saumur and, +as they moved forward, the two generals rode together.</p> +<p>"This is a much more serious business than I had expected," +Berruyer said. "I certainly imagined that, with such forces as we +have gathered round La Vendee, the campaign would be little more +than a military promenade. I see, however, that I was entirely +mistaken. These men have, today, shown themselves capable of taking +advantage of the wild character of their country; and as to their +courage, there can be no question, whatever. If this is a fair +sample of the resistance that we have to expect, throughout the +whole country, we shall need at least fifty thousand men to subdue +them."</p> +<p>"Fully that," Menou said, shortly. "There is no doubt that we +blame the National Guards, who were so easily routed by the +peasants on the tenth of March, more severely than they deserve. I +rode forward to encourage the men, at their last attack. I never +saw soldiers fight with such fury as did these peasants. They threw +themselves on the troops like tigers, in many cases wresting their +arms from them and braining them with their own muskets. Even our +best soldiers seemed cowed, by the fierceness with which they were +attacked; and as for the men of the new levies, they were worse +than useless, and their efforts to force their way to the rear +blocked the way of the reinforcements; who were trying, though I +must own not very vigorously, to get to the front.</p> +<p>"The peasants were well led, too, and acting on an excellent +plan of defence. They must have been sheltered altogether from our +fire, for among the dead I did not see one who had been killed by a +cannonball. The country must possess hundreds of points, equally +well adapted for defence; and if these are as well and obstinately +held as this has been, it will take even more than fifty thousand +men to suppress the insurrection."</p> +<p>"The Convention is going to work the wrong way," Berruyer said. +"The commissioners have orders to hang every peasant found in arms, +and every suspect; that is to say, virtually every one in La +Vendee. It would have been infinitely better for them to have +issued a general amnesty; to acknowledge that they themselves have +made a mistake; that the cures of Poitou and Brittany should be +excepted from the general law, and allowed to continue their work +in their respective parishes without interruption; and that for a +year, at least, this part of France should be exempt from +conscription. Why, if this campaign goes on, a far larger force +will be employed here than the number of troops which the district +was called upon to contribute, to say nothing of the enormous +expense and loss of men.</p> +<p>"It is a hideous business altogether, to my mind. I would give +all I possess to be recalled, and sent to fight on the +frontier."</p> +<p>Two hours after the fight, Leigh with his band, of whom none had +been killed, although several had received wounds more or less +serious, arrived at Chemille. They had been preceded by many of the +peasants, who had already carried the news of the fight, and that +the column from Thouars had been delayed for three hours, and had +suffered very heavy losses.</p> +<p>"It was all owing, Monsieur Cathelineau," the head of one of the +peasant bands said, "to the officer you sent to command us. He was +splendid. It was to him that everything was due. He was cutting +down the bridge when we came up, and it was by his orders that we +felled the trees, and blocked the road, and made a sort of hedge +that took them so long to get through. We should have been greatly +damaged by the fire of their guns and muskets; but he kept us all +lying down, out of reach, till we were wanted, while the men with +the guns defended the line of fallen trees. When we were wanted, he +called us up by blowing a cow horn, and then we drove the Blues +back into the stream, and returned to our shelter until we were +wanted again.</p> +<p>"We did not lose more than thirty men, altogether; while more +than ten times that number of the Blues have fallen. We thought at +first that you had chosen rather a strange leader for us; but as +always you were right, for if you had been there, yourself, things +could not have gone better."</p> +<p>"But I sent no one as your commander," Cathelineau said in +surprise.</p> +<p>"He had a paper that he read out, saying that he was acting on +your orders. As I cannot read, I cannot say that it was written +down as he read it; but if you did not send him, God must have done +so."</p> +<p>"It is strange, Bonchamp," Cathelineau said to that officer, +"for I certainly did not send anyone. I never thought of defending +the passage of that stream. However, whoever it is who has +commanded has done us great service, for that three hours which +have been gained will make all the difference. They cannot arrive, +now, until after dark, and will not attack before morning; and by +that time, our force will have doubled."</p> +<p>"Here comes our officer, monsieur!" the peasant exclaimed; as +Leigh, with his party, came down the street, loudly cheered by the +peasants who had fought under him.</p> +<p>"Why, it is Jean Martin's young brother-in-law!" Monsieur +Bonchamp exclaimed and, raising his voice, he called to Jean, who +was talking to a group of other officers near.</p> +<p>Jean ran up.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Martin, it is your young Englishman who has held +Berruyer in check, for three hours; see how the peasants are +cheering him!"</p> +<p>Cathelineau advanced to meet Leigh, who halted his band and +saluted the general. The latter stepped forward, and returned the +salute by lifting his hat.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Stansfield," he said, "I salute you, as the saviour of +our position here. Had Berruyer arrived this afternoon, we must +have retired; for we are not yet in sufficient force to withstand +his attack. Tomorrow we shall, I hope, be strong enough to beat +him. I have been wondering who this officer could be who, with but +three or four hundred men, held the principal force of our foes, +led by their commander-in-chief, in check for three hours; and, as +I hear, killed three hundred of his best troops, with a loss of but +thirty of ours. I ought to have thought of you, when they said that +you read them an order, saying that you were acting in my +name."</p> +<p>"It was great presumption on my part, general," Leigh said, "and +I know that I had no right to use it for such a purpose; but I felt +how important it was that you should have time to prepare for +defence, and I thought it my duty, as there was no one else to take +the matter in hand, to do so myself."</p> +<p>"You have done magnificently, sir, and the thanks of all La +Vendee are due to you.</p> +<p>"I see that several of your lads are wounded," for five of them +wore bandages, and a sixth was carried on a rough litter, by four +of his companions. "Lads," he said, "I salute you. You have done +well, indeed, and there is not a boy of your age in La Vendee but +will envy you, when he hears how you, under your brave young +commander, have today played the chief part in checking the advance +of an army of five thousand men. I shall publish an order, today, +saying that my scouts have rendered an inestimable service to their +country."</p> +<p>"Well, Leigh," Jean Martin said, after the little band had +fallen out, and one of the surgeons had taken charge of the +wounded, "you have indeed distinguished yourself. I certainly did +not think, when I persuaded your sister to let you go, that you +were going to match yourself against the French general, and to +command a force which should inflict a heavy check upon him. +Cathelineau has asked me to bring you round to his quarters, +presently, so that you can give him the full details of the affair; +saying that a plan that had succeeded so well might be tried again, +with equal effect. I cannot stay with you now, for I am going, with +Bonchamp, to see to the work of loopholing and fortifying the +church."</p> +<p>"I am going to look after my boys, Jean. They have had nothing +to eat this morning, except a mouthful or two of bread each, and +they have been up since two hours before daylight. Do you feel sure +that the Blues will not attack tonight?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I think so. After the lesson you have given Berruyer of +the fighting qualities of the peasants, it is pretty certain that +he will not venture to attack us after a hard day's march, and a +fight that must have sorely discouraged his men."</p> +<p>That evening, news came in from several quarters. Leigonyer had +marched from Vihiers by three roads, directing his course towards +Coron. Two of the columns had been attacked by the peasants and, +being largely composed of new levies, had at once lost heart and +retreated; the central column, in which were the regular troops, +being obliged in consequence also to fall back. Another column had +crossed the Loire and taken Saint Florent, without any very heavy +fighting; and Quetineau had advanced from Bressuire to Aubiers, +without meeting with resistance.</p> +<p>The news was, on the whole, satisfactory. It had been feared +that the force at Vihiers would march north, and join that of +Berruyer; and that they would make a joint attack upon the town. +The disaster that had befallen them rendered this no longer +possible. There was disappointment that Saint Florent had been +recaptured, but none that Quetineau had advanced without opposition +to Aubiers; for the whole of the peasantry from that locality were +with Cathelineau.</p> +<p>In point of fact, Berruyer had not ordered the force at Vihiers +to march to join him. On the contrary, he had intended, after +capturing Chemille, which he expected to do without serious +trouble, to march south and effect a junction with Leigonyer at +Coron. He halted four miles from Chemille, harangued the new +levies, reproaching those who had shown cowardice during the day's +fighting, and exhorting them to behave with courage on the +following day. No inconsiderable portion of them belonged to the +force that had marched down from Paris, and these heroes of the +slums, who had been foremost in the massacres in the prisons, and +in their demand for the blood of all hostile to them, behaved +throughout with abject cowardice, whenever they met a foe with arms +in their hands.</p> +<p>After having had an interview with Cathelineau, and relating to +him full particulars of the fight, Leigh, having nothing to do, +strolled about the town. Presently he came upon a group of three or +four peasants, who had been drinking more than was good for them. +One of them, whose bearing and appearance showed that he had served +in the army, was talking noisily to the others.</p> +<p>"You will see that I, Jacques Bruno, artilleryman, will be a +great man yet," he said. "I shall soon be rich. I have had enough +poverty since I left the army, but I shall have plenty of gold yet. +You will see what you will see."</p> +<p>"How can you be rich?" one of the others said, with an air of +drunken wisdom. "You are lazy, Jacques Bruno. We all know you. You +are too fond of the wine cup It is seldom that you do a day's +work."</p> +<p>"Never mind how I shall get rich. I tell you that it will be so, +and the word of Jacques Bruno is not to be doubted;" and he turned +away, saying, "I shall go for a few hours' sleep, now, to be in +readiness for tomorrow."</p> +<p>"Who is that man?" Leigh asked sharply, going up to the +others.</p> +<p>The scarf that he wore showed him to be an officer, and the +peasants removed their hats.</p> +<p>"It is Jacques Bruno, monsieur. He is in charge of our guns. He +is an old artilleryman. Cathelineau has appointed him to the post, +as it needs an artilleryman to load and point the guns."</p> +<p>Leigh moved away. This fellow was half drunk, but not too drunk +to know what he was saying. What did he mean by declaring that he +would soon be rich? The peasants had said that he was lazy, and +fond of the wine cup He could hardly be likely to acquire wealth by +honest labour.</p> +<p>Perhaps he might be intending an act of treachery. Putting aside +other considerations, he, as an old soldier, would scarcely care to +mow down his former comrades, and his sympathies must be rather +with the army than with the peasants. He had no personal interest +in this revolt against conscription, nor was it likely that the +cause of the cures concerned him greatly. He might, however, +meditate some act of treachery, by which he would benefit his +former comrades and gain a rich reward.</p> +<p>At any rate, it would be worth while watching. He returned to +the room where his band were quartered.</p> +<p>"Andre," he said, "I want you and two others to keep watch with +me until midnight, then Pierre and two of his party will relieve +you. At that hour you will send one of your party, to guide Pierre +to the place where I shall be. You will bring your pistols and +knives with you, and if I come down and tell you to move forward, +you will do so as noiselessly as possible."</p> +<p>"Shall we come at once, captain?" Andre asked.</p> +<p>"No, you had better lie down, with the two who are to come with +you, and sleep till nine o'clock. I will come at that hour. We will +say one o'clock instead of twelve for the watch to be changed; that +will make a more even division for the night."</p> +<p>Going out again, Leigh inquired where the cannon had been +placed. They were on an eminence outside the town, and commanded +the road by which Berruyer's column would advance. Strolling up +there, he saw Bruno lying asleep between two of the guns, of which +there were five.</p> +<p>"It seems all right," he said to himself, "and as he cannot walk +off with them, I don't see what his plan can be--that is, if he has +a plan. However, there is no harm in keeping watch. The guns are +against the skyline and, lying down fifty yards away, we shall be +able to see if he does anything with them. Of course he might spike +them, but I don't suppose that he would risk that, for the spikes +might be noticed the first thing in the morning. I don't think that +it would do for him to try that. It seemed a stupid thing even to +doubt him but, half drunk as he was, he certainly was in earnest in +what he said, and does believe that he is going to be a rich man; +and I don't see how that can possibly come about, except by some +act of treachery. At any rate, we will keep an eye upon the fellow +tonight, and if we are not posted in any particular spot tomorrow, +I will be up here with my band when the firing begins, and keep my +eye on him."</p> +<p>He spent three or four hours with Jean Martin, and then went +back to his quarters. Andre and two of the lads were in readiness. +They moved out quietly, for the street was thick with sleeping +peasants. There were no sentries to be seen.</p> +<p>"If the enemy did but know," he muttered to himself, "they might +take the place without firing a shot."</p> +<p>Presently, however, he came upon an officer.</p> +<p>"Where are you going?" he asked sharply.</p> +<p>"I am Leigh Stansfield, and am going, with three of my party, to +keep watch near the guns."</p> +<p>"That is good," the officer said. "I am on duty here, and Jean +Martin has just ridden out. He is going a couple of miles along the +road, and will give the alarm if he hears any movement of the +enemy. When he gets within half a mile he is to fire off his +pistols, and I shall have time to get the men up, long before their +infantry can arrive. We have tried, in vain, to get some of the +peasants to do outpost duty. They all say that they will be ready +to fight, when the enemy comes; but they want a good sleep first, +and even Cathelineau could not move them. It is heartbreaking to +have to do with such men."</p> +<p>"I do not think that it is laziness. It is that they have a +fixed objection to doing what they consider any kind of soldier +work. Their idea of war is to wait till the enemy comes, and then +to make a rush upon them; and when they have done that, they think +their duty is ended. Some day, when the Blues have a sharp +commander, and have gained a little discipline, we shall suffer +some terrible disaster from the obstinacy of the peasantry."</p> +<p>With a word of adieu Leigh turned off the road, and made his way +halfway up the eminence. Here the guns could be plainly made out. +Leaving Andre and his two followers, he went quietly up the slope, +to assure himself that the artilleryman was still there. Had he +missed him, he was determined to go at once to Cathelineau, and +state his suspicions, and his belief that Bruno had gone off to +inform Berruyer that, if he advanced, he would find the place +wholly unguarded, and would have it at his mercy. He found, +however, that the artilleryman was still asleep, and returned to +Andre.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "there is no occasion for us all to watch. I, +with one of the others, will keep a lookout for the next two hours +and, at the end of that time, will rouse you and the others."</p> +<p>Leigh's watch had passed off quietly. There was no movement +among the guns and, from the position in which Bruno was lying, his +figure would have been seen at once, had he risen to his feet.</p> +<p>"If the man up there stands up, you are to awaken me at once, +Andre," he said.</p> +<p>Overcome by the excitement and the heat of the day, Leigh +dropped off to sleep almost immediately. An hour later, he was +roused by being shaken by Andre.</p> +<p>"The man has got up, sir."</p> +<p>The artilleryman, after stretching himself two or three times, +took up something from the ground beside him, and then went some +distance down the side of the hill, but still in sight of the +watchers.</p> +<p>"He has got something on his shoulder, sir. I think it is a +shovel, and he has either a cloak or a sack on his arm."</p> +<p>"He is evidently up to something," Leigh replied, "but what it +can be, I cannot imagine."</p> +<p>Presently the man stopped, and began to work.</p> +<p>"He is digging," Andre said, in surprise.</p> +<p>"It looks like it certainly, but what he can be digging for I +have no idea."</p> +<p>Presently the man was seen to raise a heavy weight on to his +shoulders.</p> +<p>"It was a sack he had with him," Andre said, "and he has filled +it with earth and stones."</p> +<p>Leigh did not reply. The mystery seemed to thicken, and he was +unable to form any supposition, whatever, that would account for +the man's proceedings. The latter carried his burden up to the +cannon, then he laid it down, and took up some long tool and thrust +it into the mouth of one of the cannon.</p> +<p>A light suddenly burst upon Leigh.</p> +<p>"The scoundrel is going to draw the charges," he said, "and fill +up the cannon with the earth that he has brought up."</p> +<p>Andre would have leapt to his feet, as he uttered an exclamation +of rage.</p> +<p>"Keep quiet!" Leigh said, authoritatively. "We have no evidence +against him, yet. We must watch him a bit longer, before we +interrupt him."</p> +<p>After two or three movements, the man was seen to draw something +from the gun. This he laid on the ground, and then inserted the +tool again.</p> +<p>"That is the powder," Leigh whispered, as something else was +withdrawn from the gun; "there, you see, he is taking handfuls of +earth from the sack, and shoving it into the mouth."</p> +<p>This was continued for some time, and then a rammer was +inserted, and pushed home several times. Then he moved to the next +cannon.</p> +<p>"Now follow very quietly, Andre. Busy as he is, we may get quite +close up to him, before he notices us. Mind, you are not to use +your knife. We can master him easily enough, and must then take him +down to Cathelineau, for his fate to be decided on."</p> +<a id="PicD" name="PicD"></a> +<center><img src="images/d.jpg" alt= +"Leigh gave the word and, leaping up, they threw themselves on the traitor." /> +</center> +<p>Noiselessly they crept up the hill. When within five or six +paces of the gun at which Bruno was at work, Leigh gave the word +and, leaping up, they threw themselves on the traitor; who was +taken so completely by surprise that they were able to throw him, +at once, to the ground. Snatching up a rope that had been used for +drawing the guns, Leigh bound his arms securely to his side; and +then, putting a pistol to his head, ordered him to rise to his +feet.</p> +<p>"Shoot me, if you like,"' the man growled. "I will not +move."</p> +<p>"I will not shoot you," Leigh replied. "You must be tried and +condemned.</p> +<p>"Now, Andre, we must carry him."</p> +<p>The four boys had no difficulty in carrying the man down. As +they passed the officer on sentry, he said:</p> +<p>"Whom have you there, Monsieur Stansfield?"</p> +<p>"It is Bruno, the artilleryman. We have caught him drawing the +charges from the guns, and filling them with earth. We must take +him to the general."</p> +<p>"The villain!" the officer exclaimed. "Who would have thought of +a Vendean turning traitor?"</p> +<p>Cathelineau was still up, talking with some of his officers as +to the preparations for the battle. There was no sentry at his +door. Leigh entered and, tapping at the door of the room in which +he saw a light, went in. Cathelineau looked up in surprise, as the +door opened.</p> +<p>"I thought you were asleep hours ago, monsieur," he said.</p> +<p>"It is well that I have not been, sir."</p> +<p>And he related the conversation that he had overheard, and his +own suspicions that the man Bruno meditated treachery; the steps +they had taken to watch him, and the discovery they had made. +Exclamations of indignation and fury broke from the officers.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen," Cathelineau said, "we will at once proceed to try +this traitor. He shall be judged by men of his own class.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Pourcet, do you go out and awaken the first twelve +peasants you come to."</p> +<p>In a minute or two the officer returned with the peasants, who +looked surprised at having been thus roused from their sleep.</p> +<p>"My friends, do you take your places along that side of the +room. You are a jury, and are to decide upon the guilt or innocence +of a man who is accused of being a traitor."</p> +<p>The word roused them at once, and all repeated indignantly the +word "traitor!"</p> +<p>"Monsieur Stansfield," he said to Leigh, "will you order your +men to bring in the prisoner?"</p> +<p>The man was brought in and placed at the head of the table, +opposite to Cathelineau.</p> +<p>"Now, Monsieur Stansfield, will you tell the jury the story that +you have just told me?"</p> +<p>Leigh repeated his tale, interrupted occasionally by +exclamations of fury from the peasants. Andre and the other lads +stepped forward, one after the other, and confirmed Leigh's +statement.</p> +<p>"Before you return a verdict, my friends," Cathelineau said +quietly, "it is but right that we should go up to the battery, and +examine the cannon ourselves; not, of course, that we doubt the +statement of Monsieur Stansfield and the other witnesses, but +because it is well that each of you should be able to see for +himself, and report to others that you have been eyewitnesses of +the traitor's plot."</p> +<p>Accordingly the whole party ascended to the battery. There lay +the spade and the sack of earth. The tool with which the work had +been done was still in the mouth of the second cannon and, on +pulling it out, the powder cartridge came with it. Then Leigh led +them to the next gun, and a man who had a bayonet thrust it in, and +soon brought some earth and stones to the mouth of the gun.</p> +<p>"We have now had the evidence of Monsieur Stansfield, and those +with him, tested by ourselves examining the guns. What do you say, +my friends--has this man been proved a traitor, or not?"</p> +<p>"He has!" the peasants exclaimed, in chorus.</p> +<p>"And what is your sentence?"</p> +<p>"Death!" was the unanimous reply.</p> +<p>"I approve of that sentence. March him down to the side of the +river, and shoot him."</p> +<p>Three minutes later, four musket shots rang out.</p> +<p>"Thus die all traitors!" Cathelineau said.</p> +<p>Bruno, however, was the sole Vendean who, during the course of +the war, turned traitor to his comrades and his country.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch6" id="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: The Assault Of +Chemille.</h2> +<p>Few words were spoken, as the group of officers returned to the +town. When they reached Cathelineau's quarters Leigh would have +gone on, but the general said, "Come in, if you please, Monsieur +Stansfield," and he followed the party in.</p> +<p>"This has been a trial, gentlemen, a heavy trial," the general +said. "When I entered upon this work, I knew that that there were +many things that I should have to endure. I knew the trouble of +forming soldiers from men who, like ours, prize their freedom and +independence above all other things; that we might have to suffer +defeat; that we must meet with hardships, and probably death; and +that, in the long run, all our efforts might be futile.</p> +<p>"But I had not reckoned on having to deal with treachery. I had +never dreamed that one of my first acts would have been to try and +to sentence a Vendean to death, for an act of the grossest +treachery. However, let us put that aside; it was, perhaps, in the +nature of things. In every community there must be a few scoundrels +and, if this turns out to be a solitary instance, we may +congratulate ourselves, especially as we have escaped without +injury.</p> +<p>"That we have done so, gentlemen, is due solely to Monsieur +Stansfield; who thus twice, in the course of a single day, has +performed an inestimable service to the cause. There are few indeed +who, on hearing the braggadocio of a drunken man, would have given +the matter a moment's thought; still less have undertaken a night +of watchfulness, after a day of the heaviest work, merely to test +the truth of a slightly-founded suspicion that might have occurred +to them. It is not too much to say that, had not this act of +treachery been discovered, our defeat tomorrow would have been +well-nigh certain. You know how much our people think of their +guns; and if, when the fight began, the cannon had been silent, +instead of pouring their contents into the ranks of the enemy, they +would have lost heart at once, and would have been beaten almost +before the fight began.</p> +<p>"We have no honours to bestow on you, Monsieur Stansfield, but +in the name of La Vendee I thank you, with all my heart. I shall +add, to my order respecting your fight of yesterday, a statement of +what has taken place tonight; and I shall beg that all officers +read it aloud to the parties that follow them."</p> +<p>"I agree most cordially with the general's words," Monsieur +Bonchamp said. "Your defence yesterday would have been a credit to +any military man, and this discovery has saved us from ruin +tomorrow, or rather today. I will venture to say that not one man +in five hundred would have taken the trouble to go out of his way +to ascertain whether the words of a drunken man rested on any +foundation."</p> +<p>There was, then, a short conversation as to the approaching +fight. The number of men who had arrived was much smaller than had +been anticipated, owing to the fact that the simultaneous invasion, +at so many points, had the effect of retaining the peasants of the +various localities for the defence of their own homes. Leigh +learned that a mounted messenger had been despatched, shortly +before he brought the prisoner down, to beg Monsieur d'Elbee to +bring the force he commanded, at Chollet, with all speed to aid in +the defence of Chemille; for if that town fell, he would be exposed +to the attack of the united forces of Generals Berruyer and +Leigonyer.</p> +<p>"Now, gentlemen, I think we had better get a few hours' sleep," +Cathelineau said. "They will not be here very early, probably not +until noon; for they may wait for a time before starting, in hopes +of being joined either by Leigonyer or one of the other columns, +and it is not likely that any news of the sharp reverse that +Leigonyer has met with has reached them."</p> +<p>It was now two o'clock in the morning, and Leigh slept heavily, +till roused at eight.</p> +<p>"You should have called me before, Andre," he said +reproachfully, when he learnt how late it was.</p> +<p>"I thought it was better that you should have a good sleep, +captain. Of course, if there had been any message to say that you +were wanted, I should have woke you; but as no one came, and there +is still no news of the enemy, I thought that it was better to let +you sleep till now."</p> +<p>Pierre had started with his party, at five, to scout on the road +by which the enemy was advancing. Leigh first hurried down to the +river and had a bath, and then felt ready for any work that he +might have to do. He then went to the house where Jean was lodged. +The latter, who had not returned from his outpost work till day +broke, was just getting up.</p> +<p>"Well, Leigh," he said, "I called in at Cathelineau's quarters +to report. I found him already up. He told me the work that you had +been doing, and praised you up to the skies. It seems to me that +you are getting all the credit of the campaign. Really I feel quite +proud of you, and we shall be having you starting as a rival leader +to Cathelineau."</p> +<p>Leigh laughed.</p> +<p>"One does not often have two such opportunities in the course of +a day, and I don't suppose I am likely to have such luck again, if +the war goes on for a year. Where are you going to be today?"</p> +<p>"I am going to act as aide-de-camp to Bonchamp."</p> +<p>"And what shall we do, do you think?"</p> +<p>"Well, I should say you had best keep out of it altogether, +Leigh. You and your band did much more than your share of fighting +yesterday, and your pistols will be of no use in a fight such as +this will be. Seriously, unless Cathelineau assigns you some post, +I should keep out of it. Your little corps is specially formed to +act as scouts and, as we are so extremely badly off in that +respect, it will be far better for you to keep to your proper +duties, than to risk your lives."</p> +<p>"How do you think the fight is likely to go, Jean?"</p> +<p>"It depends, in the first place, upon how the Blues fight; if +they do well, they ought to beat us. In the next place, it depends +on whether d'Elbee comes up in time. If he does, I think that we +shall hold the place, but it will be stiff fighting."</p> +<p>It was not until noon that Berruyer's force was seen +approaching. As soon as it was in sight the Vendeans poured out, +and took up their station by the hill on which the guns were +placed. In spite of what Jean had said, Leigh would have placed his +band with the rest; had not Cathelineau sent for him, half an hour +before, and given him orders which were almost identical with the +advice of Jean.</p> +<p>"I wish you and your band to keep out of this battle, Monsieur +Stansfield. Your force is so small that it can make no possible +difference in the fortunes of the day and, whether we win or lose, +your lads may be wanted as messengers, after it is over. They have +done extremely well, at present, and need no further credit than +they have gained. I beg, therefore, that you will take post with +them somewhat in rear of the village, away on the right. I shall +then know where to find you, if I have any messages to send; and +moreover, I want you at once to send off one of your most active +lads with this note to d'Elbee, urging him to come on at full +speed, for the fight is likely to go hard with us, unless he comes +in time to our assistance; and telling him I wish him to know that, +even if I have to fall back, the church will be held till the last; +and that as soon as he arrives I shall, if possible, again take the +offensive, and beg that he will attack the enemy in flank or in +rear, as he sees an opportunity. Upon the belfry of the church, +half a mile on our right, you will be able to see how the battle +goes; and can send off news to d'Elbee, from time to time."</p> +<p>"Very well, sir. I will despatch your letter at once, and then +march out to the church, which I noticed yesterday."</p> +<p>"Here is a telescope," Cathelineau said. "We are well provided +with them, as we took all that we could find, at Chollet and +Vihiers. I think that, with its aid, you will be able to have a +good view of what is going on."</p> +<p>In twenty minutes, Leigh had taken up his post in the belfry of +the village church that Cathelineau had indicated. Andre and +Pierre, whose party had returned an hour before, were with him. The +rest of the band were in the story below them, from which a view +was also obtainable. The three most severely wounded had started +for their homes, early that morning. The others were fit for +duty.</p> +<p>The fight began by a discharge of the guns of the assailants. +Leigh could see that the defenders' guns had been somewhat +withdrawn from their position on the top of the rising ground, +where they would have been too much exposed to the enemy's fire; +and their muzzles now only showed over the brow. During the course +of the morning an earthwork had been thrown up, to afford +protection to the men serving them. They did not return the fire +until the enemy were within a distance of a quarter of a mile, then +they commenced, with deadly effect.</p> +<p>The Blues halted, and Leigh could make out that a considerable +number of men in the rear at once turned and ran. In order to +encourage them they had been informed, just before they marched, of +the plot that had been arranged to silence the guns; and this +unexpected discharge caused the greatest consternation among the +young levies. A body of cavalry were at once sent off in pursuit, +and drove the fugitives back to their ranks, the troopers using the +flats of their swords unstintingly.</p> +<p>Then the advance was resumed, covered by the fire of the guns +and by volleys of musketry. These were answered but feebly by the +firearms in the peasants' hands, and the Blues pressed on until, +just before they reached the foot of the slope, the peasants +charged them with fury.</p> +<p>The regular troops and a regiment of gendarmes had been placed +in front. These stood firm, poured heavy volleys into the peasants +as they approached, and then received them with levelled +bayonets.</p> +<p>In vain the Vendeans strove to break through the hedge of steel. +Cathelineau and his officers on one side, and the French generals +on the other, encouraged their men, and for a quarter of an hour a +desperate conflict reigned. Then the peasants fell back, and the +Blues resumed their advance.</p> +<p>Three times Cathelineau induced his followers to renew the +attack, but each time it was unsuccessful. The Blues mounted the +hill, the cannon were captured, and the Vendeans fell back into the +town. Here the ends of the streets had been barricaded and, in +spite of the artillery and the captured guns now turned against +their former owners, the assailants tried in vain to force their +way into the town.</p> +<p>From every window that commanded the approaches, the men with +muskets kept up an incessant fire. The mass of the peasants lay in +shelter behind the barricades, or in the houses, until the enemy's +infantry approached to within striking distance; and then, leaping +up from these barricades, and fighting with an absolute disregard +of their lives, they again and again repulsed the attacks of the +enemy.</p> +<p>Berruyer, seeing that in spite of his heavy losses he made no +way, called his troops from the assault and, forming them into two +columns, moved to the right and left, and attacked the town on both +sides. Here no barricades had been erected and, in spite of the +efforts of the peasants, an entrance was forced into the town. +Every street, lane, and house was defended with desperate energy; +but discipline gradually triumphed, and the Blues won their way +into the square in the centre of the town, where the principal +church stood. As they entered the open space, they were assailed +with a rain of bullets from the roof, tower, and windows.</p> +<p>As soon as the flanking movement began, Monsieur Bonchamp, +seeing that the town was now certain to be taken, had hurried, with +the greater portion of the men armed with muskets, to the church; +which had already been prepared by him, on the previous day, for +the defence. A great number of paving stones had been got up from +the roadway and piled inside the church and, as soon as he arrived +there with his men, the doors were closed, and blocked behind with +a deep wall of stones.</p> +<p>Berruyer saw that the position was a formidable one and, +ignorant of the number of the defenders, sent back for his guns, +and contented himself for the time by clearing the rest of the town +of its defenders. These, however, as they issued out, were rallied +by Cathelineau and his officers. They assured the peasants that the +day was not yet lost, that the church would hold out for hours, and +that d'Elbee would soon arrive, with his force from Chollet, to +their assistance.</p> +<p>Leigh, anxiously watching the progress of the fight, had sent +messenger after messenger along the road by which d'Elbee would +come. His heart sank, as he heard the guns open in the centre of +the town, and knew that they were directed against the church. +Still, there was no abatement of the fire of the defenders. An +incessant fire of musketry was maintained, not only from the church +itself, but from every window in the houses around it.</p> +<p>At last, he heard that d'Elbee's force was but a quarter of a +mile away and, running down from his lookout, he started to meet +it. It was coming at a run, the men panting and breathless, but +holding on desperately, half maddened with the sound of battle.</p> +<p>"All is not lost yet, then?" d'Elbee said, as he came up.</p> +<p>"No, sir. The church holds out, and I could see that the +peasants who have been driven out of the town have rallied, but a +few hundred yards away, and are evidently only waiting for your +arrival to renew the attack. I think, sir, that if you will run up +to the belfry of the church with this glass, you will be able to +understand the exact situation."</p> +<p>The officer ran up the tower, and returned in two or three +minutes. Then he led his men down towards the southeastern corner +of the town.</p> +<p>Leigh, on hearing that d'Elbee was close at hand, sent off two +messengers to Cathelineau to inform him of the fact; and he now +sent off another, stating the direction in which the reinforcement +was marching.</p> +<p>"I am going to attack at that corner, instead of in the rear," +Monsieur d'Elbee said to him; for now that the duty assigned to him +had been performed, Leigh thought that he would be justified in +joining in the attack, with what remained of his band. "If I were +to get directly in their rear they would, on finding their retreat +cut off, fight so fiercely that I might be overpowered. Even the +most cowardly troops will fight, under those circumstances. +Therefore, while threatening their line of retreat, I still leave +it open to them. It is a maxim in war, you know, always to leave a +bridge open for a flying foe."</p> +<p>In a few minutes they reached the town. None had observed their +approach, the troops being assembled round the church. These were +at once thrown into confusion, when they found themselves attacked +with fury by a large force, of whose existence they had no previous +thought.</p> +<p>The Vendeans fought with desperate valour. The new levies for +the most part lost heart at once and, in spite of the efforts of +Berruyer and his officers, began to make for the line of retreat. +The movement was accelerated by an outburst of shouts from the +other side of the town, where Cathelineau's force poured in, +burning to avenge their former losses; and as they fell upon the +enemy, Bonchamp led out the defenders of the church, by a side +door, and joined in the fray.</p> +<p>Berruyer saw that all was lost. By great efforts he kept +together the gendarmes and regular troops, to cover the retreat; +and fell back, fighting fiercely. Bonchamp and his musketeers +pressed hotly upon them. The peasants made charge after charge and, +as soon as the force issued from the town, many of the peasantry +set off at full speed in pursuit of the fugitives, great numbers of +whom were overtaken and killed. Berruyer continued his retreat all +night, and entered Saint Lambert before morning; having lost the +whole of his cannon, and three thousand men, in this disastrous +fight.</p> +<p>The joy of the Vendeans was unbounded. The stones were speedily +removed from the shattered doors of the church, mass was +celebrated, and the peasants returned thanks for their great +victory.</p> +<p>The gains were, indeed, considerable. Three thousand muskets had +fallen into their hands. They had recaptured the guns that they had +lost, and taken twelve others. Their own losses had been +heavy--eighteen hundred men had been killed, and a great number +wounded. But of this, at the time, they thought but little; those +who had died had died for their country and their God, as all of +them were ready to do, and how could men do more?</p> +<p>On the Republican side, General Duhaus had been very dangerously +wounded, and most of Berruyer's principal officers killed.</p> +<p>A council of war was held the next morning, at Chemille. For the +moment, the victory had secured their safety; but while the +peasants believed and hoped that the war was over, their leaders +saw that the position was scarcely improved. They had, indeed, +captured guns and muskets; but these were useless without +ammunition, and their stock of powder and ball was quite exhausted. +Already the peasantry were leaving in large numbers for their +homes. Berruyer might return reinforced at any time, and effect a +junction with Leigonyer; while the column that had captured Saint +Florent would doubtless advance. It was therefore decided that +Chemille must be abandoned, and that the officers should retire to +Tiffauges until, at any rate, the peasants were ready to leave +their homes again.</p> +<p>By evening that day the greater portion of the army had melted +away and, on the following morning, the leaders also left the town +they had so bravely defended. On the following day, indeed, +Berruyer, having learned the position of Leigonyer, returned to +Chemille and, two days later, was in communication with Leigonyer's +force. The latter had occupied Chollet, which had been left devoid +of defenders since the day they marched away.</p> +<p>On the other hand Quetineau had, on the thirteenth, been +attacked at Aubiers, and had been forced to evacuate the place, +leaving three guns behind him, retiring to Bressuire. The capture +of Aubiers was the work of Henri de la Rochejaquelein. He had +ridden to join Cathelineau, and met him and the other leaders +retiring from Chemille. They were gloomy and depressed. They had +won a battle, but they were without an army, without ammunition. +Almost all the towns were in the possession of the Blues. It seemed +to them that the struggle could not be much longer maintained.</p> +<p>The young count was too energetic and too enthusiastic to be +seriously moved, and rode back to the residence of an aunt, at +Saint Aubin. There he learned that Aubiers had been taken by the +enemy. The peasantry around were in a state of extreme excitement. +They had hoisted the white flag on their churches, and were ready +to fight, but they had no leader.</p> +<p>Hearing that Rochejaquelein was at his aunt's house, they came +to him, and begged him to take the command, promising him that in +twenty-four hours ten thousand men should be ready to follow him. +He agreed to the request. The church bells were set ringing and, +before morning, almost that number were assembled. Of these, only +two hundred had guns.</p> +<p>With this force he attacked Aubiers. The resistance of the enemy +was feeble, and they were chased almost to Bressuire. +Rochejaquelein was very anxious to capture this town, as his +friends, the Lescures, had been brought from Clisson and imprisoned +there; but he saw that it was of primary importance to carry +assistance to Cathelineau, and he accordingly marched to Tiffauges. +The church bells again rang out their summons; and Cathelineau, in +twenty-four hours, found himself at the head of an army of twenty +thousand men.</p> +<p>"I told you at Clisson that I should soon meet you again, +Monsieur Martin," La Rochejaquelein said when, as he rode into +Tiffauges at the head of his newly raised force, he met Jean in the +street, "and here I am, you see. I am only sorry that I am too late +to take part in the brave fight at Chemille."</p> +<p>"Right glad are we to see you, count," Jean replied. "This is my +wife's brother, of whom I was speaking to you at Clisson. +Cathelineau will tell you that he has been distinguishing himself +rarely."</p> +<p>Henri held out his hand to Leigh, and said warmly, "I am glad to +know you. It would be a shame, indeed, were any Vendeans to remain +at home, when a young Englishman is fighting for their country. I +hope that we shall be great friends."</p> +<p>"I shall be glad, indeed, to be so," Leigh replied with equal +warmth, for he was greatly struck with the appearance of the young +soldier.</p> +<p>Henri de la Rochejaquelein was but twenty-one years old, tall, +and remarkably handsome. He had fair hair, and a noble bearing. His +father had been a colonel in the army, and he himself was a cavalry +officer in the king's guard. He was the beau ideal of a dashing +hussar, and his appearance was far more English than French. He was +immensely popular, his manner frank and pleasant, and he was +greatly beloved by the peasantry on his family estates.</p> +<p>At this moment Cathelineau with his two generals came up, and +Leigh retired from the circle. The arrival of the young count, with +his strong reinforcement, at once altered the position. The leaders +who had, since they fell back from Chemille, been depressed and +almost hopeless, beamed with satisfaction as they talked with +Henri, whose enthusiasm was infectious.</p> +<p>La Rochejaquelein accompanied them to his quarters. Hitherto he +had only heard rumours of the fighting at Chemille, and Cathelineau +now gave him a full account of the affair. Jean Martin had, at his +invitation, accompanied him; and when Cathelineau had finished, +Henri turned to him and said:</p> +<p>"Indeed you did not exaggerate, Monsieur Martin, when you said +that your brother-in-law had already distinguished himself. In +fact, there can be no doubt that the splendid defence he made at +that little river, where he held Berruyer's whole force in check +for upwards of three hours--and so forced him to halt for the night +on the way, instead of pushing forward and attacking Chemille at +once--saved the town, for it gave time to Monsieur d'Elbee to come +up. Scarcely less important was his detection of the treachery of +the man in charge of the artillery. I cannot but regret that so +gallant a young fellow is not my countryman, for I should have felt +proud of one so daring, and so thoughtful.</p> +<p>"When you do not want him for scouting work, Monsieur +Cathelineau, I shall get you to lend him to me. I should be really +glad to have him by my side. His face pleased me much. There was +something so frank and honest about it and, after what he has done, +I am sure that I shall always respect his opinion."</p> +<p>There was another consultation as to what should be their first +operation, and it was resolved that Leigonyer should be attacked at +once, before he could make a complete junction with Berruyer. The +next morning, at daybreak, the whole force moved off. They were +only just in time, for Berruyer had already ordered General +Gauvillier, who commanded the force that had captured Saint +Florent, to advance to Beaupreau. Berruyer was to march to Vezins, +and he himself to Jallais, and to join Leigonyer at May.</p> +<p>On the previous evening Henri had, after the termination of the +council, requested Jean Martin to take him to the house where Leigh +and his little party were quartered.</p> +<p>"I have been hearing of your doings," he said, "and feel quite +jealous that you, who are, I hear, four years younger than myself, +should have done so much; while I, with all my family influence and +connection, should as yet have done nothing but chase the enemy out +of Aubiers. How is it that you, who have had no training as a +soldier, should have conceived the idea of arresting the march of +Berruyer's army, with a force of only two or three hundred +peasants?"</p> +<p>"It was a mere matter of common sense," Leigh said, with a +smile. "I knew that it was of the utmost importance that Chemille +should not be attacked, until Cathelineau received reinforcements. +At first, I had no thought of doing more than breaking down the +bridge, and of perhaps checking the advanced cavalry; but when I +found that the peasants who came along were quite willing to aid, +it seemed to me that by cutting down the trees, so as to block the +road and make a shelter for us, we might be able to cause the enemy +considerable delay. I hardly hoped to succeed in holding out so +long, or in inflicting such loss upon him as we were able to do. It +did not require any military knowledge whatever, and I should not +have attempted it had I not seen that, thanks to the forest, we +should be able to retreat when we could no longer hold the +barricade of felled trees."</p> +<p>"Well, you could not have done better if you had been a general. +I have Cathelineau's permission to ask you to ride with me, when +you are not engaged in scouting."</p> +<p>"I should be delighted to do so, but at present I have no horse. +However, I can send one of my lads back to the chateau, to fetch +the one that I generally ride."</p> +<p>"I have brought a spare animal with me," the young count said. +"I brought it in case the other should be shot, and I shall be glad +if you will ride it tomorrow, and until yours arrives; but I would +not send for one until after tomorrow, for likely enough we may +make some captures before nightfall.</p> +<p>"We are to march at three in the morning, and to attack +Leigonyer. The great thing that we need is powder. Cathelineau says +that there is scarcely a charge left among his men. Mine are not +much better off. We should have had none with which to attack +Aubiers; but I sent off during the night to a quarry, a few miles +from my aunt's, and succeeded in getting forty pounds of blasting +powder. It would not have been of much use for the muskets, but the +fact of its being powder was sufficient to encourage the peasants; +and the Blues made such a feeble resistance that its quality made +no difference to us. It enabled those who had muskets to make a +noise with them, and was just as effectual in raising their spirits +in attacking the Blues as if it had been the finest quality. We got +a few hundred cartridges when we took the place, but that will not +go very far, and I hope that, tomorrow, we shall be able to obtain +a supply from the enemy."</p> +<p>Before the hour for starting, the force had swelled +considerably. The news that Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein had +retaken Aubiers, and had come with twelve thousand men to assist +Cathelineau, spread like wildfire. The peasants from all the +country round flocked in and, when they started in the morning, the +united force had swollen to over twenty thousand men.</p> +<p>As soon as the young count left him, Leigh sent all his band, +under his lieutenants, with orders to proceed towards Vezins; to +ascertain the progress Leigonyer had made, and the position of his +forces, and to send back news to him. Just as the army was starting +one of the boys returned, and said that a party of twelve cavalry, +and a detachment of infantry, had just entered the chateau of +Crilloire. Leigh at once informed Cathelineau, who sent off a +hundred and fifty men to capture the place. They were ordered to +travel at the top of their speed, and Jean Martin was in command of +them.</p> +<p>The expedition was crowned with success. The infantry, who had +been stationed outside the chateau, fled at once. Their commandant +Villemet, Leigonyer's best officer, charged the Vendeans with his +little body of cavalry. He was received with a volley. Two of his +men were killed, and he himself and nine of his men were wounded. +He managed, however, to burst through the Vendeans, and to overtake +his flying infantry. These he rallied and led back to the chateau, +which he found deserted; for Martin, as soon as he captured the +place and cleared it of the enemy, had gone off with his men to +join the main body.</p> +<p>Berruyer had also started early, and sent five hundred men to +May, where he expected Leigonyer to arrive in a few hours; but +before he reached the town the Vendeans attacked the advanced guard +of the latter general, which consisted of two companies of +grenadiers. These old soldiers fought well, and threw themselves +into the chateau of Bois-Groleau.</p> +<p>Leaving fifteen hundred men to surround and attack the chateau, +the main army pressed forward. Leigonyer, hearing of the disaster, +sent forward two thousand men to succour the besieged force; but +the Vendeans fell upon them and, after a short resistance, they +broke and fled into Vezins.</p> +<p>The arrival of the fugitives caused a panic among the whole of +Leigonyer's force assembled there, and they fled precipitately; two +hundred and fifty men of the regiment of Finisterre, alone, +remaining steady; and these, maintaining good order, covered the +retreat of the guns, repulsing the attacks of the peasantry who +pursued them. Fortunately for the Vendeans, a waggon laden with +barrels of powder was left behind, in the confusion caused by their +approach, and proved of inestimable value to them.</p> +<p>Had the Vendeans pursued the fugitives with vigour, the force +would have been almost annihilated; but Cathelineau, learning from +Leigh's scouts that Berruyer was already approaching Vezins, feared +to be taken in the rear by him, and therefore fell back to May and +Beaupreau.</p> +<p>The garrison that defended the chateau of Bois-Groleau repulsed +the repeated attacks made upon them, but surrendered on the +approach of the main army, their ammunition and the food they had +brought with them in their haversacks being entirely exhausted.</p> +<p>Berruyer, on his arrival at Jallais, heard of the defeat of +Leigonyer; and marched back in all haste to Chemille, where he had +left his magazines. On hearing however that Leigonyer, on his +arrival at Vihiers, had been deserted during the night by the whole +of his troops and, finding himself in the morning with but a +hundred and fifty men of the Finisterre regiment, had evacuated the +town and retreated to Doug, Berruyer wrote to him to endeavour to +gather his forces together again, and to return to Chemille.</p> +<p>But the news of another disaster convinced him that he could not +maintain himself there. The Vendeans had marched, without delay, +against Beaupreau, and attacked Gauvillier. That general had +already heard of the defeat of Leigonyer, and the retreat of +Berruyer. His force was greatly dispirited at the news, and offered +but a feeble resistance to the fierce assault. The Blues were +driven out of the town with the loss of their five cannon, and were +hotly pursued to Saint Florent, losing a large proportion of their +numbers on the way.</p> +<p>The news of this fresh disaster convinced Berruyer that he must +fall back without delay, and he accordingly retreated with his +whole force to Saint Lambert, whence he wrote to the Convention to +declare the impossibility of doing anything without large +reinforcements of regular troops, as no dependence whatever could +be placed upon the National Guards and volunteers and, if the +insurgents marched against him, he would be obliged to march to +Ponts-de-Ce in order to cover Angers, where the alarm of the +inhabitants was intense.</p> +<p>Thus the invasion that was to crush the Vendeans failed +altogether, except that some advantages had been gained by the +Blues along the line of coast, the troops being assisted by the +fleet. At all other points, misfortune had attended them. Quetineau +had been driven from Aubiers and, a great proportion of his force +having deserted, he held Bressuire with so feeble a grasp that he +could not maintain himself, if attacked. Leigonyer's army had +practically ceased to exist, as had that which had advanced from +Saint Florent. Berruyer had lost three thousand men, and was back +again at the point from which he had started. Chollet and Vihiers +had been recovered without a blow.</p> +<p>As the result of his failures, Berruyer was recalled to Paris, +tried for his conduct, and narrowly escaped the guillotine.</p> +<p>As soon as Berruyer retired, Cathelineau advanced against +Bressuire. News of his coming at once scared the Blues from the +town, and they retreated to Thouars. They did not even wait to take +their prisoners with them and, as soon as they had gone, the +Marquis de la Lescure with his family rode off to their chateau, at +Clisson. They had scarcely arrived there when la Rochejaquelein +arrived, and acquainted them with the general facts of the +insurrection.</p> +<p>"Cathelineau's army," he said, "consists of twenty thousand men +and, on any emergency, it would swell to nearly twice that number. +Twelve thousand Bretons had crossed the Loire, and were on their +way to join him. In lower Poitou, Charette had an army of twenty +thousand; and besides these, there were many scattered bands."</p> +<p>Lescure at once agreed to accompany la Rochejaquelein to +Bressuire; and the Marquis of Donnissan, Madame Lescure's father, +arranged to follow them, as soon as he had seen his wife and +daughter safely placed in the chateau of de la Boulais.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch7" id="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: A Short Rest.</h2> +<p>Leigh Stansfield had ridden with Rochejaquelein during the march +of the army to Vezins, and from there to Bressuire. He was charmed +with his companion, who had been the first to dash, with a few +other mounted gentlemen, into the streets of Vezins; and who had +thrown himself, with reckless bravery, upon the retreating infantry +and, as the peasants came up, had led them to the attack several +times, until Cathelineau's orders, that the pursuit should be +pushed no farther, reached him.</p> +<p>"That sort of order is very hard to obey," he said to Leigh. +"However, I need not regret that these brave fellows should escape +us. We have won the battle, if one can call it a battle; and I +honour the men who, when all the others have fled like sheep, still +cling together and defend their guns. At least a hundred of them +have fallen, since they left the town; and we have lost double that +number, and should lose at least as many more, before we finally +overcame their opposition. If all the armies of the Republic were +composed of such stuff as this regiment, I fear that our chance of +defending La Vendee successfully would be small, indeed."</p> +<p>On rejoining Cathelineau, and hearing his reason for calling off +the pursuit, Henri at once admitted its wisdom.</p> +<p>"After the defeat of Leigonyer, you will see that Berruyer will +not long be able to maintain himself at Chemille," he said; "and +when he hears the news, I fancy that he will retire at once; for he +will know, well enough, that it will be useless for him to pursue +us. Still, if he were to come down on our rear as we advanced, it +would have a bad effect upon the peasants; and it is much better to +avoid fighting, unless under circumstances that are almost sure to +give us victory. We can almost always choose our own ground, which +is an enormous advantage in a country like this. It is very +fortunate that it is so, for we certainly could not raise a body of +cavalry that could stand against those of the line; but in these +lanes and thickets they have no superiority in that respect, for no +general would be fool enough to send cavalry into places where they +would be at the mercy of an unseen foe. At the same time, I must +own that I regretted today that we had no mounted force. With but a +squadron or two of my old regiment, not a man of Leigonyer's force +would have escaped; for the country here is open enough to use +them, and I should certainly have had no compunction in cutting +down the rascals who are always shouting for blood, and yet are +such arrant cowards that they fly without firing a shot."</p> +<p>The day after the capture of Bressuire the Vendeans marched +against Thouars, to which town Quetineau had retreated with his +force. Thouars was the only town in La Vendee which was still +walled. The fortifications were in a dilapidated condition, but +nevertheless offered a considerable advantage to a force determined +upon a desperate resistance. With the fugitives from Bressuire, and +the garrison already in Thouars, Quetineau was at the head of three +thousand five hundred troops; of these, however, comparatively few +could be depended upon. The successive defeats that had been +inflicted on the troops of the Republic, by the Vendeans, had +entirely destroyed their morale. They no longer felt any confidence +in their power to resist the onslaught of the peasants.</p> +<p>Quetineau himself had no hope of making a successful resistance. +He had repeatedly written urgent letters to the authorities at +Paris, saying that nothing could be done without large +reinforcements of disciplined troops; and that the National Guard +and volunteers were worse than useless, as they frequently ran at +the first shot, and excited the hostility of the people, generally, +by their habits of plundering. Nevertheless, the old soldier +determined to resist to the last, however hopeless the conflict; +and when the Vendeans approached, at six o'clock in the morning, +they found that the bridge of Viennes was barricaded and +guarded.</p> +<p>As soon as they attacked, the general reinforced the defenders +of the bridge by his most trustworthy troops; a battalion, three +hundred and twenty-five strong, of Marseillais, and a battalion of +the National Guard of Nievre. So stoutly was the post held that the +Vendean general saw that the bridge could not be taken, without +terrible loss. He therefore contented himself with keeping up a +heavy fire all day, while preparing an attack from other +quarters.</p> +<p>The first step was to destroy the bridge behind the castle, and +to make a breach in the wall near the Paris gate, thereby cutting +off the garrison's means of retreat. At five o'clock a large body +of peasantry was massed for an attack on the bridge at Viennes; and +its defenders, seeing the storm that was preparing, retired into +the town. The Vendeans crossed the bridge but, as they approached +the walls, they were attacked by a battalion of the National Guard +of Deux Sevres and a body of gendarmes and, taken by surprise, were +driven back some distance. Their leaders, however, speedily rallied +them; and in the meantime other bodies forced their way into the +town, at several points.</p> +<p>To avoid a massacre of his troops, Quetineau hoisted the white +flag. On this, as on all other occasions in the northern portion of +La Vendee, the prisoners were well treated. They were offered their +freedom, on condition of promising not to serve against La Vendee +again; and to ensure that this oath should be kept for some time, +at least, their heads were shaved before their release, a step that +was afterwards taken throughout the war.</p> +<p>Quetineau was treated with all honour, and was given his +freedom, without conditions. Although he knew well that neither his +long services, nor the efforts that he had made, would save him +from the fury of the Convention; he returned to Paris where, after +the mockery of a trial, he was sent to the guillotine--a fate which +awaited all those who failed, in the face of impossibilities, to +carry out the plans of the mob leaders. Instead of blame, the +general deserved a high amount of praise for the manner in which he +had defended the town against a force six times as strong as his +own.</p> +<p>Three thousand muskets, ten pieces of cannon, and a considerable +amount of ammunition fell into the hands of the victors. This +success left it open to the Vendeans either to march against +Leigonyer--the remnant of whose army was in a state of +insubordination at Doug, and could have offered no opposition, but +must have retreated to Saumur--or to clear the country south and +west.</p> +<p>The former would unquestionably have been the wiser course, for +the capture of Saumur would have been a heavy blow, indeed, to the +Republicans; but the peasants, whose villages and property were +threatened by the presence of the Blues at Fontenay, Parthenay, and +Chataigneraie, were so strongly in favour of the other alternative +that it was adopted; and the force broke into two divisions, one +moving towards Chataigneraie, and the other against Fontenay.</p> +<p>Parthenay was evacuated at once by the Republicans, as soon as +news reached the authorities of the approach of the Vendeans. The +latter, however, made no stay, but continued their march towards +Chataigneraie. The town was held by General Chalbos, with three +thousand men. After two hours' fighting Chalbos, seeing that his +retreat was menaced, fell back.</p> +<p>He took up a position at Fontenay, where he was joined by +General Sandoz, from Niort. The country around the town was +unfavourable for the Vendeans, being a large plain, and the result +was disastrous to them. The Republicans were strong in cavalry, and +a portion of these fell on the flank of the Vendeans, while the +remainder charged them in rear. They fell into disorder at once, +and the cavalry captured a portion of their artillery.</p> +<p>The Republican infantry, seeing the success of their cavalry, +advanced stoutly and in good order. In vain the leaders of the +Vendeans strove to reanimate their men, and induce them to charge +the enemy. The panic that had begun spread rapidly and, in a few +minutes, they became a mob of fugitives scattering in all +directions, and leaving behind them sixteen cannon, and all the +munitions of war they had captured.</p> +<p>La Rochejaquelein who, after he had visited Lescure at Clisson, +had rejoined the army with a party of gentlemen, covered the +retreat with desperate valour; charging the enemy's cavalry again +and again and, before falling back, allowing time for the fugitives +to gain the shelter of the woods. The loss of men was therefore +small, but the fact that the peasants, who had come to be regarded +as almost irresistible by the troops, should have been so easily +defeated, raised the Blues from the depth of depression into which +they had fallen; while the blow inflicted upon the Vendeans was +correspondingly great. It was some little time before the peasants +could be aroused again.</p> +<p>Small bodies, indeed, kept the field and, under their leaders, +showed so bold a face whenever reconnoitring parties of the Blues +went out from Fontenay, that the troops were not long before they +again began to lose heart; while the generals, who had thought that +the victory at Fontenay would bring the war to a conclusion, again +began to pour in letters to the authorities at Paris, calling for +reinforcements.</p> +<p>On the side of the Vendeans, the priests everywhere exerted +themselves to impress upon their flocks the necessity of again +joining the army. Cathelineau himself made a tour through the +Bocage, and the peasants, persuaded that the defeat was a +punishment for having committed some excesses at the capture of +Chataigneraie, responded to the call. In nine days after the +reverse they were again in force near Fontenay, and in much greater +numbers than before; for very many of them had returned to their +homes, as soon as Thouars had been captured, and their strength in +the first battle was but little greater than that of the +Republicans.</p> +<p>Burning with ardour to avenge their defeat, and rendered furious +by the pillage of all the houses of the patriots at +Chataigneraie--to which town Chalbos with seven thousand troops had +marched--it was against him that the Vendeans first moved. Chalbos, +who had occupied his time in issuing vainglorious proclamations, +and in writing assurances to the Convention that the Vendeans were +so panic stricken that the war was virtually over, only saved his +army by a long and painful night march back to Fontenay. Here the +troops lay down to sleep, feeling certain that there could be no +attack that day by the enemy.</p> +<p>At one o'clock, however, the Vendeans issued from the woods on +to the plain, and the troops were hastily called to arms.</p> +<p>The Royal Catholic Army, as it now called itself, advanced in +three columns. It was without cannon, but its enthusiasm more than +counterbalanced this deficiency. The Vendeans received unshaken the +discharge of the artillery of the Blues, pursuing their usual +tactics of throwing themselves to the ground when they saw the +flash of the cannon, and then leaping up again and rushing forward +with loud shouts. The cavalry were ordered to charge, but only +twenty men obeyed. The rest turned and fled. The infantry offered +but a feeble resistance and, in ten minutes after the first gun was +fired, the Republican army was a mob of fugitives. Fontenay was +taken and, what pleased the peasants even more, their beloved +cannon, Marie Jeanne, was recaptured, having been recovered by +young Foret who, with a handful of peasants, charged the cavalry +that were covering the retreat, and snatched it from their hands. +After this victory the peasants, as usual, returned for the most +part to their homes.</p> +<p>As there was no probability of further fighting at the moment, +Jean Martin and Leigh started for the chateau. They had first asked +Cathelineau if they could be spared.</p> +<p>"For the moment, yes. I hope that we shall be joined by the +Count de Lescure, in a day or two. He will, of course, be one of +our generals. He has great influence with the peasantry and, if he +can but persuade them to remain under arms for a time, we will +attack the enemy. Messieurs d'Elbee and Bonchamp, and I may say +several of the gentlemen with me, are of opinion that if we are to +be successful in the end, it can only be by taking the offensive, +and marching against Paris. They urge that we should get Monsieur +Charette to go with us with his army, cross the Loire, rouse all +Brittany, and then march, a hundred thousand strong, against +Paris.</p> +<p>"They say that although we have been most successful this time, +and repulsed the invaders everywhere except on the coast, they will +come again and again, with larger forces, till they overpower us. +Possibly, if Monsieur de Lescure and Henri de la Rochejaquelein aid +us with their influence and authority, we might persuade the +peasants that it is better to make one great effort, and then to +have done with it, than to be constantly called from their homes +whenever the Blues are in sufficient strength to invade us. We +shall tell them, too, that after the two repulses they have +suffered, the Blues will grow more and more savage, and that +already orders have been sent for all villages to be destroyed, and +all hedges and woods to be cut down--a business that, by the way, +would employ the whole French army for some years.</p> +<p>"However, as soon as our plans are decided upon, I will send a +messenger to you. At present there is nothing requiring either you +or your scouts, Monsieur Stansfield, and after the good service +that they have rendered, it is but fair that they should have a +short rest."</p> +<p>Patsey was delighted when her husband and Leigh arrived. She was +under no uneasiness as to their safety as, after the repulse of +Berruyer's army at Chemille, and the rout of Leigonyer, Leigh had +sent one of the boys home, with the assurance that they were +unhurt.</p> +<p>"I don't quite know how much to believe," she said, as they sat +down to a meal, "of the reports that the boys have brought home. +The first came and told me that on your arrival at Cathelineau's, +he himself praised them all, and that Monsieur Bonchamp drilled +them for an hour. Then came home two wounded lads, with a story +about the great fight, in which they insisted that Leigh commanded, +and that they kept the army of the Blues at bay for three hours, +and killed hundreds of them. The next messenger told us a tale +about Leigh's having discovered some treachery, upon the part of +the man who was in charge of the artillery, and that he was in +consequence shot. He insisted that Cathelineau had declared that +Leigh had saved Chemille, because the enemy were so long delayed +that Monsieur d'Elbee, with his band, had time to come up from +Chollet and rout the Blues.</p> +<p>"Of course, I did not believe anything like all they said; but I +suppose there must be something in it, for I questioned the boys +myself; and though I had no doubt they would make as much as they +could of their own doings, among their neighbours and friends, they +would hardly venture to lie, though they might exaggerate greatly +to me."</p> +<p>"Strange as it may appear, Patsey," Jean said, "they told you +the simple truth and, as soon as we have finished supper, I will +tell you the whole story of what has taken place since we left; and +you will see that this brother of yours has cut a very conspicuous +figure in our affairs."</p> +<p>"You are not joking, Jean?"</p> +<p>"Not in the smallest degree. I can assure you that if Leigh +chose to set up as leader on his own account, a large proportion of +the peasants would follow him."</p> +<p>"Ridiculous, Jean!" Leigh exclaimed hotly.</p> +<p>"It may seem ridiculous, but it is a real fact.</p> +<p>"The peasants, you must know, Patsey, choose their own leaders. +There is no dividing or sorting them, no getting them to keep in +regular companies; they simply follow the leader in whom they have +the most confidence, or who appears to them the most fortunate. If +he does anything that they don't like, or they do not approve of +his plan, they tell him so. Leigh's defence of the stream against +Berruyer's army created a feeling of enthusiasm among them, and I +verily believe that his discovery of the plot to render the cannon +useless was regarded, by them, as almost supernatural. +Superstitious and ignorant as they are, they are, as you know, +always ready to consider anything they can't understand, and which +acts greatly in their favour, as a special interposition of +Providence. I am bound to say that Leigh acted upon such very +slender grounds that even Cathelineau, who is enormously in advance +of the peasantry in general, was staggered by it; and told me he +could not have believed it possible that anyone should, on such a +slight clue, have followed the matter up, unless by a special +inspiration."</p> +<p>"The thing was as simple as A B C," Leigh broke in.</p> +<p>"You will have to remain a silent listener, Leigh," his sister +said, "when Jean is telling me the story. I cannot have him +interrupted."</p> +<p>"Very well," Leigh said. "Then I will put on my hat, take a +fresh horse from the stable, and ride off to see how the two +wounded boys are going on."</p> +<p>"I can tell you that they are almost well; but still, if you +don't want to hear Jean's story of all your adventures, by all +means go round. I am sure that the tenants will be gratified at +hearing that you rode over to see them, the very first evening you +came home."</p> +<p>The Vendean leaders had for some time felt the necessity of +having a generally recognized authority, and after the battle of +Fontenay they decided to appoint a council, who were to reside +permanently at some central place and administer the affairs of the +whole district, provide supplies for the armies, and make all other +civil arrangements; so that the generals would be able to attend +only to the actual fighting. A body of eighteen men was chosen, to +administer affairs under the title of the Superior Council; and a +priest who had joined them at Thouars, and who called himself, +though without a shadow of right, the Bishop of Agra, was appointed +president. He was an eloquent man, of commanding presence, and the +leaders had not thought it worth while to inquire too minutely into +his claim to the title of bishop; for the peasants had been full of +enthusiasm at having a prelate among them, and his influence and +exhortations had been largely instrumental in gathering the army +which had won the battle of Fontenay.</p> +<p>But although he was appointed president, the leading spirit of +the council was the Abbe Bernier, a man of great energy and +intellect, with a commanding person, ready pen, and a splendid +voice; but who was altogether without principle, and threw himself +into the cause for purely selfish and ambitious motives.</p> +<p>It was on the sixteenth of May that Fontenay was won, and on the +third of June the church bells again called the peasantry to arms. +The disaster at Fontenay had done more than all the representations +of their generals to rouse the Convention. Seven battalions of +regular troops arrived, and Biron, who had been appointed +commander-in-chief, reached Niort and assumed the command.</p> +<p>He wrote at once, to the minister of war, to say that he found +the confusion impossible to describe. There was an absence of any +organization, whatever. The town was crowded with fugitives who, +having distinguished themselves by the violence of their opinions +and the severity of their measures, before the insurrection broke +out, were forced to take refuge in the cities. The general reported +that he had caused the assembly to be sounded again and again, +without more than a tenth part of the troops paying the slightest +heed to the summons.</p> +<p>The army was without cavalry, without waggons for carrying +supplies, without an ambulance train--in fact, it was nothing but a +half-armed mob. Biron himself was at heart a Royalist, and when he +in turn had to meet his fate by the guillotine, openly declared +himself to be one; and the repugnance which he felt on assuming the +command against the Vendeans--which he had only accepted after a +long delay, and after petitioning in vain to be allowed to remain +at his former post--was heightened when he discovered the state of +affairs, and the utter confusion that prevailed everywhere.</p> +<p>When sending the order for the bells to ring on the first of +June, the superior council of the Vendeans issued a proclamation, +which was to be read in all the churches, to the effect that +provisional councils should be formed, in each parish, to provide +for the subsistence of the women and children of men with the army. +Receipts were to be given for all supplies of grain used for this +purpose, which were to be paid for by the superior council. Those +men who did not remain permanently with the army, as long as +necessary, would be called upon to pay the taxes to which they were +subject, prior to the rising.</p> +<p>The sales of the land belonging to the churches--which had been +sequestrated on the refusal of the clergy to comply with the orders +of the Convention--were declared null and void. As these had been +bought by the upholders of the Revolution, for no devout Vendean +would have taken part in the robbery of the church, the blow was a +heavy one to those who had so long been dominant in La Vendee. +These lands were, for the time, to be administered for the good of +the cause by the parish council.</p> +<p>It was hoped that this proclamation would act beneficially in +keeping the peasants in the field; as they would know that their +families were cared for, and that if they only went out at times, +they would subject themselves to taxation, and be regarded by the +families of those who remained with the army as being wanting in +zeal.</p> +<p>Upon rejoining the army, Leigh and his party of scouts learned, +to their satisfaction, that it was intended to march against +Saumur. They were now double their former strength, as the story of +what they had done had roused the spirit of emulation among lads in +the surrounding parishes; and Leigh could have had a hundred, had +he chosen. He was this time mounted, in order that he might at +times ride with Rochejaquelein, while at others he went out +scouting with his party.</p> +<p>"I am heartily glad to see you back again, my friend," the young +count said, shaking him warmly by the hand. "To be with you does me +good, for the generals, and even Lescure, are so serious and solemn +that I feel afraid to make a joke. You see, in the cavalry we have +little responsibility except in an actual battle. In an open +country we should scout ahead, and have affairs with the enemy's +outposts; but in this land of woods, where one can seldom see more +than twenty yards ahead, there is little use for us. Besides, with +the exception of a score or two of gentlemen, I have no troops to +command and, having health and good spirits, and enjoying life, I +cannot go about as if the cares of life were on my shoulders. Your +brother-in-law Martin is a capital fellow but, with a wife and +child, he cannot feel so lighthearted as I do; though next to +yourself he is the most ready to join me in a laugh. Sailors seem +always to be lighthearted, and he certainly is no exception."</p> +<p>"He is a splendid fellow, count."</p> +<p>"Yes, he is a fine fellow; but you see, he is seven or eight +years older than I am, while I feel with you that you are about my +own age. By the way, it is high time that we dropped calling each +other by our surnames, especially as mine is such a long one; so in +future let us be' Henri' and 'Leigh 'to each other. Most of the +peasants call me Henri."</p> +<p>"They generally speak of you as 'our Henri,'" Leigh said, "and +would follow you through fire and water. I think the Vendeans are, +as a whole, serious people; and they admire you all the more +because you are so unlike themselves. If you do not mind my saying +so, you remind me much more of the young English officers I used to +meet, at Poole, than of Frenchmen."</p> +<p>"Yes, I have often been told that I am more English than French +in appearance, and perhaps in manner; for in France most men have +forgotten, for the past four years, what it is to smile; and I +question whether a laugh would not be considered, in itself, +sufficient to ensure a man's condemnation as an enemy of the +Republic.</p> +<p>"Well, so we are going to Saumur! That is an enterprise worth +undertaking. It may be considered as the headquarters of the Blues +in these parts. There is a considerable body of troops there. If we +capture it, we shall give a rare fright to Poitiers, Tours, and the +other towns, and cause a scare even in Paris."</p> +<p>Leigh was requested to go forward at daybreak, with his band, to +discover the situation of the enemy, who might come out from their +situation to give battle before Doue. Leigonyer, who commanded +here, had with him four good regiments; and occupied several strong +positions on the right bank of the river Layon, and also a post +called Rochette on the left bank.</p> +<p>The fact that the Vendeans were advancing against them was +already known to Leigonyer for, confident as they now felt, the +Vendeans made no secret of their destination, and the news was +speedily carried by the adherents of the Convention, who everywhere +acted as spies. Three such men were captured by Leigh's party, +making their way to Leigonyer; and, being unable to give any +account of themselves, were immediately shot.</p> +<p>Leigh had no difficulty in ascertaining the position of the +enemy and, as the army was but two hours' march in the rear, he +himself rode back to carry the news.</p> +<p>At ten o'clock the Vendeans arrived, and at once attacked the +Blues; their main column throwing itself upon the centre of the +position, which it speedily forced. Leigonyer's troops at Rochette +and Verches were thereby threatened in flank; and Leigonyer, who +was himself present, ordered the whole force to fall back to a +position which he had before chosen as being favourable for giving +battle behind Doue.</p> +<p>But the Vendeans pressed forward with such eagerness that the +retreat speedily degenerated into a rout; and the troops, for the +most part throwing away their arms, fled precipitately, carrying +the reserve with them to Bourlan, a strong position in front of +Saumur, where General Menou was stationed, and where he succeeded +in rallying them.</p> +<p>Leigonyer, having from his previous experience great doubts as +to whether he should be successful in his stand against the +Vendeans, had taken the precaution to send back the waggons with +the munitions and stores, together with the artillery. As his men +had fled too rapidly to be overtaken, the numerical loss was not +great. He himself, in his report of the fight, ascribed it to a +cause that has been frequently used by the French to excuse their +defeats; namely that it was due to treachery, for many of the men +broke and fled, directly the action began; and these, he avowed, +could have been none other than Vendeans who had disguised +themselves, and enlisted for the purpose of causing discontent +among the men, and confusion in their ranks, the first time they +met the enemy.</p> +<p>Since the commencement of the campaign he had several times +begged to be relieved of his command, and to return to the post +that he occupied previously. He now repeated the demand, saying +that he had lost the confidence of his men, and that a new +commander would be far more likely to succeed with them. This time +the request was granted, and General Menou was appointed to succeed +him.</p> +<p>Fortunately for Leigonyer, the commissioners of the Convention +reported most favourably of the activity and energy that he had +personally shown and, although he was accused of treachery in the +Assembly, this report saved him from the guillotine.</p> +<p>As soon as the fight was over, Cathelineau sent for Leigh.</p> +<p>"It is of the greatest importance that we should know what is +passing at Saumur. We have learned, from one of the officers who is +a prisoner in our hands, that Biron is at Tours, and is +endeavouring to persuade the Paris battalions that have arrived +there to march, at once, to Saumur. They have absolutely refused to +do so, until the arrival of the cannon that were promised to them, +before they left Paris. They may, by this time, be marching towards +Saumur, with or without their cannon. General Salomon is at +Thouars, with a considerable force, and it is possible that he also +may march to aid in the defence of Saumur; and as he has, in +addition to the new levies, a fine battalion of gendarmes, his +arrival at Saumur would greatly increase the strength of the +defence.</p> +<p>"I should say that half your scouts had better go to Thouars +and, should there be any considerable movement of troops there, +they should bring me word at the greatest possible speed. We shall +tomorrow march forward and take post facing the enemy's positions, +and on the ninth shall attack. I tell you this in order that your +scouts may know where to find me.</p> +<p>"To you, with the other half of your party, I give the charge of +watching Saumur. If one or two of them could cross the Loire and +watch the road between Tours and Saumur, and bring me speedy word +if they see a large body of troops coming along, we should know +what force we have to encounter, and act accordingly."</p> +<p>"You shall have news, general," Leigh said and, saluting, at +once joined his band.</p> +<p>Jean, who had been talking with him when the message from +Cathelineau arrived, and had waited to hear what his orders were, +said as he came up:</p> +<p>"You and your regiment are off on an adventure again, +Leigh?"</p> +<p>"Yes, we are going to watch Thouars and Saumur, and to find out, +if possible, if the battalions from Paris are on their way from +Tours."</p> +<p>"The first will be easy enough but, unless you swim the Loire, I +don't see how the second is to be managed."</p> +<p>"I should think that a boat might be obtained, at one of the +villages on the river bank. Anyhow, I shall get across +somehow."</p> +<p>Andre was ordered to take his party to Thouars.</p> +<p>"Remember," Leigh said, "there is to be no fighting; not a shot +must be fired. I want you and another to enter the town, if +possible, from the other side; to see whether there is any unusual +excitement, and especially whether there is any stir among the +troops that would seem to show that they are on the point of +marching away. You are to remain there until you see some such +movement. The lad that you are taking in with you must go out, +every hour, to the spot where you have left the rest; and one of +these must at once start with your report to the general, who will +tomorrow be on his way to Saumur, and will halt not far from its +works of defence. Having delivered his message, he is to return to +you, for you must continue to send off messengers until you hear +that there is fighting at Saumur. If the commander of the Blues at +Thouars has not moved by that time, you need remain no longer, but +return with your party and join the army."</p> +<p>After Andre had left, Leigh marched with Pierre and the others +to a spot up the river, ten miles above Saumur.</p> +<p>"Can any of you swim?" he asked.</p> +<p>Three only of the party were able to reply in the +affirmative.</p> +<p>"Do you think that you could swim across the Loire?"</p> +<p>All of them expressed great doubt of being able to do so.</p> +<p>"Well, at any rate, I must take you with me," he said. "To be +able to swim a little is a good deal better than not to be able to +swim at all, for by making a faggot you will gain such support as +will enable you to get across.</p> +<p>"Now, Pierre, you must for the present remain here. Tomorrow +morning you can go into the village, whose church tower you can see +over there, and find out whether the people there are for us or for +the Blues. If they are for us you can show them Cathelineau's +order, of which you have a copy, and they will certainly provide +you with a boat. In that case, cross the river with your party and +take post on the opposite bank, keeping the boat with you, and a +man who can row. Then, as soon as one of my messengers arrives +there, you will send on my report to the general who, tomorrow +evening, will be not far from Saumur. Do the same with each +messenger that arrives.</p> +<p>"If, on reaching the bank opposite the village, they do not find +you there, they will follow the opposite bank down until they are +opposite to you. Then they will call, and you, unless anything has +happened to drive you away, will reply. The messenger will then +swim across with my report, as in the other case. You will send it +forward at once, and he will return to the spot I shall +appoint.</p> +<p>"I see there is another village, a mile below us. I shall go +there with my three followers, tonight. We will manage to steal a +boat and row across. I shall go to that village instead of the +other, because the loss of a boat may cause anger and, even if well +disposed to the cause, they might not receive you well. However, I +shall tie the boat up on the opposite bank when I leave it, so that +it will not drift away down the river; and when they see it in the +morning, they will only have to send another boat across to fetch +it over."</p> +<p>"I understand, captain, and will do my best to carry out your +instructions. Even if I find that, at the village above, they are +divided in opinion, I shall surely be able to discover, from their +talk, some who are on our side, and who will arrange to bring a +boat down to this spot; in which case your messenger, when he does +not find us opposite the village, will follow the bank down till he +does so."</p> +<p>"At any rate, Pierre, here are a couple of crowns, so that you +can arrange with a man for the hire of the boat, and his services, +for twenty-four hours, if necessary."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch8" id="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: The Capture Of +Saumur.</h2> +<p>The arrangements being now completed, Leigh and his band lay +down in a thicket near the bank of the river, and slept for some +hours. At one o'clock in the morning Leigh rose and, with his three +followers, started for the village. It was but twenty minutes' +walk. Not a soul was stirring, not a light visible in any +window.</p> +<p>They found that three or four boats were lying by the bank. +Leigh chose the smallest of these and, loosening the head rope from +the post to which it was fastened, took his place in her with the +others. Accustomed as he was to rowing, from his childhood, he soon +reached the opposite bank. Here he fastened the boat up, and struck +across country until he reached the road. Then he sent one of his +followers westward.</p> +<p>"You will follow the road," he said, "until within a mile of +Tours; then you will conceal yourself, and watch who passes along. +If you see a large body of troops coming, you will at once strike +across country and make your way down to the village above that at +which we crossed. You heard the instructions that I gave to Pierre. +If you find him and the others there with the boat, you will report +what you have seen. He will send another messenger on with the news +to Cathelineau, and you will remain with him until I arrive.</p> +<p>"If he is not there, you will follow the bank of the river down +to the other village. You will give a shout as you pass the spot +where we halted. If no answer comes, you will probably find Pierre +and the boat somewhere below. You will not miss him, for I have +ordered him to post two of your comrades on the bank, so that you +cannot pass them unseen. As in the first case, you will remain with +him until I arrive, and your message will be carried to the general +by another of his party.</p> +<p>"In case you do not find him at all, you will know that I have +returned before you, and have taken him and the others on with me. +In that case, you must make a faggot sufficiently large to support +you in the water, and swim across. The river is low, and it will +not be many yards out of your depth."</p> +<p>"I could swim that without the faggot, sir."</p> +<p>"Yes; but it is better to have it. I don't suppose that you have +ever swum in your clothes, and you would find it heavy work; +therefore you had better rely upon the faggot to keep you up and, +with its aid, you will have no difficulty in crossing."</p> +<p>The morning now was breaking, for in June the nights are short +and, after waiting for an hour, Leigh and his two companions--all +of whom had divested themselves of their weapons and belts, which +they had left in Pierre's charge--started for Saumur. In the +presence of so large a number of troops, with scarcely any training +and discipline, and with the excitement that would have been caused +by the defeat of Leigonyer, and the prospect of an attack by the +Vendeans, Leigh felt confident that three country lads ran no risk +of being questioned. However, he took the precaution of learning +the name of the village he passed through, six miles from the town; +so that if any one should happen to ask where they came from, and +what they were doing, he could give the name of a village, and say +that they had merely come in from curiosity, hearing that there was +likely to be a battle. Assuredly many country people would be +coming for the same purpose.</p> +<p>They entered the town at six o'clock. It was already astir. The +citizens, with anxious faces, were talking together in little +groups. Soldiers were loitering about in the streets, totally +regardless of the bugles and drums that were sounding in the +marketplace, and at various points outside the town. The civil +functionaries, in their scarves of office, hurried fussily about, +but for once they were unheeded. But a week before, a denunciation +by any of these men would have been sufficient to ensure the arrest +and imprisonment, and probably the death, of anyone against whom +they had a grudge. Now they were in greater danger than those who +had dreaded and hated them.</p> +<p>At present there was no talk of politics among the groups of +townspeople. Men who were the chief upholders of the regime of +confiscation and murder, and others who in their heart loathed and +hated it, were discussing the probabilities of an attack by the +Vendeans, and what would happen were that attack to be successful. +Would the town be given over to sack? Would there be a massacre and +slaughter, such as Chalbos and other commanders of the Blues had +inflicted in the Vendean villages through which they had passed? +The Vendeans in arms were called, by the Blues, "the brigands." +Would they behave like brigands, or would they conduct themselves +as Royal and Catholic soldiers, as they called themselves?</p> +<p>As the hours passed, the streets became more crowded. Numbers of +the country people came in to learn the news. Spies from Doue had +already brought in word that orders had been issued, by +Cathelineau, that the army should march at eight o'clock for +Saumur; and all doubt that it was their intention either to attack +the town, or to accept battle in the plain before it, was at an +end. The assembly was sounded in all quarters of the town and, +presently, parties of the mounted gendarmes rode through the +streets, and drove the soldiers to their rendezvous.</p> +<p>Presently Leigh saw General Menou, and some other officers of +rank, enter a large house.</p> +<p>"Who lives there?" he asked a woman who was standing near +him.</p> +<p>"General Duhoux. He is in command, you know, but he has not +recovered from a wound he got at Chemille, and is unable to +ride."</p> +<p>Leigh had no doubt that a council of war was about to be held +and, bidding his companions wait for him at the end of the street, +he sauntered across the road, and sat down on the pavement by the +side of the entrance. Leaning against the wall, he took from his +pocket a hunk of the peasants' black bread and, cutting it up with +his knife, proceeded to munch it unconcernedly. An officer and two +or three troopers were standing by their horses' heads, in the road +opposite the door, evidently awaiting orders.</p> +<p>In half an hour General Menou himself came out, and said to the +officer:</p> +<p>"Sir, you will ride at once to Thouars, by way of Loudun, and +deliver this despatch to General Salomon. It is most urgent. When +you hand it to him, you can say that I begged you to impress upon +him the necessity for losing not a moment of time. It is all +important that he should arrive here tonight, for tomorrow morning +we may be attacked. Take your troopers with you."</p> +<p>The officer and his men mounted at once, and rode off at full +speed. Leigh remained quiet until Menou and the other officers rode +out from the courtyard and proceeded down the street, followed by +their escort. Then he got up, stretched himself, and walked slowly +to the spot where his two comrades were awaiting him.</p> +<p>"I have learned what I wanted to know," he said. "Do you both +make your way back to the spot where Pierre will be awaiting us, +and tell him that I am going to swim the river, a mile above the +town. He is to wait where he is until Lucien comes back from +Tours--which will not be till twelve o'clock tonight, for his +orders are to remain within sight of the town till six in the +afternoon. If by that hour the troops there have not set out, they +will not arrive until after we have captured Saumur.</p> +<p>"Saunter along quietly. There is no hurry."</p> +<p>After they had set out he, too, strolled out of the town, kept +along the road for another half mile, and then struck off across +the fields towards the river. Arrived there, he took off his heavy +country shoes, tied them round his waist, and waded out into the +river. He had but some thirty yards to swim. As soon as he reached +the opposite bank, he poured the water out of his shoes, put them +on again, and set out at a run. He had to make a detour, so as to +get beyond the eminences on which the Republican troops were posted +and, after running for a couple of miles, came down on the +road.</p> +<p>A short distance farther he arrived at a village. A peasant, +with a horse and cart, was standing in front of a cabaret.</p> +<p>"Do you want to earn two crowns?" he asked the man.</p> +<p>The latter nodded.</p> +<p>"Two crowns are not easily earned," he said. "I was just +starting for Montreuil but, if it pays me better to go in another +direction, I must put that journey off until tomorrow."</p> +<p>"I want you to carry me to Doue," he said, "at the best speed of +which your horse is capable."</p> +<p>The countryman looked at him doubtfully. His clothes were not +yet dry. Leigh saw that the man was not sure of his power to fulfil +his promise. He therefore produced two crowns, and held them +up.</p> +<p>"By Saint Matthew," he said, "it is the first silver I have seen +for months. I will take you."</p> +<p>Leigh jumped up beside the peasant. The latter at once whipped +up his horse, and started at a brisk trot.</p> +<p>"You know that the Catholic Army is there?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Yes, I know. I belong to it myself. I have been with it from +the first."</p> +<p>"I would have taken you for nothing, if you had said so before," +the man said. "We are all heart and soul with them, here; and if, +as they say, they will come along here to attack Saumur, every man +in the village will go with them. How is it that you are here?"</p> +<p>"I am an officer," Leigh said, "and have been, in disguise, into +Saumur to see what is going on there; and am now taking the news +back to Cathelineau."</p> +<p>Conversation was difficult, for the jolting of the cart was +terrible, and Leigh found it next to impossible to talk. He was +well content when the belfries of Doue came into sight. On arriving +at the town, they drew up at the house where Cathelineau and the +generals had their quarters. As he got down, he offered the peasant +the two crowns.</p> +<p>"No, sir," the man said, "I will not take a sou for my service. +We in this part have had no chance of doing anything, and I should +be ashamed, indeed, to take money from those who have been fighting +for the good cause.</p> +<p>"As you say they will advance tomorrow, I will wait here. It may +be that my cart will be useful and, whether or no, I shall stay if +it is only to get a sight of Cathelineau, whose name we all +reverence."</p> +<p>"I will tell him of your goodwill. You had best remain here for +a few minutes."</p> +<p>He was about to enter, when two armed peasants, who were +guarding the door, stopped him.</p> +<p>"No one can enter. The general is in council."</p> +<p>"Do you not know me? I am Captain Stansfield."</p> +<p>The men drew back at once. It was not strange that they did not +recognize him. He generally wore a sort of uniform, with a red sash +round his waist, which was the distinguishing badge of the +officers; but had always adopted a peasant dress, on setting out on +an expedition. There was no one to announce him, and he entered a +room where the leaders were sitting round a table.</p> +<p>They looked up in surprise. He was grimed with the dust, which +had risen in clouds as he drove along, and his clothes bore signs +of their immersion.</p> +<p>"Back again, monsieur?" Cathelineau exclaimed, "and with news, +no doubt."</p> +<p>"Very important news, sir. I have been in Saumur, and have +learned that an officer has started for Thouars, by way of Loudun, +with orders to General Salomon to march instantly into Saumur, and +that he is to arrive there tonight. I left the town five minutes +after the messenger. Three-quarters of an hour later I struck the +road, two miles this side of Saumur; and have been brought here in +a cart, by a peasant. It is now four o'clock, and I do not think +that the officer would arrive at Thouars before half past +three."</p> +<p>"That is important news, indeed," Cathelineau said.</p> +<p>"Well, gentlemen, what do you think had best be done?"</p> +<p>"It seems to me that nothing could be better," Monsieur de +Lescure said. "The enemy's column cannot start until five o'clock, +at the earliest. It will be dark before they can arrive at Saumur. +I know the road well. It runs in several places through woods and, +where this is not the case, there are high hedges.</p> +<p>"Nothing could be more suitable for an ambuscade. I propose that +half of our force should march, at once, and take post on the other +side of Montreuil. It will be nearly sunset before Salomon can +arrive at that town and, if we engage him at dusk, he will lose +half the benefit of the discipline of the regiment of gendarmes who +will, no doubt, accompany him."</p> +<p>"I quite approve of that plan, monsieur," Cathelineau said.</p> +<p>"Are you all of the same opinion, gentlemen?"</p> +<p>There was a general expression of assent.</p> +<p>"Will you, General Bonchamp, with Monsieur de Lescure, take +command of that force? I myself will proceed, with the rest of our +army, until past the point where the road from Montreuil falls into +that from this town. In that way, if General Bonchamp fails to +arrest Salomon's march, we can fall upon him; and on the other +hand, if the firing should be heard at Saumur, and Menou leads out +a force to assist Salomon, we can oppose him.</p> +<p>"General Dommaigne, your cavalry would be useless in the attack +on Salomon, while it might be of great value if Menou comes +out.</p> +<p>"You have rendered us another good service, Monsieur Stansfield. +If Salomon had thrown another four thousand men into Saumur, +including his regiment of gendarmes, it would have been a serious +business to take the place; whereas with the troops Menou has, half +of whom are Leigonyer's fugitives, I do not anticipate any great +difficulty."</p> +<p>"I shall be glad, general, if you would speak a word to the good +fellow who brought me here. I had bargained with him for two crowns +but, when he found that I was one of your officers, he refused to +receive anything; and moreover, he said that he would remain here +with his cart, until tomorrow, as perhaps he might be useful in +carrying stores. He expressed the greatest desire to see you."</p> +<p>"Certainly I will speak to him," Cathelineau said, as he sent +out to give orders for the church bells to ring, and the horns to +blow.</p> +<p>The man was standing by his cart, a short distance off, in the +hope of catching sight of Cathelineau. The general at once walked +up to him.</p> +<p>"This is General Cathelineau," Leigh said.</p> +<p>The countryman took off his hat, and dropped on his knees.</p> +<p>"Get up, my good fellow," Cathelineau said; "I am but a Vendean +peasant, like yourself. I thank you for the good service that you +have rendered, by bringing Monsieur Stansfield so quickly to us. +The time it has saved may make all the difference to us and, in the +future, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have +played an important part in the capture of Saumur."</p> +<p>In five minutes the quiet street was crowded with men. The +peasants had encamped in the fields round the town and, at the +summons, caught up their arms and ran in hastily, feeling sure that +the occasion was important, as they had been told that they were +not to march until next morning.</p> +<p>The divisions commanded by Monsieur de Lescure and General +Bonchamp speedily gathered round the distinguishing flags of those +officers. Other leaders joined them with their followers, until +some ten thousand men were gathered outside the town.</p> +<p>Leigh had changed his clothes and mounted his horse, Monsieur de +Lescure having invited him to ride with him. As they were about to +start, one of Andre's messengers arrived, with the news that an +officer and three troopers had arrived at the town; and that, ten +minutes later, the trumpets were sounding the assembly.</p> +<p>"It is well that we got your news first," Monsieur de Lescure +said to Leigh, "for otherwise we could hardly have got our forces +together, and been ready for a start, until it was too late to +intercept Salomon."</p> +<p>The route of the column was by a byroad, between Doue and +Montreuil. It was seven o'clock before they approached the town. +Then, striking off the road, they marched through the fields until +a mile and a half to the east of it, when they halted in a thick +wood. They were now divided into three columns, of equal strength. +That under Monsieur de Lescure occupied the wood on one side of the +road, that under Monsieur Bonchamp the other side. The third column +were posted in rear of the wood, and were to thickly line the +hedges that bordered it.</p> +<p>It was just dusk when the force from Thouars came along. It +consisted of three thousand six hundred men, with four pieces of +cannon. It was allowed to pass nearly through the wood, when a +heavy fire was opened upon it on both flanks.</p> +<p>The regiment of gendarmes which led the column showed great +coolness and, animated by their example, the whole force remained +steady. Darkness came on, but it was not until eleven o'clock that +there was any change in the situation. Owing to the darkness in the +forest, neither side was able to distinguish its foes. The men +fired only at the flashes of the muskets.</p> +<p>Lescure then sent round four or five hundred men, who suddenly +fell upon the baggage train of the enemy. The guard were completely +taken by surprise. Many of the carters cut the ropes and traces, +and galloped off, delighted to escape from a service into which +they had, for the most part, been dragged against their will.</p> +<p>The alarm thus begun spread rapidly. The young troops who, +encouraged by the example of the gendarmes, had so far stood their +ground, at once lost heart. The darkness of the night, their +ignorance as to the strength of the force that had attacked the +rear, and the fear that all retreat would be cut off, would have +shaken older soldiers than these and, in spite of the efforts of +their officers, the wildest confusion soon reigned.</p> +<p>The Vendeans pressed their attack more hotly, and General +Salomon, seeing that unless a retreat was made while there was yet +time, a terrible disaster might take place, ordered the gendarmes +to fall back in good order. The movement was effected without great +loss. In the darkness it was impossible for Lescure and the other +leaders to get their men together, and to press hard upon their +retreating foes; and they were well satisfied at having carried out +the object of their expedition, and prevented the force from +Thouars from entering Saumur.</p> +<p>Word was sent to Cathelineau that Salomon had fallen back, and +the peasants then lay down till morning.</p> +<p>Andre, with his little band, had joined the force when fighting +began. They had, as soon as Salomon started from Thouars, followed +his movements at a distance, from time to time sending off a +messenger to Doue giving an account of the progress of the enemy. +As soon as the firing broke out in the wood, Andre, with the twelve +who still remained with him, joined the combatants and, finding +that Leigh was with Monsieur de Lescure, was not long in +discovering him.</p> +<p>"You have done very well, Andre," he said. "I don't think +anything will come of this fighting. It is getting dark already, +and I have no fear, now, that the Blues will break through. Neither +party will be able to see the other, in this wood, and certainly +you could do no good with your pistols. Practically, few are +engaged on either side. The Blues have made one effort and, finding +that we have a very strong force in their front, have given up the +attempt to push forward. I don't believe that the new levies have +courage enough to keep steady through a whole night's +uncertainty.</p> +<p>"You had best draw off some distance and rest, till you hear, by +the firing, that some change has taken place. If you hear that the +Blues are retreating, follow them at a distance. It is important +for the generals to know what course they are taking. They may halt +in Montreuil, they may return to Thouars, they may retire to Niort +or Parthenay.</p> +<p>"If they remain in Montreuil, let us know at once, because in +that case we shall have to stay here, in case they should attempt +to push on again. If they go farther, we need have no more concern +about them. Still, it would be of great importance to our generals +to know whether they return to Thouars, or retire farther +south."</p> +<p>"Very well, captain; I will see that you are kept informed."</p> +<p>"You had better instruct your first messengers to come straight +here. Cathelineau and the rest of the forces started, directly we +did, and will halt at the junction of the roads, and are likely to +remain there all day tomorrow. Therefore, if your messengers find +the wood deserted, they have simply to follow the road, and they +will either overtake us, or find us with Cathelineau."</p> +<p>"How long must we follow the Blues?"</p> +<p>"There is no occasion to go any great distance. I do not suppose +that we shall pursue them. They could certainly defend themselves +at Montreuil, and we should not risk suffering heavy loss, and +having the men dispirited by failure, when all are needed for the +work at Saumur. If you follow them far enough to determine whether +they are retiring on Thouars, or are marching towards Niort, that +is all that is necessary; and you will be able to rejoin us in +plenty of time to see the fight at Saumur."</p> +<p>As Leigh thought would be probable, Monsieur de Lescure +restrained the peasants from following in pursuit, when the Blues +retreated. The latter had left two of their guns behind them, and a +number of carts, laden with ammunition and provisions for the +march, fell into the peasants' hands--the latter providing them +with breakfast before they started, early next morning, rejoining +Cathelineau's force two hours later. These had been apprised, some +hours before, by one of the mounted gentlemen who had accompanied +the column, of the success that had attended the operation; and +they were received with great joy by their comrades, on their +arrival.</p> +<p>Cathelineau, with General Bonchamp and a small escort of +cavalry, had ridden towards Saumur to examine the positions +occupied by the enemy, and to discuss the plan of attack. They now +felt confident of success; unless, indeed, Biron should come up in +the course of the day with the Paris brigade at Tours, together +with its guns. The description that Leigh had given, of the +confusion and want of discipline in the garrison, showed that it +could not be relied upon for hard fighting; and as it was certain +that the failure of Salomon to get through to its assistance would +be known, in Saumur, early in the day, it could not but add to the +dismay produced by the advance against the town.</p> +<p>This was indeed the case. As artillery had not been employed on +either side, the sound of the conflict did not reach the town. +However, as the officer who had taken the order to Thouars returned +at seven o'clock; saying that Salomon was preparing to march, and +would assuredly arrive some time in the evening, the anxiety +increased hour by hour and, by midnight, the conviction that he +must have been attacked by the enemy, and had failed to get +through, became a certainty, and spread dismay through the +town.</p> +<p>At five in the morning a mounted messenger brought a despatch +from Salomon, saying that he had fought for four hours near +Montreuil, against a large force of the enemy; and that, another +column of these having fallen on his rear, he found it necessary to +retire, as a panic was spreading among the National Guard, and a +serious disaster would have happened, had he continued his attempts +to push on. In the evening Generals Coustard and Berthier, who had +been sent by Biron to act under Menou's orders, arrived in the +town; and Santerre, the brewer of Paris, who had been the leader of +the mob there and was now a general, arrived next morning.</p> +<p>Cathelineau's army was astir early. The leaders had been +gladdened by the arrival, at five o'clock, of a messenger from +Pierre, saying that one of his messengers had come in from Tours, +and that, up to seven o'clock in the evening, no troops had left +that city. It was, therefore, certain that the garrison of Saumur +could receive no assistance from that quarter.</p> +<p>Breakfast was eaten, and the army then formed up in its +divisions. Mass was celebrated, and it then set out for Saumur.</p> +<p>In that town all was confusion and dismay. The newly arrived +generals were strangers alike to the town, its defences, and the +troops they were to command. In front of the works defending Saumur +ran the river Dives, which fell into the Loire, a mile or so below +the town. It was crossed by a bridge; but so great was the +confusion that, in spite of the representations of the civil +authorities, no steps were taken either to cut or guard it.</p> +<p>It was not until three o'clock in the afternoon that the +Vendeans approached the town, and General Menou sent two battalions +of the line, one of volunteers, and eighty horse, under the orders +of General Berthier, to take possession of a chateau in front of +the position. Two hundred and fifty men were posted in a convent +near it. Santerre commanded the force which was to defend the +intrenchments at Nantilly, and Coustard the troops who occupied the +heights of Bourlan.</p> +<p>At four o'clock the skirmishers on both sides were hotly +engaged. The Vendeans advanced in three columns--the central one +against the post occupied by Berthier, the left against Nantilly, +and the right threatened to turn the position at Beaulieu.</p> +<p>Berthier allowed the force advancing against him to approach +within a short distance of the chateau, and then poured a storm of +grape into it, from a battery that he had established. Lescure, who +was in command, was badly wounded. The head of the column fell into +confusion, and Berthier at once attacked them, with his two +regiments of the line, and for a time pressed the column back. His +little body of cavalry, whom he had ordered to charge, fell back as +soon as the Vendeans opened fire upon them; and the latter then +attacked the line battalions, with such fury that Berthier was +obliged to call up his regiment of volunteers. Cathelineau sent +reinforcements to his troops, and these pressed on so hotly that +Berthier, who had had a horse shot under him, was obliged to fall +back; and the exulting Vendeans rushed forward and carried the +faubourg of Fenet.</p> +<p>Dommaigne, with his cavalry, charged the cuirassiers and the +German Legion. There was a sharp fight. Dommaigne was killed, and +the colonel of the German Legion desperately wounded; but a body of +the Vendean infantry, coming up, took the cuirassiers in flank with +their fire, and they fell back into Saumur.</p> +<p>General Menou had been in the thick of the fight, and had three +horses killed under him. He sent another battalion to reinforce +Berthier but, as soon as they came within shot of the Vendeans, +they broke and fled.</p> +<p>The two line battalions, reinforced by four companies of +gendarmes, kept up a heavy fire. The artillery until now had +zealously supported them, but their ammunition was failing. Menou +and Berthier placed themselves at the head of the cavalry, and +called upon them to charge; but instead of doing so, they raised +their favourite cry of "Treason!" and galloped back to the +town.</p> +<p>The line regiments and gendarmes, pressed more and more hotly, +and finding themselves without support, withdrew in good order into +Saumur. The Vendeans had now possession of all the works in the +centre of the defenders' line. Coustard, seeing that the centre was +lost, and that the Vendeans were moving towards a bridge across the +Dives, by which alone they could enter the town, ordered two +battalions with two pieces of cannon to hold it. He was not only +disobeyed but, with shouts of "Treason!" they rushed upon him and, +with difficulty, he escaped with his life.</p> +<p>The Vendeans seized the bridge, and established a battery for +its defence. Coustard saw that it must be recaptured, as the town +was now open to the enemy; and ordered a detachment of cuirassiers, +commanded by Colonel Weissen, to carry the bridge. The two +battalions of infantry now promised to follow.</p> +<p>Although he saw that to charge the battery with a handful of +cavalry was to ride to almost certain death, Weissen gallantly led +his men forward. The infantry followed for a short distance but, +being taken in flank by a volley from a party of Vendeans, they +broke and fled. The cavalry were almost annihilated, and Weissen +was desperately wounded, two or three of his men alone riding +back.</p> +<p>The main force of Coustard's division, in the redoubts at +Bourlan, had not been attacked; and retired to Angers during the +night. The rout of the rest of the defenders was now complete, and +the town open.</p> +<p>La Rochejaquelein, by whose side Leigh and a small party of +gentlemen rode, had made a succession of desperate charges into the +midst of the fugitives; and he now said to Leigh and three other +gentlemen:</p> +<p>"Come along, we will see what they are doing in the town."</p> +<p>Then, dashing forward at full speed, they passed through the +gate, entered the main street, and found that it contained a +battalion of infantry, retreating. So cowed were these that they +opened their ranks and allowed the five horsemen to dash through +them. Then they made a tour of the place, and returned to inform +the Vendeans, who were just entering, that all resistance had +ceased. As on two previous occasions, the flying Republicans owed +their safety to the piety of the peasants who, instead of pursuing +at once, rushed into the churches; where the cures, who had +accompanied them, returned thanks for the victory that had been +gained, and thus lost the half hour of daylight that would have +been invaluable.</p> +<p>Cathelineau, after a consultation with Lescure and Bonchamp, +decided that it would be useless to attempt a pursuit in the dark. +Berthier's battalion was, too, unbroken. The generals, finding that +there was no pursuit, might have rallied a considerable number of +the others; when the peasants, coming up in the dark, could in turn +have been repulsed with heavy loss. Saumur had been taken, with all +its stores of cannon, ammunition, and provisions; and it was +considered that, under the circumstances, it was best to be +contented with the signal success they had gained.</p> +<p>Berthier and Menou indeed, although both severely wounded, had +covered the retreat with the line regiments and gendarmes; and +carried off with them seven cannon, which they came across as they +passed through the town; and would have given the peasants a warm +reception, had they followed them. The rest of the army were +hopelessly scattered, and continued their flight all night; some +towards Tours, others to Angers, their reports causing the wildest +dismay in both towns.</p> +<p>Had Charette, who had always acted independently in lower +Vendee, been persuaded at this moment to join hands with +Cathelineau, there can be little question that they might have +marched to Paris without encountering any serious resistance, and +that their arrival there would have changed the whole course of +events. Unfortunately, however, he was himself sorely pressed, by +several columns of the enemy, and was with difficulty holding his +own. The great opportunity was therefore lost, never to return.</p> +<p>The castle of Saumur was still in the hands of the Blues. Five +hundred of the National Guards of the town, and about the same +number of men of different regiments, threw themselves into it +before the Vendeans entered, carrying with them what provisions +they could lay hands upon. The wives of the National Guards soon +surrounded the chateau, crying to their friends to surrender; and +asserting that, if they did not do so, the Vendeans would give the +town over to pillage and fire. For a time the commandant resisted +their entreaties but, feeling that his position was desperate, and +that there was no hope of relief, he surrendered.</p> +<p>In the morning the garrison marched out. The officers were +allowed to retain their sidearms, and the men to return to their +homes. Eighty cannon fell into the hands of the victors, many +thousands of muskets, a large quantity of ammunition, and very many +prisoners.</p> +<p>Here, as at other places, the peasants behaved with great +moderation. The agents of the Convention, who had tyrannized the +town so long, were thrown into prison, as were their chief +supporters; but private property was untouched. On the following +day there was a council, at which Lescure, seriously wounded as he +was, was present. It was agreed that it was indispensable that one +man should be appointed commander-in-chief. Many difficulties had +arisen from independent action, by generals and leaders of bands +more or less numerous, and it was necessary that all should act +under the orders of a recognized head.</p> +<p>When this was agreed to, the question had to be decided as to +who should be appointed to this responsible post. The claims of +Lescure, la Rochejaquelein, d'Elbee, Bonchamp, Cathelineau, and +Stofflet were almost even. Each had a large band of followers. All +had been unwearied in their devotion to the cause.</p> +<p>It is probable that Lescure would have been chosen. He was the +largest landed proprietor, and was of the highest rank--with the +exception of Rochejaquelein, who had, although the idol of the +army, scarcely experience and ballast enough to take so responsible +a position. Lescure himself, however, proposed that Cathelineau +should be chosen. His influence was great, his talents +unquestionable, and the simple honesty of his character, his +modesty and untiring zeal in the cause, alike recommended him. +Lescure felt that if he himself, Bonchamp, or d'Elbee were chosen, +jealousies might arise and the cause suffer.</p> +<p>His choice was felt by all to be a good one, and Cathelineau was +unanimously appointed to the post of commander-in-chief. No finer +tribute was ever paid, to the virtues and talent of a simple +peasant, than such a choice, made by men so greatly his superior in +rank and station.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch9" id="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: Bad News.</h2> +<p>Neither Leigh nor Jean Martin was at Saumur, when this decision +was arrived at. The very night that the town was taken, one of the +former's band, who was wounded and, greatly against his +inclination, had been left behind, arrived there on horseback. He +was the bearer of terrible news.</p> +<a id="PicE" name="PicE"></a> +<center><img src="images/e.jpg" alt= +"He was the bearer of terrible news." /></center> +<p>Early on the previous day, a troop of the enemy's cavalry had +arrived. They had apparently ridden all night, and without exciting +any alarm on the way. They had made straight for the chateau, +without going into the village. Beyond the fact that they belonged +to the force operating from Nantes, none knew the route they had +followed. They had doubtless expected to arrest Jean at the chateau +but, on finding him absent, had seized his wife, had placed her in +their midst, set fire to the chateau, and ridden off before any +force could be gathered to oppose them. Jean and Leigh were horror +stricken at the news.</p> +<p>"What is to be done?" the former exclaimed. "What can be +done?"</p> +<p>"I should say," Leigh said, "that the first thing to do will be +to tell the generals that we must, for the present, leave them. +Then we must go to Nantes in disguise, find out where she is +imprisoned, and see what can be done to rescue her."</p> +<p>"Certainly that is the best thing, Leigh. Let us start at +once."</p> +<p>"It will be daylight in two hours, Jean, and that will make no +difference. I will go and talk with my boys. They are asleep +together on the steps of the church of Saint Marie. They may be +useful to us, and I am sure would follow us anywhere."</p> +<p>Jean made no reply. He had buried his face in his hands, and +deep sobs broke from him. Tears were streaming down Leigh's cheek +as he spoke, but he put his hand upon Jean's shoulder and said, in +a voice which he tried to keep steady:</p> +<p>"It is terrible, Jean, but we must not give up hope. We have +beaten the Blues in the field, and it is hard if we cannot manage +to beat them, somehow, in this business."</p> +<p>The other made no reply, and Leigh, feeling that it would be +best to leave him to himself for the present, went downstairs.</p> +<p>The lad who had brought the message was seated against the wall, +holding the horse's bridle in his hand. Being a stranger in the +place, he did not know where to go.</p> +<p>"Come with me, Philippe. The others are all in the great square, +a hundred yards away. They got their bread yesterday morning, and +will have plenty of it left for you and the horse. It can take a +drink at the fountain, in the centre.</p> +<p>"Ah," he exclaimed stopping suddenly, "you said nothing about +the child, and we did not think to ask. Did my sister take it away +with her, or was it left?"</p> +<p>"I did not hear, captain. My mother ran into the house crying, +and said:</p> +<p>"'The Blues have come, and have set fire to the chateau and +carried madame away prisoner. Take the horse and ride to the army, +and tell Monsieur Martin what has happened.'</p> +<p>"I ran into the stable and saddled it, took two loaves of bread, +one for him and one for myself, and started. I should have been +here in the middle of the day, but I lost my way in the lanes last +night, and had to stop till daylight and, even then, rode for a +long time in the wrong direction."</p> +<p>Leaving the lad and horse in the middle of the square, Leigh +went to the steps of the church. A great number of peasants were +sleeping there. He was not long in finding his own band. He roused +Andre and Pierre with some difficulty for, having both been up all +the previous night, they slept heavily.</p> +<p>"Come with me," Leigh said, as soon as they were sufficiently +roused to understand who was speaking to them. "I want to have a +talk with you.</p> +<p>"I have some bad news," he went on, as they passed beyond the +sleepers; "the Blues have been at the chateau. They have burned it +down, and have carried off Madame Martin."</p> +<p>Exclamations of rage broke from both the lads. Patsey had, +during the months she had spent on the estate, made herself +extremely popular among the peasantry; whose cottages she +constantly visited, and who always found her ready to listen to +their tales of trouble, and to supply dainty food for the sick. The +thought, too, that the chateau had been burned down was also a +blow, for all the tenantry considered that they had a personal +interest in the affairs of their seigneur.</p> +<p>"How was it that there was no defence?" Andre asked. "I know +that most of the men were away, but surely enough might have been +gathered to keep the Blues back, until madame escaped to the +woods."</p> +<p>"It seems they rode by night, and arrived there soon after day +broke. They had evidently come on purpose to seize your lord for, +as soon as they found that he was not there, they went away at +once, only stopping to set fire to the chateau. They were evidently +in a hurry to be off.</p> +<p>"Here is Philippe Rehan, who has brought the news. He only knows +what I have told you, as he mounted and rode off at once."</p> +<p>"I suppose they have taken our young lord, too?"</p> +<p>"Philippe does not know about that. He says they came from the +direction of Nantes, and no doubt my sister has been taken +there."</p> +<p>"What is to be done, captain?" Andre asked, as he and Pierre +looked at each other helplessly, in face of this trouble.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Martin and I are going to leave, at once. We don't +know what we are going to do yet, but we shall certainly try, by +all means, to get her out of prison. How it is to be managed we +have not even thought, but if it can be done, we shall do it. Now, +I am sure that we can rely upon your assistance."</p> +<p>"We will do anything," Andre exclaimed; while Pierre said, "We +will be cut to pieces for you, captain."</p> +<p>Leigh gave a hand to each.</p> +<p>"I am sure of it," he said. "And the band?"</p> +<p>"Every one of those we had at first we could answer for," Andre +replied. "And I believe that the others can be trusted, too. They +all esteem it a high honour to have been received into the band of +Cathelineau's scouts. They knew that there would be danger, when +they joined, and that they must be prepared to die for the cause. +All would certainly be faithful; there would be no fear about +that."</p> +<p>"I have not the least idea, at present, what I shall want you to +do; but at any rate we shall go to Nantes, and it is there that you +must meet us. We shall ride off in an hour's time. Let the others +sleep till there is a general movement, then you can tell them what +has happened, and that my orders are that you shall march home, at +once. You can be there by tomorrow night, can you not?"</p> +<p>"It will be two long marches, but we will be there, +captain."</p> +<p>"We shall not be much before you. By that time we shall have +determined how we shall set about the matter, and shall be able to +give you instructions; which will probably be that you are to meet +us, at some point we will arrange, just outside the town. Of +course, you will not go in a body, but singly or in pairs; crossing +the river at various points, and travelling by different roads. +Enter the town as if you belonged to villages round.</p> +<p>"I will ask Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein to let you have +another pistol, each, before you leave. Of course, you will hide +your arms under your clothes. I don't know that it will be +necessary to use force; of course, at first we shall try +bribery.</p> +<p>"At any rate, you will both be most useful in obtaining +information. There are very many people who know Monsieur Martin by +sight, and a few who know me. Possibly some of your band may have +friends in Nantes; and these, if they are of our party, would be +able to ask questions, and to find out the place in which my sister +is imprisoned, much better than strangers could do.</p> +<p>"We have heard nothing of what is passing in Nantes for many +weeks and, as they have sent troops to arrest Monsieur Martin, it +is possible that his father may also be arrested. If he is at +liberty, he would be sure to know where my sister is +imprisoned."</p> +<p>The day was breaking now, and Leigh went next to the large house +which had been set apart for the use of the generals. He knew +Rochejaquelein's room, having been chatting with him till late, the +evening before. The young count sat up in bed, as he opened the +door.</p> +<p>"You have given me a start, Leigh," he said, with a smile. "I +was dreaming that the Blues had retaken the town and, when the door +opened, thought that it was a party come to make me prisoner.</p> +<p>"Is there any bad news? You look grave."</p> +<p>"Bad news as far as Jean Martin and I are concerned. A messenger +arrived, two hours ago, with the news that a party of Blues from +Nantes arrived at his chateau, without being observed, as they had +travelled all night and reached it at daybreak. They had no doubt +been specially sent to arrest Jean but, finding that he was away, +they burnt the chateau, and carried off my sister a prisoner.</p> +<p>"We are going to start at once. I trust that you will explain, +to the other generals, the cause of our absence."</p> +<p>"I am sorry, indeed, to hear your news," Rochejaquelein said +warmly. "A curse upon the Blues! Why can't they content themselves +with making war on men, without persecuting and massacring +women?</p> +<p>"Certainly I will explain, to Cathelineau and the others, the +cause of your absence. But what are you thinking of doing?"</p> +<p>"That we have not even considered. We mean to get her out of +their hands, if possible; but until we see whether she has been +really taken to Nantes--of which I have little doubt--which prison +she is placed in, and how it is guarded, we can form no plan. If +possible, we shall bribe the jailers. If not, we will try to rescue +her by force.</p> +<p>"I am taking my band with me. I can depend upon them, and there +is no one in Nantes on whom we can rely. They will, of course, +enter the town singly; and will, I am sure, give us their loyal +service, should we require it."</p> +<p>"If they serve you as well as they serve the cause, you could +scarce have better assistants. I would that I could go with you. It +would be an adventure after my own heart, but private friendship +must give way to our country's needs. I hope, Leigh, that it will +not be long before we meet again, and that I may hear that you have +been successful."</p> +<p>Half an hour later, Leigh and Jean Martin started. The latter's +first question, when Leigh returned, had been regarding the child. +It was now nearly fifteen months old but, in the terrible shock +caused by the news of his wife having been carried off, Jean had +not thought of it till Leigh had left the room.</p> +<p>"The child is as nothing to me," he said, when Leigh had told +him that the messenger had heard nothing of it. "It would have +been, some day; but so far 'tis as nothing compared to Patsey. It +slept with the nurse, and may possibly have escaped; unless, +indeed, Patsey wished to take it with her."</p> +<p>"I do not think that she would do that," Leigh said. "No doubt +it would have been a comfort, to have it with her; but she would +have known that its chances of life would be slight, indeed, and +for your sake she would have concealed it, if possible, before she +was seized."</p> +<p>They reached the ruins of the chateau at noon next day, having +stopped for the night at Chemille, in order to rest their horses +and keep them in condition for another long ride, if necessary. The +outhouse had been left standing. Francois came out, on hearing the +sound of the horses' hoofs.</p> +<p>"Thank God you are back, master!" he said. "It has been a +terrible time."</p> +<p>"Is the child safe, or was it taken with its mother?" Jean +asked.</p> +<p>"He is safe, sir. Marthe saved it. When madame heard the Blues +ride up, and looked out and saw their uniforms, she ran into +Marthe's room and said:</p> +<p>"'Hide the child, Marthe! Run with it downstairs, without waking +it, and put it in a cupboard in the kitchen. They will never think +of searching for it there. Then return to your bed again. Tell your +master, when he comes back again, I have left little Louis for +him.'</p> +<p>"I was getting up when I heard the horsemen, and guessed that it +was the Blues and, without waiting a moment, dropped from my window +and ran past the stable, and hid myself in the shrubbery behind it. +I had scarcely done so when I heard them come round the house.</p> +<p>"Then there was a great knocking at the door and, a minute +later, a pistol shot was fired. I heard afterwards that madame told +Henri to open the door. As he did so, the officer of the Blues shot +him through the head.</p> +<p>"For ten minutes I heard nothing more. Then someone came to the +stable, took out the two horses, and then set fire to it. Looking +out through the bushes, I saw the smoke coming out from two or +three windows of the chateau. Then I made off as quickly as I +could, got into the church, and set the bells ringing; thinking +that it might frighten off the Blues, though I knew that the men +were all away, and there was no chance of help.</p> +<p>"Soon they came riding along at full speed, and I saw madame in +the middle of them. As soon as they had gone, the women all ran out +from their houses. We tried our best to put out the flames, but the +fire had too much hold.</p> +<p>"As we were doing this, I saw Marthe with the child in her arms. +It had been saved well-nigh by a miracle, she said, and she told me +how her mistress had run in to her. She caught up the child, and +then, thinking that if they saw its clothes they would search for +it, she opened the drawers, seized them all, and ran down and put +them and the child into the kitchen cupboard, as her mistress had +told her, then ran back to her bedroom and began to dress.</p> +<p>"She heard her mistress call to Henri to go down and open the +door. She heard the pistol shot, and the Blues pour into the house. +She hurried on her clothes and went out. They were searching all +over the chateau. The officer came up to her, with a pistol in his +hand.</p> +<p>"'Where is your master?' he said.</p> +<p>"'I do not know,' she replied. 'He rode away from here ten days +ago, and has not been back since.'</p> +<p>"'That is the tale your mistress tells,' he said.</p> +<p>"'It is true, sir. You go into the village and ask any of the +women there, they will tell you the same thing. I will swear on the +cross that it is so.'</p> +<p>"He seemed very angry, but turned away from her. Presently the +mistress came down, under a guard of two soldiers and, as she +passed, she said:</p> +<p>"'Goodbye, Marthe. Tell your master that I am thankful, indeed, +that he was not here.'</p> +<p>"Then the officers told the men to set fire to the house, in a +dozen places. They had all got bundles, having taken everything +they thought of value. As soon as they had set fire to the curtains +everywhere, and saw that the flames had got a good hold, they +mounted and rode off.</p> +<p>"They had not searched the kitchen much, as they had only opened +the closets large enough for a man to hide in and, not expecting to +find anything worth taking, had not troubled themselves to look +into the small ones; so Marthe had only to take the child out. +Fortunately it had not awoke. When we found that it was hopeless to +try and put the fire out, Marthe took the child over to the farm of +Madame Rehan who, as soon as she got the news of the mistress being +carried off, had sent her son away on horseback to tell you."</p> +<p>"Thank God, the child has been spared!" Jean Martin said, +reverently. "We will go to the cure's.</p> +<p>"The boys will all be back tonight. Give the horses a good feed. +We shall set out perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow morning."</p> +<p>"Ah, Monsieur Martin," the cure said, as they entered his house, +"this is a sad homecoming for you. If we had known that the Blues +were coming, but a quarter of an hour before they arrived, we could +have got madame away to a place of safety. I knew nought about it +until the church bells began to ring. Just as I was about to go +out, five minutes later, to learn the cause, I saw them ride past +with Madame Martin in their midst. We did not know that there were +any of them within twenty miles of us, and thought that there was +no chance, whatever, of their coming to a little village like +ours."</p> +<p>"They came, no doubt, for me," Jean said gloomily. "If they had +found Leigh and myself at home, they would not have taken the place +so easily. He and I and the two men could have made a stout +defence. I hear that there were not more than twenty of them, and I +warrant that there would not have been many of them left, when the +fight was over."</p> +<p>"I am sure," the cure said, "that if you had been there, and the +place had been defended, all the women within sound of the church +bell would have come in with arms, and would have fought like men +in the defence of yourself and madame; but as it was, the whole +thing was such a surprise, with everyone in bed and asleep, that +the enemy were off before anyone could think of what had best be +done. As it was, the women from all the farms round were here, +armed with hatchets or pitchforks, half an hour after the bell +began to ring. Of course, in the village here we knew that it was +too late to do anything, but to flock to the church and pray for +the safety of our good lady."</p> +<p>"Thank you, my friend. Leigh and I are going to Nantes, to see +if anything can be done to get her out of prison. Leigh's band are +coming also. Of course, they will travel singly. If of no other +use, they will be better able to ask questions than we.</p> +<p>"I am going over now to Rehan's farm, to see my boy and to thank +Marthe for saving him."</p> +<p>"It was well managed, indeed," the priest said. "I went over +yesterday to see the child, and the nurse told me how its escape +had been contrived. It was a happy thought on the part of its +mother, and the woman carried it out well.</p> +<p>"But before you go, you must take a meal. I am sure that you +must want it."</p> +<p>"I will not say no to that," Jean replied, "for we have not +broken our fast this morning."</p> +<p>In half an hour, the cure's table was most abundantly furnished +for, as soon as the news spread through the village that the +seigneur had arrived, and was at the house of the priest, the women +brought in little presents--a dozen eggs, a fowl, or some trout +that had been caught by the boys in the stream, that morning.</p> +<p>One or two of the women volunteered to assist the cure's +servant. Three fowls were hastily plucked, cut asunder, and grilled +over the fire. As soon as they were nearly ready, they were placed +in front of the fire to be finished, while the trout took their +place. The repast began with these, the fowls followed, and it was +concluded with an omelette.</p> +<p>"I have not eaten such a meal, father," Martin said, "since I +rode away. I think, after this, I shall be able to take a more +hopeful view of matters. In that respect the meal will be thrown +away upon Leigh, for he always takes the brightest view of +everything, and has never ceased to assure me that we are sure to +manage to get my wife out of the hands of these villains, somehow; +and as he has so far always succeeded in what he has attempted, I +feel a good deal of faith in him. I should be as hopeful as he, if +I knew that the Henriette was in the river at Nantes, and that I +had to my hand a dozen stout fellows I could thoroughly rely +on."</p> +<p>After paying a visit to the farm, praising Marthe, and arranging +that she should continue to live there, they returned to the +village.</p> +<p>"We will go over to the chateau, Leigh, before we do anything +else. I want to see how hot the ruins are."</p> +<p>"I should think that they must be pretty cool by this time, +Jean. You see, it is nearly four days since it was burnt."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt that the walls will be cool enough; but there +was a lot of woodwork about it. When the roof fell in it would +smother the fire for a time, but it might go on smouldering, even +now."</p> +<p>"But what does it matter, Jean?"</p> +<p>"It matters a good deal. I have with me only a hundred francs, +in paper, which is not worth above a third of its face value. I +have here four thousand in gold, which I brought with me from +Nantes, as soon as the troubles began. I buried it one day under +the hearthstone of the kitchen, thinking it possible that the Blues +might come here. The money is of the utmost importance now, for we +may want it to bribe some of the jailers; and therefore I must get +it, even if it delays us for a day."</p> +<p>They found indeed that, as they had feared, there was still fire +among the mass of debris.</p> +<p>"We must quench it before we can do anything, Jean. I have no +doubt that the women will help."</p> +<p>Francois was at once sent round and, in a short time, all the +women in the place were assembled with pails. Martin and Francois +worked the windlass of the well, the women carried pails of water, +and Leigh threw the contents on to the smouldering mass above where +he knew the kitchen fireplace must have stood. Clouds of steam rose +and, from time to time, some of the women with rakes pulled off the +upper layer of ashes. They worked till nightfall, by which time +steam had ceased to rise.</p> +<p>"That will do for tonight," Jean said; "we will finish the job +tomorrow morning. Your band will be here by that time, and will +help us to get some of these heavy beams and timbers out of the +way. We can then rake the smaller stuff out, and get at the +fireplace."</p> +<p>At eight o'clock the band arrived. Leigh went down and spoke to +them, and thanked them for the two long marches they had made. He +had, during the afternoon, obtained a supply of bread and wine and, +after they fell out, a meal was eaten before they started for their +homes, promising to be back at six in the morning, to aid in the +work of clearing away the debris.</p> +<p>Jean and Leigh spent a couple of hours in talk with the cure, +and related to him the events that had passed since they had left. +Then, thoroughly tired out, they retired to the room that had been +prepared for them. The work that afternoon had been heavy; they had +had a long ride previously, and neither had slept much the night +before.</p> +<p>The next morning the work was recommenced. During the night the +fire had crept in again, from the surrounding mass; but there were +plenty of hands now, and in an hour it was again extinguished. The +hearthstone was soon cleared and raised, and Martin brought out a +crock, in which he had placed the gold.</p> +<p>"Now, Leigh," he said, "you had better have a talk with your +boys, and arrange where they are to meet you. I should not press +any of them who are unwilling to go. This is a private business, +and I do not think that it would be right to urge them."</p> +<p>"Certainly not," Leigh agreed. "I am quite sure that all our +boys will go with us, both for Patsey's sake, and because they are +furious at the chateau being burnt down; as to the others, I shall +put it to them that they are perfectly free to do as they wish. +They can go with us, or they can rejoin the army, just as they +like.</p> +<p>"If they go, I think that it would be as well that they did not +enter the town; but should take up their quarters in a copse, or in +a deserted house, a mile or two away, so that we could call them if +we wanted them. Even in a town like Nantes, forty strange boys +wandering about might be noticed."</p> +<p>Martin, after seeing that the workers all had refreshment, went +to the cure's; as he never interfered in any way with the boys, +thinking that it might lessen Leigh's authority, were he to do +so.</p> +<p>"Now, I want to talk to you all," Leigh said, after they had +drunk their wine and eaten their bread. "In the first place, do I +understand that all who were first with me are ready to run a +considerable risk to attempt, with us, to carry off Madame Martin +from the hands of the Blues, and to save her from the fate that +falls upon every one that they once lay a hand upon?"</p> +<p>"They are all willing, captain," Andre said. "We spoke to them +again, just before we came in last night, and they all said that +they were willing and anxious."</p> +<p>"Good. Remember, lads, that it is not too late to draw back +now."</p> +<p>"We should not dare show our face in the village again," Pierre +said, "if we were to hang back when there was a chance of our being +of service to so good a lady."</p> +<p>"I thank you with all my heart," Leigh said. "I tell you fairly +that I expected such an answer. Those who have shown such courage +as you have done, and have been so loyal to the promises made me +when I first enrolled you, would, I felt certain, not hang back +now. Now, do you draw aside for a minute or two, while I speak to +the others."</p> +<p>There was a movement, and the two groups stood apart.</p> +<p>"Your case is different from that of the others," he said. "In +the first place, you have not been with me so long; and +secondly--and this is more important--that Madame Martin is not the +wife of your seigneur, and that you owe no duty to her. The +enterprise on which we are going to start does not concern the +cause for which we are fighting. It is a private business, and +there is no occasion whatever for you to take part in it. You are +free either to choose an officer among yourselves; or to rejoin the +army, find Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein, and tell him that I sent +you to him in order that he might find a suitable leader for you, +among the gentlemen with him. I would rather that you talked the +matter over among yourselves, and came and gave me an answer, in +half an hour."</p> +<p>"Will you tell us what we shall have to do, captain?" one of +them said.</p> +<p>"That I can hardly do, for I do not know myself. However, I +think it probable that the greater portion of the band would remain +outside the town. There are copses, down by the riverside, where +you could wait in safety until you were wanted. Possibly you might +not be wanted at all. Possibly you might be summoned to take part +in so desperate an enterprise as storming one of the prisons. Of +course it would be done at night, when we should have the advantage +of a surprise. I can tell you no more than that.</p> +<p>"Now, my last word is, I shall not think any the worse of you, +if you decide not to go with me."</p> +<p>It wanted five minutes of the time, when two of the boys +returned to where he was talking with Pierre and Andre.</p> +<p>"We have decided, captain. You told us, when you marched away +from Saumur, that Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein had approved of +your taking us, and therefore we shall feel that we are still doing +our duty to the cause. You have been kind, good, and thoughtful +while we have been with you. All those of our own age in the army +envied us who were of Cathelineau's scouts, and regarded our +position as a great honour. Even if we were willing to go back, we +could not do so, and tell the others that we had left you and our +comrades when you were about to undertake some perilous +service.</p> +<p>"But we do not wish it. We all desire to remain with you, and to +follow wherever you may lead us, and to die in your service, if +need be."</p> +<p>Leigh shook them warmly by the hand.</p> +<p>"Bravely said, and I thank you heartily. I am proud of my +scouts, and am glad to see that my confidence in you is well +founded. Call the others up."</p> +<p>After thanking these also, Leigh addressed the whole of +them.</p> +<p>"Now, I will give you your orders. You must make your way by +different routes to Nantes. There are many villages on the bank +where you can find a boat that will take you across. Never travel +more than two together. You must all take the green ribbons off +your hats, leave your belts behind, and hide your pistols. If +questions are asked you, reply that you are going to get work at +Nantes, where you have friends, and that you are afraid to stay in +your own villages.</p> +<p>"I will give each of you assignats for five francs. It would not +do to give you silver. With this you can pay for your ferry across +the water, and buy food on the way. It were best that, both on this +side of the river and the other, you travel either by by-lanes or +through the fields.</p> +<p>"When you get near Nantes, keep close to the river, and enter +the last large copse before you get there. Andre or Pierre are +likely to be there first, and will be on the lookout for you. They +will join me in the town and bring you orders when necessary, and +will send two or three of you in, daily, to buy food for the +rest.</p> +<p>"I can give you no orders beyond that. Now, I hope I shall meet +you all, in three days' time, at your rendezvous.</p> +<p>"Pierre and Andre, you will, on the evening after you arrive, +enter Nantes, following the river bank. You will go along to a spot +where a church faces the river. Sit down on its steps and wait for +us, until the clock strikes ten. If we are not there, return and +come back the next evening. If we are still not there, you will +know that some bad luck has befallen us; and the band will then +disperse, and you will all find your way up home.</p> +<p>"I should advise you all to travel by night, when you have once +crossed the Loire. In that way you will avoid any risk of being +questioned."</p> +<p>The boys then dispersed, and Leigh returned to the priest's. He +and Martin had already talked over their disguises, and had agreed +that those of fishermen would be the most appropriate; but until +they could obtain the necessary clothes, they would go in the +attire of fairly well-to-do people in a country town.</p> +<p>"We should only have to put on a tricolour scarf, Jean, and +should look like municipal authorities."</p> +<p>"It would go against the grain to put that rag on," Martin said; +"but your idea is a good one, and I would dress up as a general of +the Blues, or as Robespierre himself, on such an errand as we are +bound on.</p> +<p>"We cannot do better than go to Clisson. The place is in the +hands of our people, and the village authorities will not dare to +ask us any questions."</p> +<p>After dining with the cure, they mounted and rode to Clisson, +arriving there at five o'clock in the afternoon. They went to the +leader of the force there, as he was a friend of Jean's.</p> +<p>"I will send and get you the things," he said, when they told +him the object of their visit. "It is just as well, if any of the +people here are acting as spies for the Blues--which is likely +enough--that they should not be able to give any description of +you. We are all three about the same size, therefore I will go out +and buy two suits.</p> +<p>"As to the scarves, I am more doubtful. I doubt if any +shopkeeper here would admit that he had even a bit of tricolour +ribbon in his possession."</p> +<p>"It will not matter about that," Martin said; "and, at any rate, +when we get beyond the ground held by us, we shall find no +difficulty whatever in getting a couple of cockades of those +colours.</p> +<p>"Thank you very much indeed," he went on. "Here are five louis. +I have no doubt that you will be able to lay them out well for us. +But remember, please, that although we are all three the same +height, I am some four or five inches bigger round the shoulders +than Leigh; and want more room for my arms, also."</p> +<p>"I will remember," the other laughed. "Just let me pass this +string round you, and then round Monsieur Stansfield, and tie two +knots in it; and I will also measure you round the waist and +leg."</p> +<p>In an hour he returned with one of his men, carrying two +parcels.</p> +<p>"I had no difficulty in getting the clothes for your +brother-in-law," he said, "but I had to go to two or three shops +before I could get coat and breeches wide enough for you. What do +you intend to do with your horses?"</p> +<p>"We shall ride into Nantes as we are, after nightfall, and shall +put them up at a small inn. I know of one near the water. It is +kept by a man who was at one time in my lugger, but he had his leg +crushed in a storm, and had to have it taken off. He was a good +sailor, so I set him up, and can rely upon him. He will get +fishermen's clothes for us and, should we have to stay there any +time, buy a boat and nets. We may want such a thing, badly."</p> +<p>The clothes were tried on, and found to fit fairly well. In our +days the short-waisted coats with their long tails, and the +waistcoats extending below the waist, would be deemed laughable; +but as it was then the fashion among the middle classes, and +especially the Republicans, Jean saw nothing ridiculous in it, +while Leigh smiled at the figures they cut. Both had bright yellow +breeches and stockings, and low shoes.</p> +<p>They waited till midnight at Clisson, and then mounted again, +and by morning they were within a mile or two of a ferry, a short +distance above Nantes. They stopped at a small village, and there +purchased two tricolour cockades from the one shop it boasted, +these forming conspicuous objects in the window, as a proof of the +warm adherence of its owner to the Convention.</p> +<p>At the little cabaret they took breakfast, and saw that the +horses were fed, then they rode on to the ferry. The boat was on +the opposite side, and in half an hour it crossed. Then they took +their places, and were ferried over. A party of soldiers were +posted at the landing place.</p> +<p>"You are going to Nantes, I suppose, citizens?" the officer in +command asked.</p> +<p>"We are. We come from Vallet, and are going to consult the +commissary of the republic concerning some taxes that, as we +consider, it is impossible for the town to pay, which the +commissary there has imposed upon us."</p> +<p>"I should imagine that your errand is scarcely likely to meet +with success," the officer said, with a light smile. "I hear the +same complaints at Nantes, but have not heard that any remission +has been made. Well, citizens, at any rate I can wish you luck on +your errand."</p> +<p>It was still very early when they rode into Nantes, and but few +people were about the streets. Trade was almost at a standstill. +The town, which had been strongly Republican, was at once deeply +discontented with the crushing taxation imposed upon it, and +horrified at the constant executions that took place. Almost every +house had soldiers billeted on it, as it was considered necessary +to keep a large force there in order to overawe the south of +Brittany and, if necessary, to send supports to the generals +operating in the west of La Vendee.</p> +<p>There was scarcely any shipping in the river, and even the +fishermen had almost given up plying their business; their best +customers had fallen under the guillotine, and there was no demand +for fish on fast days--for to practise any of the observances of +religion was considered to be, in itself, a proof of hostility to +the Convention. Therefore Jean and Leigh rode into the courtyard of +the little inn without having attracted any attention, +whatever.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch10" id="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: Preparations For A +Rescue.</h2> +<p>"I have no accommodation for you here, citizens," a voice said, +as Jean Martin and Leigh rode into the little courtyard, and a man +with a wooden leg came out from the side door of the inn.</p> +<p>"I think you might be able to manage for us, Brenon," Jean +said.</p> +<p>"Mon Dieu! it is--"</p> +<p>Jean held up his hand sharply.</p> +<p>"Yes, it is I, Citizen Gallon, from Vallet. It is not often that +I stir so far from home, but I had business here."</p> +<p>"Well, well, I will see what I can do for you, comrade; but as +you know, I don't profess to take in horses. My clients come from +the waterside, and generally my stable is full of their baskets and +ropes. However, I will see what I can do. I will tie them up in +that shed, for the present, and then clear out a stall for them +afterwards."</p> +<p>The horses were led to a shed, encumbered with fishing gear of +all sorts.</p> +<p>"What madness has seized you, mon capitaine, to put your head +into this lion's den?"</p> +<p>"I will tell you presently, Brenon, when we get inside. I am +glad that you are able to take the horses in. We don't want to be +stared at, or talked about. We have come along the river bank and, +so far, we have been quite unnoticed."</p> +<p>"All the better, all the better; to be noticed here means to +have one's head cut off. Now, I will take you to a little room +upstairs, where there is no chance of anyone seeing you."</p> +<p>"Get us up, if you can, without our being noticed by your +servants, Brenon. We shall be differently dressed when we come down +again."</p> +<p>The man nodded.</p> +<p>"The boy is in the front room," he said. "There are three or +four fishermen there, having their morning glass. I have no other +servants. My wife does what is needful, for I was obliged to +discharge the girl we had, everything has been so slack of +late."</p> +<p>He led them up to a chamber looking on to the quay. Jean was +puzzled at the man's manner, for he spoke in a confused and +hesitating way. When he closed the door behind him, he stood +rubbing his hands together nervously.</p> +<p>"Have you heard lately from Nantes, Monsieur Jean?"</p> +<p>"No, it is five weeks since I had any news; except, of course, +what was known about the troops that were here. What is it, old +friend? Is there bad news?"</p> +<p>"There is terrible news," Brenon said, "so bad that I don't know +how to tell you."</p> +<p>"Speak out, old friend. I have had one blow so heavy that I can +scarcely be hurt more than I am."</p> +<p>"Well, then, monsieur, your father has been arrested and is in +the prison; and you know what that means!"</p> +<p>"Father arrested!" Jean exclaimed; "on what grounds? He never +expressed an opinion as to public affairs. That at heart he hated +what has been going on, I know; but he never spoke strongly, even +to me, and when I have heard his opinion asked, he has always +replied that he was a trader, and that a man could not give his +attention to business if he worried himself over politics. He +attended to his trade, and left it to those who liked, to manage +the government of the country.</p> +<p>"What of my mother and sister?"</p> +<p>"They are safe, monsieur. He sent them off a fortnight before, +in disguise, to La Rochelle; at least, so I have heard from the +fishermen. And as the Henriette was lying there at the time, and +sailed two days after, there is not much doubt but that they sailed +in her for England.</p> +<p>"Your father was denounced before the committee of public safety +as one who was hostile to the Convention. He was accused of having +sent large sums of money to England, and was believed to have sent +his wife and daughter there also, with the intention, of course, of +following them; and the fact that you were known to be fighting in +the ranks of the brigands, as they call the Vendeans, was also +mentioned as an additional crime on his part."</p> +<p>"Then we have a double task to carry out, Leigh," Jean said +grimly.</p> +<p>"Now I will tell you what we came here for, Brenon. Six days ago +a small party of the Blue cavalry came, at night, to my chateau. I +was away, but they carried off my wife as a prisoner, and burnt the +house to the ground. So we have come here to see if we cannot get +her out of prison.''</p> +<p>"You have thought of such a thing as that?" the man exclaimed in +surprise. "Ah, monsieur! It is well nigh an impossibility that you +have undertaken. The villains know that there are hundreds of men, +friends of the prisoners with whom they have crowded the jails, who +would tear them down stone by stone, if they had the power; but in +addition to the prison warders--not the men that used to be there, +but men taken from the lowest class in the town--the prisons are +watched by what they call the volunteers, fifteen hundred men +belonging to the scum of the city--the men from the +slaughterhouses, the skinners', and the tan yards Some of these are +ever on guard round the prisons, night and day.</p> +<p>"There have been great changes here. A year ago, almost everyone +thought that the Assembly was going to do wonderful things. No one +knew exactly what. According to what they said, everyone was to be +able to eat meat, seven days a week, to wear good clothes, and to +do just as much work as pleased him and no more. Even the fishermen +and sailors were fools enough to believe it.</p> +<p>"But there is a great change now. At first they approved of +cutting off the heads of those who, they were told, were the cause +of all misery and poverty; but when, every day, fresh prisoners +were brought in, and it was not the nobles only but quiet +citizens--tradesmen, manufacturers, doctors, and advocates--and +every morning a score were carried out to be guillotined, men began +to change their opinion; especially when they found that the more +heads were cut off, the less work there was and the poorer they +became. They began to talk among themselves and, when it came to +executing women and children, as well as men, they turned round +altogether.</p> +<p>"More than once the fishermen and sailors have tried to rescue +prisoners on their way to execution. The commissioners of the +republic have been hooted in the streets and, if they had had arms +in their hands, our men would have turned the tables; but the town +is full of troops now and, worse than all, they have enrolled this +corps of volunteers, who are the terror of the place. They have +spies everywhere, and no one dares whisper a word against the +commissioners or the executions for, if but two or three men are +standing by, the chances are that one of them is a spy."</p> +<p>"But surely my brother might have prevented my father's arrest, +Brenon? He was one of the leading men at that Jacobin Club."</p> +<p>"He is still one of the leading men of the party," Brenon said +gloomily. "He is established in your father's house, now, and is on +the most intimate terms with the commissaries of the +Convention."</p> +<p>"Is Monsieur Desailles still here? He was a young advocate, and +a member of the Jacobin Club."</p> +<p>"Yes, he is a member still: but he is not in good odour with the +extreme party. He is at the head of what they call the moderates. +They say that sometimes these try to defend accused persons, and +that is considered a terrible offence by the others. I should never +be surprised to hear that he himself, and those with him, have been +denounced as enemies of the state. This is an awful time, monsieur, +and Heaven only knows what we shall come to.</p> +<p>"Now, is there anything that I can do for you, captain? You know +well that you have but to say the word and that, whatever it is, I +would do it, even if I were cut to pieces the minute +afterwards."</p> +<p>"Thank you, old friend. It was because I knew that you were +trusty and true that I came here. Now, the first thing that we want +is fishermen's clothes. We only disguised ourselves in those things +in order to pass safely through the Blues, and be able to cross the +ferry. For the present they have done their work, and now we want a +disguise that we can go about in, unnoticed. Of course, we don't +want new things."</p> +<p>"I can get them easily enough, monsieur. My customers are all +hard up. I know pretty well which are true men, and which are +not."</p> +<p>"In the next place, I should like to buy or hire a boat to be at +my disposal, as long as I stay here."</p> +<p>"There are boats and to spare, captain. Fishing goes on because +men must live; though it can hardly be called living, for the +prices of everything are fixed by law, now, and are fixed so low +that the men can scarce earn enough to buy bread for themselves, +and their families. Still, there are boats in plenty. Men have come +down from towns and villages higher up, for they say that the +troops are under no control and, when the boats come in after a +night's fishing, they come down and help themselves and, if a man +ventures to grumble, he gets a musket ball to pay him for his fish. +The men here, at first, were against their fishing between this +place and the sea; but the authorities stepped in, and said that +the more food, the better for the people; and as the price was +fixed, the men here saw that it made no difference to them. Still, +like our own men, they are doing badly enough, and one could buy a +boat for a mere song."</p> +<p>"It would be better to buy one from those men, Brenon, because +the fact of our being strangers would not then be noticed. I want +one rowing boat, as fast a craft as you can pick out.</p> +<p>"I also want to hire a boat with a cabin that will hold us both. +Of course it will be a sailing boat, say of three or four tons +burden. I intend that we shall live on board. It might be noticed +if two strange sailors were often coming in and out of your place; +whereas, if we were in a boat moored against the bank, no one would +notice us. If you can get hold of such a boat, with a couple of men +who seem to you to be honest fellows, strangers to the place, it +will be a great thing; and we could occasionally go down the river, +and do a little fishing."</p> +<p>"All that can be managed easily enough, captain. I know of one +boat, just such a size; owned by two men, Rouget and Medart, who +sailed in the Henriette for years, and only left her when you did, +as they had wives and families here, and knew that she would not +put in again for a long time. You could trust them as you do +me."</p> +<p>"That would be the very thing. Make arrangements with them, on +any terms they like. I will take her by the week. She carries a +boat, I suppose?"</p> +<p>"Of course, monsieur, they could not do without one."</p> +<p>"If she is fast, well and good. If not, tell them to buy the +fastest they can find. They can sell their own boat in part +payment, or they can get her up on the quay and let her lie there, +until we have gone, when they can either sell her or the new +one.</p> +<p>"However, the clothes are the first thing. We cannot venture out +in these, in the first place, because we might be questioned; and +secondly, because we might be recognized; whereas in a fisherman's +dress, with a wide oilskin hat and our faces dirtied somewhat, I +don't think that anyone could know us."</p> +<p>They remained quiet until evening, and then sallied out in the +disguises Brenon had obtained for them. Their first visit was to +the house of Jean's friend, Desailles. It was arranged that Leigh +should not go in, as Desailles would probably speak more freely to +Jean, if alone. Jean had written his name on a piece of paper, +folded it up, and carefully sealed it and, when he reached the +house, he handed this to the woman who opened the door.</p> +<p>"This is for Citizen Desailles," he said. "I will wait. He may +want to see me."</p> +<p>In a minute the servant returned, and requested him to come in. +He was shown into a room where Desailles was sitting, with some +papers before him. He did not speak until the servant closed the +door. Then he leapt up, and held out both hands to his visitor.</p> +<p>"My dear Jean," he said, "what imprudence, what madness for you +to venture here!"</p> +<p>"I don't think there is any fear of my being discovered. Even +you, yourself, would scarcely know me."</p> +<p>"I know you, now you have taken that hat off; but I own that I +did not recognize you before, and thought for the moment that you +were but a messenger.</p> +<p>"Please do not talk loud. For aught I know, my servant has been +bribed to act as a spy upon me, and may have her ear at the +keyhole. To tell you the truth, Jean, things are coming to a crisis +at the club. The violent party get more violent every day, and I am +heartily sick of this butchers' work. I feel that, at any moment, I +may be denounced."</p> +<p>"Then why on earth do you stay here, Jules? Why don't you come +and throw in your lot with us?"</p> +<p>"I should have laughed at the idea, a year ago," he said; "for +at that time, although I objected strongly to the doings in Paris, +I yet believed that much good would come of the changes. Now I know +that nothing has come of them but murder and misery, and the +madness increases rather than diminishes. Hopeless as I own your +struggle seems, to me, I would at least rather be killed in battle +than executed here; but I would rather still get to England, if I +could. As you know, I can play the violin well, and might be able +to support myself, by its aid, if nothing else turned up."</p> +<p>"If you are thinking of going, Desailles, I will give you a +letter to my father-in-law, at Poole. I hear that my mother and +sister have escaped, and they have doubtless gone there, so you +will not find yourself friendless.</p> +<p>"And now for the purpose that has brought me here. I had no +idea, until I arrived, that these wretches had imprisoned my +father; who is the last man to interfere in politics, and has, I am +sure, never uttered a word of enmity against the Convention. I came +to endeavour to rescue my wife who, as no doubt you have heard, has +been seized and carried off in my absence, and my house laid in +ashes. I suppose she has been brought here."</p> +<p>"Yes, I am aware of it," Jules said. "The party of horse who did +it were specially sent from here. Of course you were the principal +object of the expedition, but the officer was ordered to bring her, +too--in the first place as your wife, in the second as an +Englishwoman and therefore, of course, an enemy of France. You were +denounced to the club; and as you were known to be one of the +gentlemen who had joined the insurrection, and were fighting with +Cathelineau and others, I knew that it would be useless to raise a +voice on your behalf; having the satisfaction of feeling sure that +you would be away from home when they got there, and hoping that +your wife would receive notice of their coming, before they entered +the house."</p> +<p>"Has she been brought here yet?"</p> +<p>"Yes, she arrived three days ago. She is in the old city prison, +where your father is also confined."</p> +<p>"So far that is fortunate," Jean said.</p> +<p>"Now, how about my father? I should have thought that Jacques' +influence would have been sufficient to protect him."</p> +<p>The young advocate smiled bitterly.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Jacques Martin poses as a Brutus, Jean. When your +father was denounced in the club, he rose and said that he should +take no part in the deliberations, that he was before all other +things a patriot, and that he would not permit private affection to +interfere with his duty as a citizen. In fact, my dear Jean, +painful as it must be for you to hear, my opinion is that your +brother has all along been playing a deep game, and that his object +has been to grasp the whole of your father's business and property. +It was a friend of his who denounced you at the club, when I before +gave you warning; it was members of his clique who stirred the +authorities up to send a small body of cavalry to capture you, and +it was they also who denounced your father. Your brother is by far +the most powerful of the committee of safety, as well as in the +club. He assumes an air of perfect disinterestedness, and of a +passionate love for the republic. His vote is always given for +death. I think he takes Saint Just as his model, and repeats his +assertion, that it is only by the destruction of the enemies of +France that France can be freed.</p> +<p>"There is a cold bloodedness about him that sets my nerves +tingling. I believe, myself, that the discovery that your father +had largely reduced his stocks, and had sent the proceeds to +England, decided him in either agreeing to, or bringing about, this +denunciation; and that he deferred it only until he found that your +mother and sister had escaped. That freed his hands, to some +extent. Had they remained here, he would have been in a difficult +position. Even in these days, when we are sated with horrors, he +could hardly have permitted his mother and sister to be executed +when, as everyone knew, he had power to save them. On the other +hand, if they had remained they would have been obstacles to the +success of his plan. As it is now, your father's house and all +property belonging to him were declared confiscated; but the +committee of safety passed a vote that, seeing the inestimable +service rendered to the state by his eldest son, they would be +bestowed upon him as a token of gratitude for his well doing."</p> +<p>"You scarcely surprise me," Jean said gloomily. "I never liked +my brother--we had not a feeling in common, and for years he has +never seemed to belong to the family; and certainly, since the +troubles began, he has not set foot in my father's house. Still, I +hardly believed that he would be such a scoundrel. I abhorred his +opinions, but believed that he was at least sincere. I did not see +what he could gain by a revolution. Now I understand his character +better, and can see how cleverly he has played his cards. I cannot +reckon myself with the scoundrel, deeply as he has wronged me and +my father; but I should welcome the news that retribution had +fallen upon him, by some other hand.</p> +<p>"And now, Jules, can you give me any advice whatever as to how +to set about my scheme of getting them both out of prison?"</p> +<p>Jules shook his head.</p> +<p>"I fear, my poor friend, that that is impossible. The prison is, +as you know, strong. There are, I should say, some forty warders, +all ruffians and scoundrels. Any attempt to bribe even one of them +would, almost to a certainty, be denounced; and it would probably +be necessary to have at least half a dozen in the plot. As to +force, it is out of the question. The building is very strong. +There are always some twenty or thirty of the volunteers on guard +outside, and an alarm would bring up five hundred in a quarter of +an hour, to say nothing of the troops. What force could you bring +that could have even a remote chance of success?"</p> +<p>"I have Leigh with me. You know him well, Jules. I rely much +more upon him than I do on myself. He is full of plans and +contrivances, and has rendered extraordinary services during the +war. He has with him, or rather will have in the course of a day or +so, a band of forty lads, of whom he is the captain, who have acted +as scouts to Cathelineau. They will be in hiding, a mile or two out +of the town."</p> +<p>Jules lifted his eyebrows.</p> +<p>"I am afraid that such a force as that would be of very little +use to you, Jean--in fact, of no use whatever. If you had five +hundred men, and could gather them for a sudden attack on the jail, +and had a couple of cannon to blow in the gate, I should say it +might be possible; and even then the chance of its being all done, +and the fugitives got safely away, before the arrival of some three +thousand troops would be very doubtful."</p> +<p>At this moment the servant brought in a note.</p> +<p>"Who brought this?" Monsieur Desailles asked.</p> +<p>"It was a woman, monsieur. She did not wait for an answer."</p> +<p>The advocate opened it. It was written in pencil.</p> +<p>"Dear Jules, Martin is on his feet denouncing you. Hostile vote +certain. Escape at once."</p> +<p>After reading it, he handed it to Jean.</p> +<p>"That settles it," he said. "I am with you. Where are you +staying?"</p> +<p>Martin told him, and said:</p> +<p>"It will never do for you to stay there. But I have arranged for +a boat, with a cabin. We shall go on board at once. You can come +with us. I had better go out first."</p> +<p>"It is better that we should not go together for, if the woman +reports that I went off with a fisherman, a search might be made in +all the boats. I will join you on the quay opposite the inn you +speak of. I shall need a quarter of an hour to burn some papers. I +have already a valise packed, with a couple of thousand francs, +which is all the money I could obtain without creating suspicion. I +have seen this coming for some time, and had no intention of making +a martyr of myself, when my doing so would be of no advantage."</p> +<p>"Don't delay too long, Jules. I shall be in a fever until you +join me."</p> +<p>"I know their way, Jean. There will be a half a dozen speeches, +each vying with the other in abusing me. My friends will see the +uselessness of trying to defend me, when the terrorists are three +to one against them. If my friend slipped out, as is probable, +directly your brother rose, I can calculate on a good hour. +Actually, the club have no power whatever to order arrests, but +they are so closely allied now with the committee of safety that +they do not stand upon legalities, except in cases likely to +attract a great deal of public attention."</p> +<p>Jules went to the door and let his visitor out. Jean joined +Leigh.</p> +<p>"Desailles is going to join us. He has just been denounced, and +will be with us in a quarter of an hour, on the wharf. It is very +lucky that Brenon completed the arrangements today for the boat, +and that Rouget and Medart will be expecting us this evening. I +told them that I might not come until tomorrow morning, but this +settles it. There will be a sharp search for Desailles, as soon as +it is found that he is gone; and it is just as well that we should +be off, too. I am very glad that I had the boat taken from her +usual berth to a spot half a mile higher up, because there are sure +to be inquiries whether any fishing boats put out during the +night."</p> +<p>They walked fast back to the inn. Brenon, on being told what had +happened, agreed that it would certainly be safest for them to go +on board.</p> +<p>"I have two friends living here," he said, "both of whom are +carriers, and keep eight or ten horses. Tomorrow morning, early, I +will take one of your horses to one and the second to the other. No +one will notice them there, whereas if a search is made--and I have +no doubt a search will be made of the houses near the river--they +will light upon them in my shed, and they would not believe my +story that I had two citizens from Vallet living here--in the first +place because it is an unlikely place to put them up, and in the +second because no such citizens would be forthcoming. It is lucky +that you told the men to get a cask of wine and a store of +provisions on board, before starting.</p> +<p>"Well, you know, captain, that whenever you choose to land +again, my house is at your disposal; and I will carry out what we +arranged, that I should get together a score of men I can trust, +and to each of whom I can promise a hundred francs, for a night's +work in a good cause."</p> +<p>They packed up their former disguises, which might come in +useful again. Their pistols they had already about them. They then +went out on to the wharf again and, a few minutes later, were +joined by Jules Desailles.</p> +<p>"I have been nervous ever since I left you," Jean Martin said, +as his friend shook hands with Leigh. "I was afraid that a quarter +of an hour's delay might be fatal."</p> +<p>"I lost no time. But I feel sure that it will be an hour before +anyone is down after me; they are all too fond of listening to +their own voices to close any discussion, in less than an hour +after the proposer has sat down. I hope the boat is not far off, +for this portmanteau of mine is heavy, I can assure you."</p> +<p>Martin took it up and swung it on to his shoulder.</p> +<p>"No, my dear Jean, I won't have it."</p> +<p>"Nonsense, Jules. The weight is nothing to me though, no doubt, +to a man who never takes any exercise it would feel heavy."</p> +<p>"To say the truth, it is heavier than I expected. I went on +packing up everything that I did not like to leave behind, until +the thing was crammed full; and after I had locked it, and went to +lift it, I was thunderstruck with the weight."</p> +<p>"Did your servant see you go out?"</p> +<p>"No; I rang for her, and told her that I was going out, and did +not suppose that I should be back till late, and that she could go +to bed when she liked--which I knew would be a few minutes after +she got permission. She is a sort of human dormouse and, nineteen +times out of twenty, I have had to wait for my breakfast. I was in +a fright as I walked down here, lest some one who knew me might run +against me, but happily I saw no one."</p> +<p>"They would not recognize you, if they had seen you," Jean +laughed. "The idea of Monsieur Desailles, advocate, a gentleman +somewhat particular as to his attire, dragging a portmanteau +weighing a hundred pounds through the streets, would seem an +impossibility."</p> +<p>"I have left that phase of my existence behind me," Jules +laughed; "henceforth I am a man of war, a rebel, a brigand, as they +call you, prepared for any desperate adventure, ready to rush up to +a cannon's mouth."</p> +<p>"That is right, Desailles. I am glad to see that you take things +so cheerfully."</p> +<p>"My dear Jean, I feel as if I walk on air since you have taken +my portmanteau. I have been living in a state of suspense for +months, hating these wretches and their ways; and knowing that I +was gradually falling into bad odour with them, and that the blow +would certainly fall, ere long. Over and over again I have thought +of making my escape from it all; but you see, I am not a man of +action, as you are. I did not see how the matter was to be +effected--where to go or what to do. I was like a boy shivering at +the edge of the bank, and afraid to plunge in; then another comes +behind him and pushes him into the water, and he strikes out, and +finds that it is not as cold as he expected, and forthwith enjoys +it. I have cut loose from the past. I have become a rover and a +waif, and I feel as lighthearted as a boy.</p> +<p>"Now, let me get hold of one end of that trunk, again."</p> +<p>"I have got it all right and, as you see, I have not yet changed +shoulders. And if I want help, it is to Leigh I should turn, and +not to you. After three months' campaigning, it may be that you +will be able to hold up an end as well as he can, but you certainly +cannot do so now. In another hundred yards we shall be at the boat, +and they must be on the lookout for us."</p> +<p>In a short time they saw a fishing craft, with a boat astern of +her. A man was standing on the deck.</p> +<p>"It is a dark night, my friends," he said.</p> +<p>"It will be lighter in the morning," Jean replied.</p> +<p>The man leapt ashore.</p> +<p>"Ah, captain, I am glad, indeed, to see you. Brenon did not tell +us, until after he had made a bargain with us, who wanted our boat, +or we should not have talked about payment. Not likely, after +having sailed with you since you were a boy of fourteen."</p> +<p>"No, indeed," said another man, who had just raised his head out +of the cabin hatch; "and we are not going to take it, either."</p> +<p>"We will talk about that afterwards," Jean said, as he stepped +on board.</p> +<p>"I doubted whether it was you, captain, for Brenon had only +spoken to us of two; and when I saw three of you, I thought that +you must belong to one of the boats higher up. There are two or +three of them, a bit farther on."</p> +<p>"I did not know, myself, until half an hour ago. This is my +friend Monsieur Desailles, who is in the same danger from these +butchers of the Convention as I am. First pass this box down, and +then we will follow it."</p> +<p>They gathered in the little cabin. It was but some seven feet +long.</p> +<p>"It will be close work, captain," Rouget said.</p> +<p>"It will do very well," Jean said cheerfully. "There is room for +two of us to sleep on the lockers, and one on the floor. You have +got the small boat behind you, I see."</p> +<p>"She is there," the man said, "and a good boat she is. We bought +her from two fishermen, who had come down from Saint Florent. She +is very well for up there, but she is scarce fit for fishing far +below Nantes."</p> +<p>"I am glad that she did not belong to this place," Martin said. +"The fishermen might have been surprised to see two strange men in +a boat they knew; but so many have come down here, from the towns +above, that we shall excite no attention. Now, the first thing to +do is to get up sail, and drop down two miles past the town; then +you can go about your fishing as usual. Only one of us will show +upon deck at a time.</p> +<p>"Now, as to the matter on which we are here. Brenon told you +that it was a dangerous business for which you would be +required?"</p> +<p>"He told us that it was to hide two gentlemen whom the committee +of public safety would be glad to get hold of; and I knew, of +course, that to do such a thing was dangerous, but we did not like +it any the worse for that. All honest men are horrified at the way +these commissioners from Paris are carrying things on, and would be +glad enough to aid in getting anyone out of their hands."</p> +<p>"But the danger is greater, in our case, than ordinary," Jean +went on. "You heard that my father had been imprisoned?"</p> +<p>"We heard it, captain, and savage it made us, as you may guess. +Everyone spoke well of him and, being your father, of course we +felt it all the more."</p> +<p>"But that is not all, lads. A party of their cavalry went to my +chateau in my absence, burnt it down, and brought my wife here a +prisoner. Now, it is absolutely certain that they will both of them +be condemned, for they have a personal enemy on the committee of +public safety, and they will be murdered, unless we can get them +out; and I and my brother Leigh, whom you all know, have come for +that purpose."</p> +<p>"Well, captain, you can count upon both of us, heart and soul. +But I don't see how it is going to be done. The prison is a strong +place, and well guarded. I have no doubt that we could count on +getting twenty stout men, along the wharf, but that would not be +much use. They have more than that on guard and, before we could +get into the prison, they would come swarming down, any number of +them."</p> +<p>"We have forty young fellows from my neighbourhood, who will by +tomorrow be hidden away in the wood, a mile and a half higher up +the river."</p> +<p>"That will be a help, sir; but even with two hundred we should +not be able to do much."</p> +<p>"We shall have plenty of time to talk it over, afterwards. Get +the sail up and drop down the river. Keep close to the opposite +bank. It is important that we should not be noticed, as we pass the +town."</p> +<p>"Well, sir, there is hardly air enough to fill the sails. I +should say that we had best tow her across to the other side, in +the small boat; and then drift till we are fairly beyond the town. +We are safe not to be seen then."</p> +<p>"Perhaps that will be the best plan, Rouget."</p> +<p>The men went out and, in two or three minutes, the sound of the +oars could be heard.</p> +<p>"I can't say that the lookout is very hopeful, Leigh."</p> +<p>"I did not think that anyone would think it so, Jean; but it +seems to me that it is just because everyone seems so confident +that the prison is safe from attack, that we shall have a chance. +The thing that is troubling me most is where we can get a barrel of +gunpowder. We must have powder to blow open the gate. I expect that +any of the doors we may find locked, inside, will give way if a +pistol is fired through the keyhole; but to blow in the main gate +of the prison we must get powder, and a good deal of it. That, +however, is a matter in which we shall find that money will be of +use.</p> +<p>"There are too many officials in the prison for us to hope to +get any one out, without eight or ten being in the plot; and as +these, we hear, are all fellows who are heart and soul with the +Convention, it is not possible to attempt it in that way. But when, +as you know, the Blues succeeded in bribing a Vendean to tamper +with our guns, it ought not to be such a difficult thing to bribe +one of these fellows, who is in charge of ammunition, to let us +have a barrel or two of powder."</p> +<p>"That certainly seems to hold out a prospect of success, so far, +Leigh. I have never been able to understand your confidence in +success, but certainly the first indication of your plan seems to +promise well. Now, let us hear some more of it."</p> +<p>"Well, this is my idea, Jean. I will choose a windy night, and +send Andre and Pierre, with twenty of the boys, into the worst part +of the town. Each shall carry a ball of yarn dipped in turpentine, +mixed with sulphur and other inflammable things. They shall also +carry another ball, having but a thin coating of the yarn, and +powder inside so as to explode. When the clock strikes two, we will +say, each of them will smash the window of some store, light both +balls, and put them in. I want the explosion of one ball to scare +anyone who may be sleeping there half out of their senses, and make +them rush out of the house; which will leave plenty of time for the +other ball to set on fire anything that it may light upon. Twenty +fires, starting at once at different spots, will create a fearful +scare. Many of the guards outside the prison--all of whom are drawn +from the slums--will have come from that quarter and, as they have +no idea of discipline, will, when they see the flames mounting up, +leave their posts and rush off to see to the safety of their +homes.</p> +<p>"Choosing a windy night, you may be sure that the fires would +burn fast, and that the rest of the volunteers, and the National +Guard, would soon be so busy that they would not trouble themselves +about the prison, one way or the other. Thus I calculate that, of +the fifty men on guard round the prison, there would not be twenty +left at the outside; and they would be so busy staring at and +talking of the fire that, with a sudden surprise, they could all be +disposed of without difficulty. Then the gates of the prison would +be blown in, and we should rush in, shoot down all the warders we +meet--keeping one only as a guide--make straight for the rooms +where your father and Patsey are confined, release them and as many +others as the time will allow, telling them to rush down to the +wharf and seize boats, or to escape in whichever way they like; +while you, with your father and Patsey, would make straight down to +our boat; while I, with the boys, would follow you and cover your +retreat, if any of the Blues came up to pursue you."</p> +<p>"Leigh, you are a genius!" Martin exclaimed, bringing his hand +down on the lad's shoulder with a force that almost knocked him +from his seat.</p> +<p>"What do you think of that, Desailles, for a plan? I told you +that I relied upon Leigh's head more than my own, and you see I had +good reason for doing so. I doubt whether it could be done with his +forty boys, but if we can get the powder, it seems to me that, with +half as many sailors to help us, there is no reason why it should +not succeed."</p> +<p>"But you might burn half the town down," Desailles said, +gravely.</p> +<p>"If I was sure that it would burn the whole of it down, I should +not mind," Leigh exclaimed. "But there is not much fear of that. If +it cleared out the whole of the slums, where the supporters of the +gang of murderers they call the committee of public safety live, I +should rejoice most heartily. As there are several wide streets +between them and the business quarters, and as they will have all +the soldiers of the town to assist in fighting the flames, I do not +think that there will be any fear of the fire spreading very +far."</p> +<p>"Well, at any rate, Leigh, you have hit on a plan that offers a +good chance of success. We shall find out, in a day or two, how +many of the boatmen we can get to aid us, and how far they will be +disposed to go. We must learn, in some way, how long it is likely +to be before it is absolutely necessary to act. If we find that +there is time, we can send some of the boys off to the army, to +bring their fathers and brothers back with them. The sixty might +not be enough, but with a hundred of our men, I think we should be +pretty sure of success."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch11" id="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: The Attack On +Nantes.</h2> +<p>When three or four miles down the river the boat was anchored, +and the two men were called into the cabin, and Leigh's scheme +explained to them.</p> +<p>"It is a big affair, sir," Medart said thoughtfully, when Jean +had concluded. "Now, there is no love lost between us and the +ruffians who carry out the committee's orders. They call us river +rats, we call them sewer rats, and there has been many fights +between the fishermen and these fellows, as far back as I can +remember, and lately these have been much more frequent. If the +plan was only to burn down their quarters, there are a good many +who would lend a hand; because it could be done quietly, and they +would have no particular reason for suspecting that it was the work +of the fishermen. But as for going into the jail, that would be +different. We should not have time, by what you say, to hunt up and +kill all the warders; and it would therefore be known, at once, +that we were concerned. Five or six of our fellows have already had +their heads chopped off, on suspicion of having aided Royalists to +escape. They don't mind whom they lay hands on, and they don't +trouble themselves to search, but just seize the first they come to +who, perhaps in a cabaret, has said a word against their +doings.</p> +<p>"As to the trials, they are no trials at all. One of their +fellows comes in and says, 'I heard this man abusing the +authorities, and I accuse him also of being concerned in the escape +of so and so.' It is no odds what the prisoner says. The fellow who +acts as judge looks at the jury, who are all their creatures; they +say 'Guilty 'and he says' Death!' and the accused are marched off +again to the prison, to wait until their turn comes for the +guillotine. Well you see, if this prison was broken into as you +propose, and it was known that the sailors had a hand in it, the +chances are that they would march a couple of hundred of us into +the great square, which would be choke full of the National Guard +and volunteers, and just shoot us down."</p> +<p>Jean was silent. The probability that things would go as the man +said was so evident that he had no answer.</p> +<p>"I think the way to get over that difficulty," Leigh said, when +he saw that Jean was puzzled, "would be for you all quietly to buy +other clothes or, better still, for them to be bought for you by +your wives. They should be such clothes as the peasants buy, when +they come into the town. It would then be supposed that the attack +was made by a party of Breton peasantry. As a good many other +prisoners would escape, in addition to Monsieur Martin and your +captain's wife, there would be no reason to suppose that the plot +was specially arranged to aid their escape, or that any of the +people of this town were concerned in the matter."</p> +<p>"That is so, Master Leigh," Rouget said. "It might be managed in +that way. But I think that most of our chaps had better be told off +for firing the town. I think that a good many might be willing to +undertake that job, for I have heard it said, many and many a time, +that they would like to burn the sewer rats out. There are other +men who would, I am sure, rather join in the attack on the jail, if +they could do so without putting the lives of all of us in +danger.</p> +<p>"As to getting hold of an artilleryman, I don't know that that +would be difficult. The men employed on that sort of work are all +old soldiers, and many of these, though they dare not say so, hate +what is going on just as much as we do. I have met one of them with +Emile Moufflet, who served with you, captain, for two or three +years. When we have been chatting together, he has said things +about the committee that would have cost him his head, if he had +been overheard. I know that his chum is in charge of some stores, +but whether they are powder or not, I cannot say. But at any rate, +Emile will be able to find out for me the name of several of them +who have charge of powder; and he would be likely to know which of +them had sentiments like his own, and how far they could be +trusted.</p> +<p>"That would not take long, but to get hold of forty hands for +the other work would take some time. One dare go only to men one is +very intimate with, and get them to approach men whom they know +well; for even among us, there are fellows who take the committee's +money to spy over the others, and to find out whether any trouble +is likely to come, or Royalists to be shipped off. One generally +knows who they are, because they overdo their parts, and rail at +the Convention more roundly and openly than an honest man would +dare to do. Some of them one finds out that way; others, again, one +spots by their always having money to spend. If they are too shrewd +to betray themselves in that way, our wives find them out for us, +by telling us that their women and children have new clothes, and +we know well enough that there is no buying new clothes out of +fish, at their present price. Besides, most of these fellows give +up fishing altogether, and lounge about the wharves talking and +smoking, and one knows that a man and his family cannot live on +air. Still, there may be others who are too sly to let out their +secret in either way, and therefore one must be very careful whom +one speaks to. One would not think of telling anyone about what is +intended until, just as it comes off, one could simply say that one +has heard that there is something in the air, and that report says +that every man who will lend a hand will earn--how much, +captain?"</p> +<p>"Two hundred francs."</p> +<p>"When one sees how a man takes that, one can go a step or two +further.</p> +<p>"Well, I should not think of letting out to a soul what the +nature of the work would be, simply saying that every precaution +will be taken to prevent its being known that any fishermen are +engaged in it. All that will take time. I should say that it might +be nigh a couple of weeks before one could get the whole thing +arranged."</p> +<p>"What do you think, Desailles?" Jean said. "Shall we have a +fortnight?"</p> +<p>Desailles shook his head.</p> +<p>"I could not say; you might have more than that, if the +prisoners were taken in the regular order in which they were +condemned. The jails are crowded and, as fresh captures are +effected, room must be made for them. Of course the committee have +a list, and they make a mark against the names of those who are to +be executed, each day. It might be three weeks before your friends' +turn comes, it might be only a few days."</p> +<p>"I tell you what, Rouget; you and your comrade had better land +tomorrow morning, and set to work. You might say that three +fishermen from Saint Florent, finding their boat too small, hired +yours for a week to try their luck. If they succeed they will give +you a fair price for her, if not they will simply pay the hire. You +can say that the price is not much, but as it is as much as you can +make at fishing, you thought that you might as well have an idle +week on shore.</p> +<p>"Leigh and I can work her. As soon as day breaks you shall shoot +your nets, so that we can see exactly how you work, and be able to +catch an average amount of fish each day. I am sure that no one +will know us in these disguises and, at any rate, we sha'n't be +clumsy either with the sails or oars. You can say that, as we are +strangers, you have agreed to sell our fish for us; which will be +an excuse for your coming down to us, with the news of how you are +getting on, each time that we come in."</p> +<p>"That will do very well, captain; but in that case, as a good +deal of the fishing must be done at night, we had better get out +the nets at once, and show you how they are managed."</p> +<p>For the next three days the work was carried on. Desailles had +undertaken to obtain, from a friend of his on the committee of +public safety, news of what was going on, and an early copy of the +names of the prisoners told off for execution on the following +day.</p> +<p>On the third day after their arrival, Martin and Leigh rowed up +to the wood where they had directed the band to assemble and found +that, with two or three exceptions, all had arrived. Four or five +of them were at once told to return, to the estate and to the army, +with a message from Jean begging all his tenants to leave, and join +the party in hiding. Many of them would, no doubt, have returned to +their homes within a day or two of the capture of Saumur. Letters +had already been written to Bonchamp and Rochejaquelein to say that +they were intending to attack the jail, and deliver a number of +captives besides Jean's father and wife; and to beg that they would +pick out some fifty or a hundred determined men, and send them on. +On the morning of the sixth day, when the two sailors joined them, +they were in a state of high excitement.</p> +<p>"There is great news, captain," Rouget said; "the whole city is +in a state of tumult. It is reported that Cathelineau, with his +army, is marching upon Nantes; and it is also reported--but this is +not so certain--that Charette is marching to join them, with all +his force."</p> +<p>"That is grand news, if true!" Jean exclaimed. "That would +indeed favour our scheme! I doubt whether they will capture Nantes, +for there is a big force here, and enough of them are seasoned +troops to encourage the volunteers and National Guard to make a +good fight of it. However we can, at any rate, take advantage of +the attack to carry out our own plans. When the fighting is at the +hottest, you may be sure that every armed man will be wanted at the +work, and that there will not be many guards left behind at the +prison. Our band here can dispose of them; and half a dozen men +each, with fireballs, can add to the confusion by setting fire to +warehouses and factories. The great thing now will be the +powder."</p> +<p>"That we have managed already, captain," Medart replied. "As I +told you, I spoke to Emile Moufflet the first morning I went +ashore, and he said that it was at the magazines that his chum was +employed. Yesterday evening he came to us, and said that if I gave +him the two thousand francs that you had given me for the purpose, +he would hand us over two barrels of powder, at eleven o'clock last +night. We got them; and carried them, as you told us, to Brenon's; +and helped him to bury them in his shed. We also got, as you +ordered, a couple of yards of fuse."</p> +<p>"Bravo, Medart! everything seems going well for us."</p> +<p>The news of Cathelineau's advance was confirmed, on the +following day, by the return of the lads who had been sent to fetch +assistance. They brought with them eight or ten men from the +estate; and reported that la Rochejaquelein had remained at Saumur, +with a portion of his army, to defend that town against a large +force that Biron was assembling at Tours; while Cathelineau, having +with him Bonchamp and Stofflet, was marching with the main force +along the north bank of the river. They said, however, that his +force was greatly diminished, for that large numbers of his men, +objecting to fight outside their own country, had scattered to +their villages. They, however, confirmed the news that Charette was +reported to be marching north to join Cathelineau.</p> +<p>"That is the worst part of the whole business," Jean said, +bitterly. "Our generals have no control over their men. They will +fight when they want to fight, and return home when they choose. If +Cathelineau had come along with a big force, he would have been +joined by numbers of Bretons on the way and, if he had captured +Nantes, by the greater part of Southern Brittany. Now that so many +of his men have left him, it is quite possible that his attack may +fail; and in that case the result will be disastrous. His army +would disperse, the Blues would turn their whole force against la +Rochejaquelein, and the cause that a fortnight since seemed half +won would be lost.</p> +<p>"It shows, at any rate, that the idea of marching on Paris could +not be carried out; for if men refuse to march, when they would be +separated from their own country only by the river, to take Nantes, +by which La Vendee is constantly threatened; certainly a greater +portion still would have gone off to their homes, rather than join +in what would seem to them so terrible an affair as a march on +Paris. The peasants are good enough at fighting but, though they +may win a victory by their bravery, they are certain to lose a +campaign by their independent habits."</p> +<p>Feeling convinced that the approach of the Vendean army would +enable their enterprise to be carried out by a much smaller body +than had at first appeared necessary, Jean Martin told the two +sailors that they had better abstain from broaching the matter to +any more of their acquaintances. They had already obtained the +adhesion of those of whose fidelity they felt absolutely assured +and, should one of the others whom they intended to approach turn +traitor, it would overthrow all chances of success, and might cause +such alarm to the authorities that the executions would go on more +rapidly than before, and the fate of their friends be +precipitated.</p> +<p>Day by day the excitement in the city increased. Generals +Beysser and Canclaux had, under their command, some ten thousand +men. There was no chance of further reinforcements reaching them, +but they felt confident that they could successfully defend the +town with this force.</p> +<p>Had Charette marched to Ponts-de-Ce and, crossing there, joined +Cathelineau, the danger would have been much more formidable; but +instead of so doing he was advancing directly towards Nantes, on +the south side of the river, the few places remaining in the hands +of the Republicans being hastily evacuated on his approach. Here, +however, he could give but slight aid to Cathelineau, for the +bridge crossing the Loire could be defended by a comparatively +small force, provided with cannon to sweep the approaches.</p> +<p>In order to reassure the townspeople and encourage the troops, +the French generals, as the enemy approached, moved out with a +large proportion of their force and threw up some intrenchments a +mile and a half outside the town; feeling confident that they could +withstand any attack in the open country.</p> +<p>As many of the peasants fled into Nantes, especially those who, +in the villages, had rendered themselves obnoxious by their +persecutions of those suspected of Royalist leanings, or who were +personally obnoxious to them, Leigh was able to gather the whole of +his party in the town. They were, like other peasants, to sleep in +the open squares or down near the walls. They were always to go +about in pairs, and to meet Pierre or Andre at places and hours +arranged by them. They were supplied with money sufficient to buy +bread, and were warned on no account to make themselves conspicuous +in any way. With them were the men from Martin's estates who had +answered to his summons.</p> +<p>Clothes had been bought for the twelve sailors engaged by Medart +and Rouget. The fireballs had been prepared in the cabin of the +fishing boat. Each of the fourteen fishermen was to carry two of +these. Their leaders had carefully gone round the quarter, and had +picked out the stores or warehouses into which the fireballs were +to be flung. Among these were several wood yards No private houses +were to be fired. That the flames would spread to these was likely +enough, but at least there would be time for the women and children +to escape.</p> +<p>Having decided upon the places to be fired, the sailors were one +by one taken round, and the two buildings assigned to each pointed +out, so that there would be no confusion or loss of time when the +signal was given. Only two stores near the water had been marked +down for destruction, namely, those belonging to the Martins. This +was Leigh's work. As a firm the business was extinct. It was now +the sole property of Jacques Martin, and there was no probability +that Martin senior or Jean would ever recover a share in it. As in +each of the stores a considerable quantity of spirits in addition +to the wine was housed, not only would the loss be very heavy, but +the interest excited in the vicinity would increase the confusion +and alarm that would prevail.</p> +<p>Desailles was in daily communication with his friend. He learned +that the list of prisoners was being taken, now, more in the order +in which they stood. The farce of a trial had been gone through, in +the case of Jean's wife, and she had of course been condemned. She +stood a good deal lower on the list than his father. There was not +much chance of the day of her execution being settled before the +arrival of the Vendean forces. The number of names, however, above +that of Monsieur Martin was rapidly decreasing, and there was +imminent danger that he might be included in the fatal list before +their arrival.</p> +<p>On the twenty-sixth of June the Vendeans arrived within a few +miles of the town, and a formal summons was sent in to the +generals. It was briefly refused. General Canclaux believed that he +had so strengthened his advanced position, which was occupied by +his best troops, that he would be able to repulse Cathelineau's +force there. The Vendeans, however, being informed by the peasantry +of the formidable nature of the intrenchments, decided that it +would be dangerous to attack them; and consequently moved round so +as to threaten the town from the north. Charette, on his side, +moved his force up within cannon shot of the bridge.</p> +<p>At eight o'clock on the evening of the twenty-seventh, the sound +of heavy firing was heard in Nantes. A column of the Vendeans had +attacked Nort, a place lying to the north of the town. It was +defended by six hundred troops of the line, and a body of the +National Guard. They maintained themselves there during the night +but, at daybreak, fell back upon the town, leaving their cannon +behind them. A considerable body of troops moved out to cover their +retreat.</p> +<p>Confident that the attack would begin that evening, every +preparation for action was made by Jean and Leigh. The powder +barrels were dug up, and holes bored for the fuses. The boys were +all informed that the hour for action was at hand; and were ordered +to lie down, at nightfall, in the open space facing the front of +the prison, scattering themselves among others who would be +sleeping there or, in expectation of the attack on the town +beginning, would be standing in groups listening for it. Leigh +would be among them.</p> +<p>As the hour neared twelve they were to gather in a body. The +sailors were not to begin their work until the attack on the town +commenced in earnest. Jean, with his twelve tenants, was to come up +at twelve. The exact moment for the attack was to be decided upon +by the progress made by the fires. When these had had their effect, +Leigh was to fall upon the guard round the prison; and Jean, with +his band, to run forward to the gate, plant the powder barrels +against it, light the fuse and run back.</p> +<p>As soon as they had killed or driven away the guard, Leigh's +party were to return to the front. There Andre, with half the band, +were to station themselves, and to hold the gate against any armed +body that might arrive; while Leigh, with the others, entered the +prison and aided, if necessary, to overpower the warders and blow +open the doors of the cells. The prisoners were all to be told that +Charette's army was on the other side of the Loire, and that their +best plan was to make their way down to the river, seize boats, and +get across.</p> +<p>At five o'clock in the afternoon Charette's guns opened against +the barricades that had been thrown up at the bridge. Canclaux, +seeing that the attack upon the north had rendered it useless for +him to retain the advanced post, ordered the troops there to fall +back into the town, at ten o'clock in the evening; and at eleven +the whole garrison were concentrated in Nantes.</p> +<p>Finding that, with the exception of the cannonade on both sides +across the river, all remained quiet, Leigh passed the word round +among his followers to remain as they were, until further orders. +Jean and his men came up by twos and threes before twelve; and +these, too, lay down as if to sleep, or seated themselves on the +steps of the houses. Few of the inhabitants had retired to rest. +They knew that at any moment the storm might break, and some +awaited the attack with hope that the time of their release from +the tyranny under which they had, for months, groaned, had come; +while others trembled at the thought of the vengeance that, if the +town were taken, would fall upon those who had been concerned in +what had passed.</p> +<p>Martin and Desailles presently joined Leigh. As the time went on +they began to fear that, for some reason or other, the Vendeans had +determined to delay their attack until the next day. At half past +two Charette's cannonade redoubled in vigour, and the rattle of +musketry showed that his troops were advancing. The batteries of +the defenders opened with equal violence, and their musketry +answered that of the assailants on the opposite bank.</p> +<p>"I think that that must be the signal for Cathelineau to begin," +Martin said.</p> +<p>And, ten minutes later, the attack commenced with fury upon the +gates of Vannes, Rennes, and that by the river.</p> +<p>Every window was opened, and anxious faces looked out. The night +was dark, and the few oil lamps alone threw a feeble light on the +square. Suddenly a broad glare rose to the west, and the murmur, +"There is a house on fire!" passed from mouth to mouth. In another +few minutes flames were seen rising at a dozen points, and a cry of +consternation arose.</p> +<p>"The brigands have entered the town! They are going to burn it +to the ground."</p> +<p>Man after man of the little group of National Guards, who had +been gathered talking in front of the door of the prison, was seen +to detach himself from it and to move quietly away. Then those at +the windows noticed four or five parties of men move forward, from +among those who were standing talking; when within a short distance +of the guard there was a sharp command, and these groups all rushed +towards the gates together. There were shouts and cries, and then +there was silence. Taken wholly by surprise, the guard had fallen +under the knives of the Vendeans without having had time to fire a +shot.</p> +<p>Then the majority of their assailants ran off, half one way, +half the other, following the wall of the prison. Two pistol shots +were fired, a moment later. The men who had remained at the gate +drew back for some distance. There was a short pause, and then a +tremendous explosion. All the people gathered in the place, save +those who had carried out the affair, fled with cries of terror. +Then Jean and his party dashed forward towards the shattered gates +and entered the prison, and shot or cut down the frightened warders +as these came running out, dazed and bewildered at the sound of the +explosion. Jean seized one of them by the throat.</p> +<a id="PicF" name="PicF"></a> +<center><img src="images/f.jpg" alt= +"Jean seized one of them by the throat." /></center> +<p>"Where are the keys kept? Answer, or I will blow out your +brains!"</p> +<p>The frightened ruffian at once led the way to the chief warder's +room. He had already fallen, being one of the first to run down. +There were two bunches of keys.</p> +<p>"These are of the doors of the corridors," the man said, taking +down one bunch. "The others are of the cells."</p> +<p>"Now, go before us and open them all--every one, mind."</p> +<p>They were soon joined by Leigh with his party, who had made +short work of the few guards who remained at their post outside the +prison.</p> +<p>"Set your men to blow in the doors," Jean said; "It would take +half an hour to unlock them all, at this rate."</p> +<p>Pistols were at once applied to the keyholes, and the locks +destroyed. There were a few separate cells, but the prisoners were +for the most part crowded, twenty or thirty together, in the larger +rooms. As he entered each room, Leigh shouted the directions agreed +on to the prisoners. In a short time he came upon Jean who, as had +been arranged, had first gone to the rooms where his father and +Patsey were confined. Jean started with these at once, with six of +his men, leaving Leigh and Desailles to see to the release of the +rest of the prisoners.</p> +<p>As soon as all rooms had been burst open or unlocked, he and his +party, with that at the gate, hurried away. The streets were light, +as a sheet of flame rose from the stores of Jacques Martin. The +musketry fire on the wharves showed that there were troops +stationed there. As they hurried along, the shouts of alarm which +rose in the town showed that the news of the attack upon the prison +had spread rapidly. As soon as the released prisoners knew that +they were well above the bridge, and the silence on the wharves +showed that none of the troops were stationed there, shouts of +delight arose. There were a good many boats moored to the bank, and +the fugitives threw themselves into these.</p> +<p>"Get out your oars and row straight across," Leigh shouted. "If +you drift down the stream, you will come under the fire of the +troops there."</p> +<p>Then, having done their work, he and his band went up a hundred +yards farther, where they knew that three large boats were lying. +In these they took their places and started to row across the river +and, in five minutes, reached the opposite bank. They sprang out, +with a shout of joy at finding themselves again in their own +country. Most of the fugitives also gained the opposite bank; but +some boats, in which there were but few capable of handling the +oars, drifted down the river, and lost most of their number from +the fire of the troops on the bank, before they could land among +the men of Charette's army.</p> +<p>Leigh with his boys soon joined the other party, who had landed +a hundred yards higher up. It was a joyful meeting, indeed, between +him and Patsey.</p> +<p>"Jean tells me it is all your doing that we have been got out," +she said. "I felt sure you would manage it, somehow."</p> +<p>They had already arranged their plans. Jean, with his wife and +father and his twelve men, was to start at once for Parthenay, +where Lescure was in command. Leigh had determined to join +Cathelineau, with as many of his band as chose to accompany him. +Desailles would go with Jean.</p> +<p>The boys, on the choice being given them, almost all decided to +accompany Leigh. They were excited at the success that had attended +them, and the tremendous roll of fire round the town showed how +fiercely their countrymen were fighting, and they longed to join in +the conflict.</p> +<p>Saying goodbye to those who were going, Leigh and his party +towed one of the boats a mile up the river, and then crossing, soon +joined the party engaged. The Vendeans had already advanced some +distance, but every house and garden was fiercely contested. Hour +after hour passed, and the troops were beginning to be discouraged. +It was broad daylight now, and the Vendeans pressed forward at all +points, more hotly than ever.</p> +<p>The troops were falling into disorder, and would soon have +become a disorganized mass; when a musket ball, fired from a +window, struck Cathelineau in the breast as, with his officers, who +had been considerably increased in number owing to the many +gentlemen who had joined him at Saumur, he was leading on his +troops.</p> +<p>A cry of dismay rose from those who saw him fall, and the news +spread like wildfire among the peasants, who regarded him with an +almost superstitious reverence, and had a firm belief that he was +protected by Heaven from the balls of his enemies. His loss seemed +to them an irretrievable misfortune. The fierceness of their attack +diminished. Their ardour was gone, and the Blues, gaining courage +as their assailants ceased to press them, took the offensive.</p> +<p>They met with but little opposition. The Vendean army, lately on +the point of being victorious, was already breaking up and, ere +long, was scattered over the country, its retreat being undisturbed +by the enemy, who could scarcely believe their own good fortune at +having succeeded, when all had seemed lost.</p> +<p>Cathelineau was carried off; but died, a fortnight later, from +the effects of the wound. His death was a terrible blow to the +cause. The failure to take Nantes had, in itself, been a great +misfortune; but the Vendeans had suffered no more heavily than the +enemy and, had Cathelineau been but spared, matters might still +have gone well with them. The effect of his death, however, was for +the time to dishearten the peasantry utterly; and had at this time +terms of peace, which would have permitted them to enjoy the +exercise of their religion, and to be free from conscription, been +offered to them, they would gladly have been accepted.</p> +<p>Charette, after he saw that the attack upon Nantes from the +north side of the river had failed, fell back with his force, as +before, into Lower Poitou. The Vendeans, now under Bonchamp, who +had also been wounded, retired along the north bank of the Loire, +crossing the river at various points as they could find boats.</p> +<p>Before joining in the fight, Leigh had told his band that, in +the event of failure, he should recross the river in the boat that +had brought them over. They had all kept near him during the +struggle. Eight of them had fallen, several others were wounded, +and he himself had received a musket ball in the shoulder. As soon +as he saw that the battle was lost, he withdrew from it and made +his way with the boys to the river bank; recrossed the stream, and +struck across the country. After proceeding some six miles they +entered a wood, and lay down and slept for some hours, and then +marched to Parthenay.</p> +<p>Here the band broke up and proceeded to their homes; while Leigh +made his way to Lescure's headquarters, learned where his friends +were lodged, and joined them.</p> +<p>Patsey gave a cry of alarm as he entered. Fugitives had arrived +before him, and it was already known that the attack on Nantes had +failed, and that Cathelineau was mortally wounded.</p> +<p>"What is it, Leigh?"</p> +<p>"I am wounded in the shoulder. It is nothing very serious, I +think; though I suppose I sha'n't be able to hold a sword for some +time."</p> +<p>A surgeon was soon fetched, the ball extracted, and the wound +bandaged; and they then sat down to talk over the events that had +occurred. Since they had been separated, Monsieur Martin had become +a broken man. The fact that his son, who assuredly had it in his +power to protect him, had given him over to the terrible tribunal, +had been a harder blow to him than the prospect of death; and even +the devotion that had been shown by Jean scarcely sufficed to +comfort him.</p> +<p>Patsey was pale and thin. Her imprisonment had told upon her +and, still more, the thought of what Jean must be suffering on her +account, and her uncertainty as to the fate of her child. But even +the twenty-four hours that had elapsed since she had left her +prison had done much for her. The news that the child was safe and +well had taken a load off her mind; and she felt proud, indeed, +that her release, and that of so many others of her fellow +prisoners, had been brought about by the devotion of her husband +and her brother. Before the day was out, she was laughing and +chatting as if nothing had happened.</p> +<p>On the following morning they started early, and reached home in +the afternoon. They were received with delight by their people, +although many of these had lost relations in the recent battles. A +house in the village was placed at their disposal, Patsey riding +straight on to see her child; with which, and its faithful nurse, +she soon returned.</p> +<p>"And now, Jean," Patsey said when, with the cure and Jules +Desailles, they sat down for a quiet talk that evening, "what is to +be the next thing?"</p> +<p>"You should ask the Blues that," he replied. "So far as I can +see, it will be a repetition of what has taken place. They will +invade us again, and probably we shall beat them back. Each time +they will come with larger forces and, at last, I suppose we shall +have to endeavour to make our way to England. I am afraid there can +be no question that that will be the end of it. Fight as we may, we +cannot withstand the whole strength of France."</p> +<p>"Why can we not fly at once?" Monsieur Martin asked.</p> +<p>"The difficulty in reaching the coast, and of getting a passage, +would be immense. Besides, so long as La Vendee resists, so long is +it my duty to fight; and I am sure that Patsey would not wish me to +do otherwise. I have been in it from the first, and must stay until +the end, if I am not killed before that comes. If it were possible +to send you and Patsey and Leigh away to England, I would gladly do +so; but I am sure that she would not go, and I think I may say the +same for Leigh."</p> +<p>"Certainly, Jean; as long as you stay, I stay. My life is far +less important than yours, for I have no one dependent upon me. I +quite agree with you that the war can end in only one way; but till +that comes, all those who have been the leaders of these poor +peasants ought to hold by them."</p> +<p>"I agree entirely with you both," Patsey added, and there was no +more to be said.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch12" id="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: A Series Of +Victories.</h2> +<p>More formidable foes than the peasants had yet met were +approaching La Vendee. Mayence had surrendered to the allies, and +the garrison there, which was a large one, composed of veteran +troops, was allowed to march away, on each man taking an oath that +he would not again serve on the frontier.</p> +<p>Outside France there was no idea of the desperate struggle that +was going on in La Vendee. Had it been known, in England, that it +needed but little aid for Brittany and La Vendee to successfully +oppose the efforts of the Republic, men, money, arms, and +ammunition would no doubt have been sent; but unfortunately the +leaders of the insurrection, occupied as they were with the efforts +they were making, had taken no steps to send a statement of the +real facts of the case to the English government. The ports were +all in the hands of the Republicans and, although in Paris public +attention was concentrated on the struggle, the British government +was very badly informed as to what was passing there. Had the +allies been aware of it, the terms granted to the garrison at +Mayence would have been very different; and they would either have +been held as prisoners, or been compelled to take the oath that +they would, in future, not serve the Republic in any way, in +arms.</p> +<p>As it was, they were free to act in France, and were already on +the march towards La Vendee. As before, arrangements were made for +the district to be attacked simultaneously on all sides. La +Rochejaquelein was so much weakened by the return of the peasants +to their homes that he was obliged to evacuate Saumur, and this +town was taken possession of by the division from Tours, consisting +of twelve thousand five hundred infantry, sixteen hundred cavalry, +and four hundred artillerymen, under General Menou.</p> +<p>The division of Niort comprised fifteen thousand six hundred +infantry, and thirteen hundred and eighty cavalry. It was commanded +by Chalbos, having Westermann with him. At Sables were four +thousand three hundred infantry, two hundred and fifty cavalry, and +three hundred artillery. They were commanded by General +Boulard.</p> +<p>There was but small breathing time for the Vendeans. Westermann +had moved towards Parthenay with a strong force and, but a few +hours after the Martins had left it, Lescure was forced to fall +back from the town. This was occupied by the Blues. They pillaged +and burned a village near, although no opposition had been offered, +and then sent off a force which burned Lescure's chateau at +Clisson.</p> +<p>The Martins were engaged in conversation when a messenger ran +in.</p> +<p>"I have an order from Monsieur Lescure," he said. "The church +bells are to be rung throughout the district."</p> +<p>All started to their feet.</p> +<p>"Already?" Jean exclaimed. "Why, what has happened?"</p> +<p>"We have fallen back from Parthenay. The Blues under Westermann, +eight thousand strong, have already occupied the town. The +general's orders are that all are to join him at Moulin, in two +days' time. Messengers have been despatched all over the country, +and Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein has been sent for, to join +General Lescure at Moulin."</p> +<p>"That gives us twenty-four hours, then," Jean said, with a sigh +of content. "I will see that your message is carried on to all the +villages near. There are plenty of boys of twelve or fourteen about +the place."</p> +<p>But the bells rang that night to deaf ears. Many of the peasants +were still absent, others had returned but a few hours before, worn +out and dispirited. But when on the following day the news came +that Westermann's troops were burning villages, and slaying all who +fell into their hands, and that Monsieur de Lescure's chateau had +been burnt, fury and indignation again fired them and, that night, +the greater part of them set out for Moulin.</p> +<p>"I wonder what has become of our horses," Jean said, as he +prepared to start. "We shall never hear any more of those we left +at Nantes. We must go on foot this time, and trust to getting hold +of a couple of horses, the first time we defeat the Blues."</p> +<p>He had that day been over with Patsey, her child, his father, +the nurse, and Francois to the peasant's house, deep in the forest, +to which he had before arranged that she should go, in case of +need. All the party were dressed as peasants. The man and woman +from whom the house was hired removed to another hut, a quarter of +a mile away. Francois was to go down every day in the cart to the +village, to get news and letters and buy provisions. The cure had +arranged to send off one of the village boys, the moment that he +heard that any party of the Blues were approaching; when the whole +of the occupants of the village and the farms around it would be +obliged to take to the woods, for it was evident that neither age +nor sex was respected by Westermann's troops.</p> +<p>It was morning when Jean, Leigh, and Desailles arrived at +Moulin. They were warmly received by Rochejaquelein and Bonchamp, +to whom Jean introduced Desailles as a new comrade.</p> +<p>"I know nothing of fighting," the latter said; "but, gentlemen, +I shall do my best."</p> +<p>"That is all that anyone can do," Rochejaquelein said heartily. +"We may say that none of us, with the exception of Monsieur +Bonchamp and a few others, had any experience in fighting when we +began; but we have done pretty well, on the whole."</p> +<p>"Do you think that we have much chance of holding this place?" +Jean asked. "They told us, as we came in, that at present there are +not much more than eight thousand men here; and Westermann, they +say, has about as many."</p> +<p>"That is so," Bonchamp said, "and I do not expect that we shall +beat them; but we must fight, or they will march through the +country, wasting and destroying as they go. It is only by showing +them that we are still formidable, and that they must keep together +and be prudent and cautious, that we can maintain ourselves. A +succession of blows, even of light ones, will break a rock."</p> +<p>At two o'clock the enemy's forces approached, and the engagement +soon became hot. Every hedge was lined by the peasants, every +position strongly defended, and only evacuated when the horns gave +the signal. At the end of two hours Westermann, after losing a +considerable number of men, approached ground where his cavalry +could come into play; and the leaders of all the bands had been +warned that, when they fell back to this point, the horn was to be +sounded three times, and that resistance was to cease at once and +the bands disperse, to meet at a given point, two hours later. +Seven of the ten cannon they had with them were safely carried off; +and although compelled to retire from their position, the peasants +were well satisfied with having withstood, so long, the attack of +an equal number of troops, supported by an artillery much superior +to their own.</p> +<p>Leigh had taken no part in the actual fighting. His right arm +was tightly strapped, and bandaged across his chest; and he +therefore acted only as the general's aide-de-camp.</p> +<p>"I'll tell you what it is, Jules," Jean said to Desailles, as +they retired from the field; "if you are going to expose yourself +in the way you have done today, your fighting will be over before +long. When it comes to leading the peasants to an attack, one must +necessarily set the men an example; but when on the defence, you +see, the peasants all lie down behind the hedges and bushes, and +show themselves as little as possible.</p> +<p>"And there were you, walking about as if you were in the +principal street in Nantes! I do not say that we must not expose +ourselves a good deal more than the peasants, in order to encourage +them; but there is a limit to all things, and one must remember +that we are very short of officers, and that the peasants, brave as +they are, would be useless without someone to direct them."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt but you are right, Jean," Desailles said with a +laugh; "but in fact, I don't remember giving a thought to the +matter. I was almost bewildered by the roar of the battle and the +whistling of the bullets. I felt like a man who had taken too much +wine; which, in my student days, happened to me more than once. My +blood seemed to rush through my veins, and I would have given +anything for the order to come for us to throw ourselves upon the +enemy."</p> +<p>"You will get over that," Jean laughed, "but the same feeling is +strong among the men. One can see how eager they are for the order +to charge. They use their muskets, but it is to use their bayonets +that they are panting. They would make grand soldiers, if they were +but well drilled and disciplined.</p> +<p>"Unless I am mistaken, you will see them at their favourite +work, before many days are over. Westermann will get to Chatillon +tonight. When he gets there, he will find no provisions for his +troops, and will begin to wonder whether he is wise in thus +penetrating so far into a nest of hornets.</p> +<p>"Bonchamp will give him two or three days to forget the mauling +that we have given him. By that time our force will have increased, +and it will be well for Westermann if he manages to carry half his +force back with him."</p> +<p>The news of the burning of la Rochejaquelein's chateau, on the +following day, excited the liveliest indignation. The young count +himself received the news with greater indifference than did those +around him.</p> +<p>"When a man carries his life in his hand, every day," he said, +"he does not fret over the loss of a house. I do not suppose that I +should ever have sat down quietly in possession of it, and the +cousin who is my heir may have to wait a number of years before, if +ever, he comes to take possession of the estate. Had circumstances +been different, the loss of the old chateau, where my family have +lived for so many years, would have been very grievous to me; but +at present it affects me comparatively little.</p> +<p>"It is lucky that I sent off four men, directly the fight was +over, with a letter to my steward, charging him to hand over to +them the four horses that still remained in my stables. They +arrived here an hour ago. I guessed that the Blues would be paying +a visit there in my absence.</p> +<p>"One of them is for you, Monsieur Martin, and one for Leigh; the +others I shall keep as spare chargers. I have had two shot under me +already, and am likely to have more. In the meantime, if your +friend Monsieur Desailles likes to ride one, it is at his +service."</p> +<p>"I thank you very much, marquis," Jules said; "but I would +prefer trusting to my own legs. My profession has been a peaceful +one, and I have never yet mounted a horse, and certainly should +feel utterly out of my element, in the saddle, with an animal under +me excited almost to madness by the sounds of battle. Of the two, I +think that I should prefer being on a ship, during a storm."</p> +<p>Rochejaquelein laughed.</p> +<p>"It is all a matter of training," he said. "As for me I feel +twice the man, on horseback, that I do on foot. I have never tried +fighting on foot, yet; and I should certainly feel altogether out +of my element, the first time that I attempted it.</p> +<p>"However, I will not press the animal on you. I shall send it +and the other to some cottage, in the heart of the woods, whence I +can have them fetched when needed."</p> +<p>"I am sure that we are greatly obliged to you," Jean said. "As I +told you, when relating our adventure in Nantes, we had to leave +our horses behind us there though, had we captured the town, we +should have recovered them. As it is, the Blues carried off the two +I had left behind at the chateau, and I could only buy one other, +as we came through. That I detailed for the use of my wife. I +certainly had not expected to obtain another, until we captured +some from the enemy. We are heartily obliged to you, not only for +your generous gift, but for your thoughtful kindness in sending for +them for us."</p> +<p>"Say not another word," Rochejaquelein said. "You are a sailor +and I am a soldier, and between us there is no occasion for thanks +or compliments. You would have done the same for me, and I am glad +to be able to set you both on horseback again. And indeed, I am not +sure that I was not a little selfish in the matter; for yesterday I +missed the company of your brother-in-law greatly, and felt that I +would give a good deal to hear his cheery laugh, and confident +tone."</p> +<p>As usual, the army dispersed after its victory; but there were +but a few days' quiet, for on the fourteenth it gathered to oppose +the advance of a strong French column, from Brissac; and on the +morning of the fifteenth, early, just as the troops were getting +into movement, the Vendeans burst down upon them.</p> +<p>Their numbers were not large, for the notice had been short, and +only the peasants of the surrounding district had had time to +gather. Nevertheless they attacked with such energy, led by +Rochejaquelein and d'Elbee, that they fought their way into the +middle of the camp, captured the headquarters with its +correspondence and treasury, and scattered several battalions in +utter confusion.</p> +<p>On the return of the advanced guard, under Santerre, the +situation changed; the fugitives were rallied and, after long and +fierce fighting, the Vendeans drew off.</p> +<p>"We must admit another failure," said Rochejaquelein; who had, +with his little troop of mounted men, been in the thick of the +fight; charging again and again into the midst of the enemy, and +covering the retreat, when it began, by opposing a determined front +to the enemy's cavalry; "a failure, but a glorious one. They were +superior to us in numbers; and yet, if it hadn't been that their +advanced guard returned while our men were scattered, intent upon +the plunder of their headquarters, we should have won the day. +However, we shall have reinforcements up, in a couple of days."</p> +<p>On the seventeenth, the French column resumed its march. +Santerre's command led the way to Vihiers, which they reached +without opposition. The rest of the division arrived in the +afternoon. They had left, at their previous halting place, the +heavy baggage; with a portion of their artillery ammunition. +Scarcely had they arrived at Vihiers when a tremendous explosion +told them that the guard left behind had been overpowered, and +their store of ammunition destroyed.</p> +<p>A feeling of uneasiness and alarm spread through the army. +Santerre's battalion were at once attacked by Rochejaquelein, who +had but a small body of men with him, but who thought to take +advantage of the alarm which the explosion would naturally cause +among the enemy. Santerre's battalion, however, stood firm, and the +Vendeans were drawn off. In the night, however, the main body of +the peasants arrived and, at one o'clock next day, made their +attack.</p> +<p>Menou himself, with the rest of his command, had now come up. +Some of the battalions, as before, stood steadily; but the rest of +the army, dispirited by the perseverance with which the Vendeans, +in spite of failure and losses, were ever ready to renew their +attack, speedily lost heart.</p> +<p>In two hours the right fell back in disorder, the panic spread +and, in a short time, the rout became general. In vain the officers +endeavoured to check the fugitives. So great was their terror that, +in three hours, the panic stricken mob traversed the distance +between Vihiers and Saumur.</p> +<p>Thus the second great invasion of La Vendee had met with no +greater success than the first. The two strong columns that had +advanced, in full confidence of success, had returned utterly +discomfited. Westermann's division had been all but annihilated. +The army from Saumur had lost great numbers of men, and had for the +time ceased to be a military body. The Bocage, with its sombre +woods, its thick hedges, and its brave population, seemed destined +to become the grave of the Republican army; and the order to +advance into it was, in itself, sufficient to shake the courage of +those who boasted so loudly, when at a distance.</p> +<p>It was the grave, too, of the reputation of the French generals. +One after another they had tried, failed, and been disgraced. The +first general, Marce, was superseded by Berruyer; Berruyer by +Biron, who was recalled and guillotined. Westermann was also tried, +but having powerful friends, was acquitted. Generals of divisions +had come and gone in numbers. Some had been dismissed. Some, at +their own urgent request, allowed to return to the districts they +commanded before the outbreak of the insurrection. But one and all +had failed. One and all, too, had never ceased, from the time they +joined the army of invasion, to send report after report to the +Convention, complaining of the untrustworthiness of the troops, the +bad conduct and uselessness of the officers, and the want of a +sufficient staff to maintain discipline and restore order.</p> +<p>Indeed, the bulk of the revolutionary troops possessed little +more discipline than the Vendeans themselves and, being uninspired, +as were the latter, by a feeling either of religion or of patriotic +enthusiasm, they were no match for men who were willing to give +their lives for the cause.</p> +<p>The Vendeans were far better armed than when they commenced the +struggle. Then the proportion of men who were possessed of muskets +or firearms of any kind was extremely small; but now, thanks to the +immense quantity which had been captured in the hands of prisoners, +thrown away by fugitives, or found in the storehouses of the towns, +there were sufficient to supply almost every man of the population +with firearms; and in addition, they possessed a good many pieces +of artillery.</p> +<p>Unfortunately they had learned little during the four months' +fighting. Their methods were unchanged. Love of home overpowered +all other considerations; and after a victory, as after a defeat, +they hurried away, leaving with their generals only the officers +and a small body of men, who were either emigres who had returned +from England to take part in the struggle, or Royalists who had +made their way from distant parts of France, for the same +purpose.</p> +<p>After the capture of Saumur, too, a good many Swiss and Germans, +belonging to a cavalry regiment formed of foreigners, had deserted +and joined the Vendeans. Thus a small nucleus of an army held +together, swelling only when the church bells summoned the peasants +to take up arms for a few days.</p> +<p>But while the Royalists of La Vendee remained quiescent, after +they had expelled the invaders; the Republicans, more alarmed than +ever, were making the most tremendous efforts to stamp out the +insurrection.</p> +<p>Beysser, who had commanded at Nantes, was appointed to succeed +Menou. Orders were given that the forests and hedges of La Vendee +were all to be levelled, the crops destroyed, the cattle seized, +and the goods of the insurgents confiscated. An enormous number of +carts were collected to carry faggots, tar, and other combustibles +into La Vendee, for setting fire to the woods. It was actually +proposed to destroy the whole male population, to deport the women +and children, and to repeople La Vendee from other parts of France, +from which immigrants would be attracted by offers of free land and +houses. Santerre suggested that poisonous gases should be inclosed +in suitable vessels, and fired into the district to poison the +atmosphere.</p> +<p>Carrier, the infamous scoundrel who had been appointed +commissioner at Nantes, proposed an equally villainous scheme; +namely, that great quantities of bread, mixed with arsenic, should +be baked and scattered broadcast, so that the starving people might +eat it and be destroyed, wholesale. This would have been carried +out, had it not been vigorously opposed by General Kleber, who had +now taken the command of one of the armies of the invasion.</p> +<p>The rest of July and the first half of August passed +comparatively quietly. General Toncq advanced with a column into La +Vendee, and fought two or three battles, in which he generally +gained successes over the peasants; but with this exception, no +forward movement was made, and the majority of the peasants +remained undisturbed in their homes.</p> +<p>Soon, however, from all sides, the flood of invaders poured in. +No fewer than two hundred thousand men were now under the orders of +the French generals, and advanced from different directions, in all +cases carrying out the orders of the Convention, to devastate the +country, burn down the woods, destroy the crops, and slay the +inhabitants. Five armies moved forward simultaneously, that +commanded by Kleber consisting of the veteran battalions of +Mayence.</p> +<p>But everywhere they were met. Charette had marched to the aid of +the Vendeans of the north, and the country was divided into four +districts, commanded by Charette, Bonchamp, Lescure, and la +Rochejaquelein. Each of these strove to defend his own +district.</p> +<p>The war now assumed a terrible aspect. Maddened by the +atrocities perpetrated upon them, the peasants no longer gave +quarter to those who fell into their hands and, in their despair, +performed prodigies of valour. They had not now, as at the +commencement of the war the superiority in numbers. Instead of +fighting generally four to one against the Blues, the latter now +exceeded them in the same proportion.</p> +<p>But the peasants had changed their tactics. Instead of rushing +impetuously upon the enemy's lines, and hurling themselves upon his +artillery, they utilized the natural features of their country. As +the Republican columns marched along, believing that there was no +enemy near, they would hear the sound of a horn, and from behind +every hedge, every thicket, every tree, a stream of musketry would +break out. Very soon the column would fall into confusion. The +lanes would be blocked with dead horses and immovable waggons. In +vain would the soldiers try to force their way through the hedges, +and to return the fire of their invisible foes. Then, as suddenly +as the attack commenced, the peasants would leap from their shelter +and, with knife and bayonet, carry havoc among their enemies.</p> +<p>These tactics prevailed over numbers, even when, as in the case +of Kleber's division, the numbers possessed military discipline, +training, and high reputation. For a month, fighting was almost +continuous and, at the end of that time, to the stupefaction of the +Convention, their two hundred thousand troops were driven out of La +Vendee, at every point, by a fourth of that number of undisciplined +peasants. Never, perhaps, in the history of military warfare did +enthusiasm and valour accomplish such a marvel.</p> +<p>The second half of September was spent by the peasants at their +homes, rejoicing and returning thanks for their success; but +already a heavy blow was being struck at their cause. Charette, +hotheaded, impetuous, and self confident, had always preferred +carrying out his own plans, without regard to those of the leaders +in Upper Vendee; and he now quarrelled with them as to the course +that had best be pursued, and left, with the forces that he had +brought with him, to renew the war in the south.</p> +<p>But although the peasants rejoiced, their leaders knew that the +struggle could not long continue. The number of fighting men--that +is to say, of the whole male population of La Vendee capable of +bearing arms--had diminished terribly; indeed, the number that +originally responded to the summons of the church bells was +decreased by fully a half. Food was scarce. Owing to the continued +absence of the peasants the harvest had, in many places, not been +garnered; and wherever the Republican troops had passed, the +destruction had been complete. A large portion of the population +were homeless. The very movements of the Vendeans were hampered by +the crowds of women and children who, with the few belongings that +they had saved, packed in their little carts, wandered almost +aimlessly through the country. Many of the towns were in ruins, and +deserted; in all save a few secluded spots, as yet unvisited by the +Republicans, want and misery were universal.</p> +<p>There was no thought of surrender, but among chiefs and peasants +alike the idea that, as a last resource, it would be necessary to +abandon La Vendee altogether, and to take refuge in Brittany, where +the vast majority of the population were favourable to them, +gradually gained ground.</p> +<p>Generals Beysser, Canclaux, and Dubayet were recalled by the +Convention for their failure to obtain success, and l'Echelle was +appointed to the command, having Kleber and Westermann as leaders +of his principal divisions.</p> +<p>Jean Martin and Leigh had joined their friends, in their retreat +in the forest, after the repulse of all the Republican columns. +They had heard, while engaged in the thick of the fighting, of the +death of Monsieur Martin. He had never recovered from the effects +of his imprisonment at Nantes, and instead of gaining strength he +had become weaker and weaker. The terrible uncertainty of the +position, the news that constantly arrived of desperate battles, +and the conviction that in the end the Vendeans would be crushed, +told heavily upon him. He took to his bed, and sank gradually.</p> +<p>"I am not sorry, my child," he said to Patsey, the day before he +died, "that I am going to leave you. I was wrong in not taking +Jean's advice, and sailing for England with my wife and daughter. +However, it is useless to think of that, now.</p> +<p>"I can see terrible times in store for all here. It is evident +that no mercy is to be shown to the Vendeans. It has been decreed +by the Convention that they are to be hunted down like wild +beasts.</p> +<p>"Had I lived, I should have been a terrible burden to you. I +should have hampered your movements and destroyed any chance, +whatever, that you might have of escaping from these fiends. It +would have been impossible for me to have supported the fatigues +and hardships of a flight, and I should have been the means of +bringing destruction on you all. It is therefore better, in every +respect, that I should go.</p> +<p>"I pray that Heaven will protect you and Jean and your brave +brother, and enable you to reach England in safety. You will bear +my last message to my wife and Louise. You will tell them that my +last thought was of them, my last feeling one of gratitude to God +that they are in safety, and that I have been permitted to die in +peace and quiet."</p> +<p>"It is a sad homecoming this time, Jean," Patsey said, as her +husband and Leigh rode up to the door.</p> +<p>"It is indeed, Patsey; and yet, even when the news came to me, I +could scarcely grieve that it was so. I had seen how he was fading +when I went away, and was not surprised when I heard that he had +gone. For me it is one care, one anxiety, the less, in future.</p> +<p>"Patsey, we will be together. I cannot leave you here, when +Leigh and I are away. The child shall go with us and, when all is +lost, we will escape or die together."</p> +<p>"I am glad to hear you say so, Jean. It has been terrible +waiting here, and knowing that you were in the midst of dangers, +and that even while I thought of you, you might be lying dead. I +shall be glad, indeed, to share your fate, whatever it is."</p> +<p>For three weeks the little party lived quietly in the cottage. +There were many discussions as to the future. It was agreed that, +in case of a final reverse, it would be better that they should +travel alone.</p> +<p>"The more of us there are, the more certain to attract +observation," Jean said. "We must go without Francois and Marthe. +Their chance of safety will be greater if they either return to +their villages, or take up their abode with the family of some +woodman--or rather, Marthe's safety would be greater. As to +Francois, he has long been eager to join in the fighting, and it is +only his fidelity that has constrained him to remain in what he +considers is a disgraceful position, when every other man who can +bear arms is fighting. We will therefore take him with us and, when +the day of battle comes, he will join the fighting men and, if we +are defeated, must care for his own safety.</p> +<p>"When we fight, I shall always leave you at a village, a mile or +two away. You will have the horse ready to mount, and we shall join +you at once, if we are defeated."</p> +<p>"We ought to be disguised, Jean," Leigh said.</p> +<p>"It would be well," Jean said, "but I hardly see what disguise +would be of use to us. Certainly not that of peasants, for in that +dress we should be shot down, without question, by the first party +of Blues we came across. Even if we succeed in reaching the river +and crossing it, we may be sure that the authorities will be +everywhere on the lookout for fugitive peasants. It would be better +to be shot, at once, than to await in prison death by the +guillotine."</p> +<p>"I should say that it does not matter a bit how we are dressed, +till we reach the river. We know now pretty nearly every lane in +the country," Leigh said, "and I should think that we ought to be +able to reach the Loire."</p> +<p>"That is where the difficulty will begin. In the first place +there will be the trouble of crossing, and then that of making our +way through the country. Certainly we could not do so as Vendean +peasants."</p> +<p>"I should say, Jean, that the best disguises would be those of +fairly well-to-do townspeople; something like those we wore into +Nantes, but rather less formal--the sort of thing that ordinary +tradesmen, without any strong political feeling either way, would +wear. I don't say that we shall not be suspected, however we are +dressed, because no one in his senses would be travelling about +just at present; but when once we get beyond Tours, if we go that +way, we might pass without much notice.</p> +<p>"Which way do you think that we ought to go, Jean?"</p> +<p>Jean shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p>"I don't see that there is any choice. There would be very +little chance of escaping from any of the ports of Brittany, and La +Rochelle would be still more hopeless. As far south as Bordeaux we +should be in a comparatively peaceful country, and I should hope to +find friends there. The eastern frontier is of course the safest to +cross, but the distance is very great and, in the towns near the +border, a very sharp lookout is kept to prevent emigres +escaping.</p> +<p>"There is a rumour that Lyons has declared against the +Convention, but if we got there it is certain that it would be but +La Vendee over again. Lyons cannot resist all France and, as soon +as they have done with us here, they will be able to send any +number of troops to stamp out these risings.</p> +<p>"Undoubtedly, if we could get there, Toulon would be the best +place. I have heard for certain that they have driven out the +extreme party, and have admitted the English fleet. Once there, we +should be able to take berths in a ship bound somewhere abroad--it +matters little where--and thence get a passage to England. Most +probably we shall be able to arrange to go direct from Toulon, for +there are sure to be vessels coming and going with stores for the +British fleet."</p> +<p>"But that would be a terrible journey, Jean," his wife said.</p> +<p>"Yes, I think that would be quite out of the question. It seems +to me that our best chance would be either to cross the Loire and +then make for Le Mans, and so up through Alencon to Honfleur--that +way we should be east of the disturbed district--or, if we found +that a vast number of fugitives had made their way into Brittany, +as is almost certain to be the case, we might bear more to the +east, and go up through Vendome and Chartres and Evreux, and then +branch off and strike the Seine near Honfleur. In that case we +should be outside the district where they would be searching for +fugitives from here.</p> +<p>"Once on the seashore, or on the Seine, it would be hard if we +could not steal a fishing boat, and cross the Channel. However, one +must of course be guided by circumstances. Still, I do think that +it would be as well to buy the disguises Leigh suggests, without +loss of time. I will ride over to Chatillon, tomorrow, and get +them."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch13" id="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: Across The Loire.</h2> +<p>Marthe was filled with grief, when she heard that it had been +decided that it was better that she should return to her native +village; but her mistress pointed out to her that, if all went +well, she could rejoin them. If things went badly, and they +escaped, they would send for her wherever they might be; but in +case disaster compelled them to fly, three persons were as many as +could hope to travel together, without exciting suspicion. The +nurse however begged that, at any rate, she might go with them to +the headquarters of the army.</p> +<p>"Everyone is going," she said; "and they say that, if we are +beaten in the next battle, they will cross the Loire and take +refuge in Brittany, for the Blues will not leave a soul alive in La +Vendee. I should have nowhere to go to here, and will keep with the +others, whatever happens. If you are with them, madame, I can +rejoin you; if not, I hope to be with you, afterward."</p> +<p>It was indeed an exodus, rather than the gathering of an army, +that was taking place. The atrocities committed by the invaders, +the destruction of every village, the clouds of smoke which +ascended from the burning woods, created so terrible a scare among +the peasants that the greater portion of the villages and farms +were entirely deserted, and every road leading to Chollet, which +was the rendezvous where the fighting men were ordered to gather, +was crowded with fugitives. Francois walked by the horse's head. +Patsey, the nurse, and the child, with a trunk containing articles +of absolute necessity, occupied the cart. Jean and Leigh rode +ahead.</p> +<p>The company of Cathelineau's scouts no longer existed. More than +half of them had fallen in the late battles. Their services were no +longer required as scouts, and the survivors had joined their +fathers and brothers, and formed part of the command of +Bonchamp.</p> +<p>On the fourteenth of October the enemy's columns were closing in +upon Chollet. Those round Mortagne were marching forward, when the +advanced guard, under General Beaupuy, were suddenly attacked by +the Vendeans, while entangled in the lanes. The head of the column +fought well; but those in the rear, finding themselves also +attacked, and fearing that the retreat would be cut off, retired +hastily to Mortagne. The column would have been destroyed, had not +Beaupuy promptly sent up large reinforcements. After a long and +obstinate fight the Vendeans were driven from the woods and, the +Republican artillery opening upon them, they were compelled to +retire to Chollet.</p> +<p>Here no halt was made. Kleber had also been fiercely attacked, +but had also, though with much difficulty, repulsed his assailants. +The next morning the Republicans entered Chollet, which they found +deserted by the enemy.</p> +<p>On the seventeenth, their whole force being now concentrated +there, they were about to move forward towards Beaupreau; when the +advanced guard was hotly attacked and, in a short time, the combat +became general. For a time the Vendeans bore down all opposition, +but as the whole of the Republican force came into action, their +advance was arrested.</p> +<p>The battle began soon after one o'clock. It raged without +intermission till nightfall. No decisive advantage had been gained +on either side, and the result was still doubtful, when a panic +took place among the multitude of noncombatants in the rear of the +Vendeans. The cry was raised, "To the Loire!"</p> +<p>The panic spread. In vain the leaders and their officers +galloped backwards and forwards, endeavouring to restore +confidence, and shouted to the men that victory was still in their +grasp. In the darkness and din they could only be heard by those +immediately round them, and even these they failed to reanimate; +and the men who had for seven hours fought, as Kleber himself +reported, like tigers, lost heart.</p> +<p>Lescure had fallen in the fighting on the fourteenth. Bonchamp +and d'Elbee were both desperately wounded at the battle at Chollet, +and were carried off by their men. La Rochejaquelein, with whom +Jean Martin and Leigh were riding, had made almost superhuman +efforts to check the panic; and they fell back, almost broken +hearted, with a band of peasants, who held together to the last. On +the previous day Leigh had escorted Patsey to Beaupreau, and it was +to this town that the fugitives made their way, arriving there at +midnight.</p> +<p>"Thank God that you are both alive!" Patsey said, bursting into +tears as her husband entered the room in which she was +established.</p> +<p>"We can hardly believe it ourselves," Jean said. "It has been a +terrible day, indeed. Our men fought nobly, and I firmly believe +that we should have won the day, had not an unaccountable panic set +in. What caused it I know not. We were doing well everywhere, and +had begun to drive them back and, could we have fought on for +another half hour it was likely that, as usual, a panic would have +seized them.</p> +<p>"However, Patsey, they would have gathered again stronger than +ever, and it must have come to the same thing, in the long run. Now +put on your disguise, at once. We will lie down for two hours, and +see you off before daybreak. I do not know whether la +Rochejaquelein, who must now be considered in command, since +d'Elbee and Bonchamp are both desperately wounded, will gather a +force to act as a rearguard. If so we must stay with him; but I do +not think that even his influence would suffice to hold any +considerable body of peasants together. All have convinced +themselves that there is safety in Brittany.</p> +<p>"At any rate, the enemy will need a day's rest before they +pursue. They must have suffered quite as heavily as we have."</p> +<p>The night, however, was not to pass quietly. At two o'clock two +officers, who had remained as piquets, rode into the town with news +that Westermann's division, which had marched through Moulet and +had taken no part in the action, was approaching. The horn sounded +the alarm, and the fugitives started up and renewed their flight. +Marthe could not be left behind now, nor did the others desire it; +and until they had crossed the Loire there could be no separation, +for the whole country would swarm, in forty-eight hours, with +parties of the enemy, hunting down and slaying those who had taken +refuge in the woods.</p> +<p>Jean and Leigh had lain down in the cart, to prevent any of the +fugitives seizing it. The two women and the child were hurried +down, and took their places in it. Francois, who had escaped, had +fortunately found them; and took the reins, and the journey was +continued.</p> +<p>There was no pursuit. It was only a portion of Westermann's +force that had arrived, and these were so exhausted and worn out, +by the length of their march and by the fact that they had been +unable to obtain food by the way, that they threw themselves down +when they reached the town, incapable of marching a mile +farther.</p> +<p>At Beaupreau there had been no fewer than five thousand +Republican prisoners, kept under guard. On the arrival of the +routed Vendeans, the peasants, as a last act of retaliation, would +have slain them; but Bonchamp, who was at the point of death, +ordered them to be set free.</p> +<p>"It is the last order that I shall ever give," he said to the +peasants assembled round his litter. "Surely you will not disobey +me, my children."</p> +<p>The order was obeyed, and the prisoners were at once sent off; +and as the Republican column marched out from Chollet, the next +day, they encountered on the road their liberated comrades. The +sentiments with which the commissioners of the Convention were +animated is evidenced by the fact that one of them declared, in a +letter to the commander-in-chief of the army, that the release of +these prisoners by the Vendeans was a regrettable affair; and +recommended that no mention, whatever, should be made of it in the +despatches to Paris, lest this act of mercy by the insurgents +should arouse public opinion to insist upon a cessation of the +measures that had been taken for the annihilation of the +Vendeans.</p> +<p>The fugitives, a vast crowd of over one hundred thousand men, +women, and children, reached Saint Florent without coming in +contact with the enemy. The Republican generals, indeed, had no +idea that the peasants had any intention of quitting their beloved +country; and imagined that they would disperse to their homes +again, and that there remained only the task of hunting them down. +A company had been left on a hill which commanded Saint Florent, +but they had no idea of being attacked, and had not even taken the +precaution of removing the boats across the river.</p> +<p>As soon as they arrived, the Vendeans attacked the post with +fury, and captured it. Twenty boats were found, and the crossing +was effected with no little difficulty. There were still two or +three thousand, principally women and children, to be taken over, +when a party of Republican dragoons arrived. Numbers of the women +and children were massacred; but the great bulk, flying +precipitately, regained the country beyond the heights of Saint +Florent, and took refuge in the woods.</p> +<p>The multitude were, for the present, safe. There was no strong +force of the enemy between Nantes and Saumur, and they halted for +the night, dispirited, worn out, and filled with grief. They had +left their homes and all they cared for behind. They were in a +strange country, without aim or purpose, their only hope being that +the Bretons would rise and join them--a poor hope, since the +terrible vengeance that had been taken on La Vendee could not but +strike terror throughout Brittany, also.</p> +<p>Jean Martin and Leigh had seen Patsey and the nurse placed in +one of the first boats that crossed.</p> +<p>"Do not go far from the spot where you land," they said. "We +shall stay here, until all is over. If the Blues come up before all +have crossed, we shall swim across with our horses; be under no +uneasiness about us."</p> +<p>Taking the horse out of the shafts of the cart, and putting a +saddle that they had brought with them on its back, they left the +three animals in charge of Francois; and then aided other officers +to keep order among the crowd, and to prevent them from pressing +into the boats, as they returned from the other bank, in such +numbers as to sink them. All day the work went on quietly and +regularly, until so comparatively few remained that hope became +strong that all would cross, before any of the enemy arrived.</p> +<p>That hope was destroyed when, suddenly, the enemy's cavalry +appeared at the edge of the slope, and came galloping down. The +officers in vain tried to get the few men that remained to make a +stand. They were too dispirited to attempt to do so, and the little +throng broke up and fled, some one way, some another.</p> +<p>Fortunately an empty boat had just returned, and into this the +other officers leapt; while Jean, with his two companions, led the +horses into the water. They had already linked the reins. Francois +was unable to swim but, at Jean's order, he took hold of the tail +of the horse in the middle; while Jean and Leigh swam by the heads +of the two outside horses, and without difficulty the other side +was gained. Patsey, who had had her eye fixed upon them all day, +was standing at the spot where they landed.</p> +<p>They were near the town of Ancenis, and a portion of the +Vendeans entered the place, which was wholly undefended. The +inhabitants were in abject terror, thinking that the town would be +sacked; and were surprised to find that the peasants did no one any +harm, and were ready to pay for anything that they required. So +long, indeed, as any money whatever remained, the Vendeans paid +scrupulously. When it was all expended, the chiefs did the only +thing in their power, issuing notes promising to pay; and although +these had no value, save in the good faith of the Vendeans, they +were received by the Bretons as readily as the assignats of the +Republic--which, indeed, like the notes of the Vendeans, were never +destined to be paid.</p> +<p>Had the army plunged into Brittany after the capture of Saumur, +there can be no doubt that the peasantry would everywhere have +risen; but coming as fugitives and exiles, they were a warning +rather than a source of enthusiasm; and although small numbers of +peasants joined them, the accession of force was very trifling.</p> +<p>Jean Martin, his wife, and Leigh held an anxious consultation +that evening. They had found a poor lodging, after attending a +meeting of the leaders, at which la Rochejaquelein had been +unanimously elected commander-in-chief; Bonchamp having died, while +d'Elbee, wounded to death, had been left at the cottage of a Breton +peasant, who promised to conceal him. The young soldier had +accepted the fearful responsibility with the greatest reluctance. +He, and those around him, saw plainly enough that the only hope of +escape from annihilation was the landing of a British force to +their assistance. Unhappily, however, England had not as yet awoke +to the tremendous nature of the struggle that was going on. Her +army was a small one; and her fleet, as yet, had not attained the +dimensions that were, before many years, to render her the +unquestioned mistress of the seas.</p> +<p>The feeling that the Revolution was the fruit of centuries of +oppression; and that, terrible as were the excesses committed in +the name of liberty, the cause of the Revolution was still the +cause of the peoples of Europe, had created a party sufficiently +powerful to hamper the ministry. Moreover, the government was badly +informed in every respect by its agents in France, and had no idea +of the extent of the rising in La Vendee, or how nobly the people +there had been defending themselves against the whole force of +France. It is not too much to say that had England, at this time, +landed twenty thousand troops in Brittany or La Vendee, the whole +course of events in Europe would have been changed. The French +Revolution would have been crushed before it became formidable to +Europe, and countless millions of money and millions of lives would +have been saved.</p> +<p>Throughout France there was a considerable portion of the +population who would have rejoiced in the overthrow of the +Republic, for even in the large towns its crimes had provoked +reaction. Toulon had opened its gates to the English. Lyons was in +arms against the Republic. Normandy's discontent was general, and +its peasantry would have joined those of Brittany and La Vendee, +had there been but a fair prospect of success.</p> +<p>England, however, did nothing, but stood passive until the +peasantry of La Vendee were all but exterminated; and indeed, added +to their misfortunes by promising aid that never was sent, and thus +encouraging them to maintain a resistance that added to the +exasperation of their enemies, and to their own misfortunes and +sufferings.</p> +<p>"What are we going to do?" Patsey asked, as her husband and +Leigh returned from the meeting.</p> +<p>"That is more than anyone can say," Jean replied. "We shall, for +the present, move north. We are like a flight of locusts. We must +move since we must eat, and no district could furnish subsistence +for eighty thousand people, for more than a day or two.</p> +<p>"There can be no doubt that the impulse to cross the Loire was a +mad one. On the other side we at least knew the country, and it +would have been far better to have died fighting, there, than to +throw ourselves across the river. It was well nigh a miracle that +we got across, and it will need nothing short of a miracle to get +us back again.</p> +<p>"Of one thing we may be sure: the whole host of our enemies +will, by this time, be in movement. We should never have got +across, had they dreamed that such was our intention. Now that we +have done it, you may be sure that they will strain every effort to +prevent us from returning. Probably, by this time, half their +forces are marching to cross at Nantes. The other half are pressing +on to Saumur. In three or four days they will be united again, and +will be between us and the river.</p> +<p>"Were we a smaller body, were we only men, I should say that we +ought to march another twenty miles north, then sweep round either +east or west and, while the enemy followed the north bank of the +river to effect a junction, we should march all night without a +halt, pass them, and hurl ourselves either upon Saumur or Nantes, +and so return to La Vendee. But with such a host as this, there +would be little hope of success. I fancy that we shall march to +Laval, and there halt for a day or two. By that time the whole +force of the enemy will have come up, and there will be another +battle."</p> +<p>"And we, Jean?"</p> +<p>"I see nothing but for us to march with them. We know nothing of +the movements of the enemy and, were we to try to make our way +across the country, we might run into their arms. Besides, Leigh +and I have both agreed that, at present at least, we cannot leave +Rochejaquelein."</p> +<p>"We could not, indeed, Patsey," Leigh broke in. "If you had seen +him this evening when, with tears in his eyes, he accepted our +choice, you would feel as we do. It was all very well for us, +before, to talk of making off; but now that the worst has happened, +if it were only for his sake, I should stay by him; though I think +that Jean, with the responsibility of you and your child, would be +justified in going."</p> +<p>"No," Patsey said firmly, "whatever comes, we will stay +together. As Jean said, you cannot desert the cause now. As long as +there are battles to fight we must stay with them, and it is not +until further fighting has become impossible that we, like others, +must endeavour to shift for ourselves."</p> +<p>"Well spoken, Patsey!" her husband said. "That must be our +course. So long as the Vendeans hang together, with Rochejaquelein +at their head, we must remain true to the cause that we have taken +up. When once again the army becomes a mass of fugitives we can, +without loss of honour, and a clear consciousness that we have done +our duty to the end, think of our safety. I grant that, if one +could find a safe asylum for you and our Louis in the cottage of +some Breton peasant--"</p> +<p>"No, no!" she interrupted, "that I would never consent to. We +will remain together, Jean, come what may. If all is lost, I will +ask you to put a pistol to my head. I would a thousand times rather +die so than fall into the hands of the Blues, and either be +slaughtered mercilessly, or thrown into one of their prisons to +linger, until the guillotine released me."</p> +<p>"I agree with you in that, Patsey. Well, we will regard the +matter as settled. As long as the army hangs together, so long will +we remain with it; after that we will carry out the plans we talked +over, and make for the coast by the way which seems most open to +us."</p> +<p>The next day was spent, by Rochejaquelein and his officers, in +going about among the peasants. They did not disguise from these +the extreme peril of the position, but they pointed out that it was +only by holding together, and by defeating the Blues whenever they +attacked them, that they could hope for safety.</p> +<p>"It was difficult to cross the Loire before," they said; "it +will be tenfold more difficult now. Every boat will have been taken +over to the other side, and you may be sure that strong bodies of +the enemy will have been posted, all along the banks, to prevent +our returning. You have fought well before. You must fight even +better in future, for there is no retreat, no home to retire to. +Your lives, and those of the women and children with you, depend +upon your being victorious. You have beaten the Blues almost every +time that you have met them. You would have beaten them last time, +had not a sort of madness seized you. It was not we who led you +across the Loire; you have chosen to come, and we have followed +you.</p> +<p>"At any rate, it is better to die fighting, for God and country, +than to be slaughtered unresistingly by these murderers. You saw +how they fell upon the helpless ones who were unable to cross with +us; how they murdered women and children, although there was no +resistance, nothing to excite their anger. If you die, you die as +martyrs to your faith and loyalty, and no man could wish for a +better death.</p> +<p>"All is not lost, yet. Defeat the Blues, and Brittany may yet +rise; besides, we are promised aid from England. At any rate, La +Vendee has been true to herself through over six months of terrible +struggle. La Vendee may perish. Let the world see that she has been +true to herself, to the end."</p> +<p>The fugitive priests with the army seconded the efforts of the +officers and, by nightfall, a feeling of resolution and hope +succeeded the depression caused by the terrible events of the +preceding thirty-six hours; and it was with an air of calmness and +courage that the march was recommenced, on the following +morning.</p> +<p>The instant that it became known that the Vendeans had crossed +the Loire, a panic seized the Republicans at Nantes; and messengers +were sent to implore the commander-in-chief to march with all haste +to aid them should, as they believed, the Vendeans be marching to +assail the town. Kleber with his division started at once, followed +more slowly by the main body of the army.</p> +<p>Another column advanced to Saint Florent and, obtaining boats, +crossed the river and entered Angers; to the immense relief of the +Republicans there, who had been in a state of abject terror at the +presence, so near them, of the Vendeans. Kleber marched with great +rapidity, passed through Nantes without stopping, and established +himself at the camp of Saint Georges.</p> +<p>The news of what was termed the glorious victory at +Chollet--although in point of fact the Republicans fell back, after +the battle, to that town--caused the greatest enthusiasm in Paris, +and the Convention and the Republican authorities issued +proclamations, which were unanimous in exhorting the army to pursue +and exterminate the Vendeans.</p> +<p>By the twenty-third, the whole of the French army was in +readiness to march in pursuit. Kleber was still in the camp of +Saint Georges, Chalbos was at Nantes with a corps d'armee, Beaupuy +was at Angers.</p> +<p>The Vendeans had marched through Cande and Chateau-Gontier, and +had without difficulty driven out the Republican force stationed at +Laval. L'Echelle, the commander-in-chief, was profoundly ignorant, +supine, and cowardly; and owed his position solely to the fact that +he belonged to the lower class, and was not, like Biron and the +other commanders-in-chief, of good family. Remaining always at a +distance from the scene of operations, he confused the generals of +divisions by contradictory orders, which vied with each other in +their folly.</p> +<p>On the twenty-fourth, Kleber marched to Ancenis, and on the +following day he, Beaupuy, and Westermann arrived at +Chateau-Gontier. Canuel's division from Saint Florent had not yet +come up. The troops were already tired, but Westermann who, as +Kleber in his report said, was always anxious to gain glory and +bring himself into prominence, insisted on pushing forward at once; +and prevailed over the more prudent counsel of the others, as he +was the senior officer.</p> +<p>When they approached Laval, Westermann sent a troop of cavalry +forward to reconnoitre. He was not long before he came upon some +Vendean outposts. These he charged, and drove in towards the +town.</p> +<p>No sooner did they arrive there than the bells of the churches +pealed out. It was now midnight but, before the army could form +into order, the Vendeans poured out upon them, guided by the shouts +of the Republican officers, who were endeavouring to get their +troops into order. The combat was desperate and sanguinary. The +peasants, fighting with the fury of despair, threw themselves +recklessly upon the Republican troops; whose cannon were not yet in +a position to come into action, and whose infantry, in the +darkness, fired at random. Fighting in the dark, discipline availed +but little. Kleber's veterans, however, preserved their coolness, +and for a time the issue was doubtful.</p> +<p>Had Westermann's cavalry done their duty, victory might still +have inclined towards them; but instead of charging when ordered, +they turned tail and, riding through a portion of their infantry, +spread disorder among them. Westermann, seeing that it was hopeless +to endeavour to retrieve the confusion, ordered a retreat; and the +army fell back to Chateau-Gontier, where they arrived in the course +of the day. Here they found the commander-in-chief who, +disregarding the exhausting march the troops had already +accomplished, and their loss of spirit after their defeat, ordered +them to return to Vihiers, halfway to Laval.</p> +<p>It was nightfall when they reached this place, but Westermann +pushed the advanced guard some two leagues farther. Kleber, seeing +the extreme danger of the position, refused to advance beyond +Vihiers; and sent orders to Danican, who commanded the advanced +guard, to fall back to a strong position in advance of Vihiers.</p> +<p>Danican had taken command only on the previous day, and the +soldiers, believing that this order was but an act of arbitrary +authority on his part, refused to move; and the bridge over the +river Ouette, in front of Vihiers, remained unguarded save by a +squadron of cavalry. Kleber had just returned from visiting the +post, when he received a despatch from l'Echelle, bidding him give +the order they had decided upon between them to the other two +divisions. As no such arrangement had been made, Kleber was in +ignorance of what was meant; but he sent a messenger to Beaupuy, +who was at Chateau-Gontier, and to Bloss, who commanded a column of +grenadiers, to join him as soon as possible.</p> +<p>Bloss arrived early the next morning at the camp. Beaupuy moved +forward but, as his whole force had not yet come up, he did not +arrive at the camp at the same time.</p> +<p>At eleven that night l'Echelle and the four generals now in the +camp held a council. Westermann was extremely discontented, at +finding that the heights were not occupied; but as Kleber remarked, +the troops were utterly dissatisfied at the way in which they had +been handled, and at the unnecessary and enormous fatigues that had +been imposed upon them, and it was impossible to demand further +exertions. Savary, one of the generals at the council, was well +acquainted with Laval, and gave the advice that a portion of the +army should follow the river for some distance, and then take +possession of the hills commanding the town.</p> +<p>When Beaupuy arrived, his division moved forward at once, as an +advanced guard; but as the army was moving a messenger arrived from +l'Echelle, issuing orders in absolute contradiction of the plan +that he had agreed to, when the council of war broke up. The orders +were obeyed, but the generals again met, and sent off a messenger +to l'Echelle to remonstrate against the attack in one mass, and a +march by a single road, on a position that could be attacked by +several routes; and to recommend that at least a diversion should +be made, by a false attack. Westermann himself carried this +remonstrance, but the commander-in-chief paid no attention to +him.</p> +<p>Advancing, it was found that the Vendeans had taken up a +position on the neglected heights. The cannon opened on both sides, +and Beaupuy was soon hotly engaged. Kleber advanced his division to +sustain him. L'Echelle, coming up, arrested the further advance of +the division of Chalbos. Savary rode back in haste, to implore +l'Echelle to order Chalbos to move to the right and attack the left +flank of the enemy; but by this time the unfortunate wretch had +completely lost his head and, instead of giving Chalbos orders to +advance, ordered him to retreat, and himself fled in all haste.</p> +<p>Two columns, that were posted a few miles in the rear, received +no orders whatever, and remained all day waiting for them. Kleber, +seeing the division of Chalbos retiring in great disorder, felt +that success was now impossible; and placed two battalions not yet +engaged at the bridge, to cover the retreat. But the panic was +spreading, his orders were disobeyed, and the veterans of Mayence, +as well as the divisions of Beaupuy, broke their ranks and +fled.</p> +<p>In vain the officers endeavoured to stay the flight. The panic +was complete. Their guns were left behind, and the Vendeans, +pressing hotly on their rear, overtook and killed great numbers. +Bloss with his grenadiers, advancing from Chateau-Gontier, tried in +vain to arrest the flight of the fugitives; and he himself and his +command were swept away by the mob, and carried beyond the +town.</p> +<p>A few hundreds of the soldiers alone were rallied, and prepared +to defend the bridge of Chateau-Gontier; but la Rochejaquelein had +sent a portion of his force to make a circuit and seize the town, +so that the defenders of the bridge were exposed to a heavy fire +from houses in their rear.</p> +<p>Kleber, with a handful of men, held the bridge; and was joined +by Bloss, who had been already wounded while passing through the +town. He advanced to cross; Kleber and Savary in vain tried to stop +him.</p> +<p>"No," he said, "I will not survive the shame of such a day," +and, rushing forward with a small party, fell under the fire of the +advancing Vendeans.</p> +<p>The pursuit was hotly maintained. Keeping on heights which +commanded the road, the Vendeans maintained an incessant fire of +cannon and musketry. It was already night, and this alone saved the +Republican army from total destruction. Beaupuy received a terrible +wound in the battle, and a great number of officers were killed, in +endeavouring to stop the panic.</p> +<p>At last the pursuit ceased and, for a few hours, the weary +fugitives slept. Then they continued their retreat, and took up a +strong position near the town of Angers, which was crowded with +fugitives.</p> +<p>L'Echelle came out to review the troops who, by the orders of +their generals, had already formed in order of battle; but was +received with such yells of hatred and contempt that he was forced +to retire. The representatives of the convention offered Kleber the +command of the army, but he refused, saying that Chalbos was of +superior rank, and that it was he who should take the command. They +agreed to this, and sent to l'Echelle, telling him to demand leave +of absence, on account of his health.</p> +<p>A council of war was then held. The representatives of the +Convention were favourable to a fresh advance of the army, but +Kleber protested that, at present, there was no army. He said that +the soldiers were utterly discouraged, that some battalions had but +twenty or thirty men with the colours, that all were wet to the +skin, utterly exhausted, many without shoes, and all dispirited. +Therefore he insisted that it was absolutely necessary that the +army should be completely reorganized, before undertaking a fresh +forward movement.</p> +<p>Their loss had indeed been extremely heavy, Kleber's division +alone having lost over a thousand men. Beaupuy had suffered even +more heavily; while the divisions of Chalbos, and the grenadiers of +Bloss had also lost large numbers. The total loss, including +deserters, amounted to over four thousand.</p> +<p>The whole of the cannon of the two first divisions had fallen +into the hands of the enemy, the artillerymen having cut the +traces. A large number of ammunition waggons, and a quantity of +carts laden with provisions, had also been captured.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch14" id="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: Le Mans.</h2> +<p>The victory won by the Vendeans was one of the most important of +the war. Never had they fought with greater bravery. Never did they +carry out more accurately and promptly the orders of their +generals. Napoleon afterwards pronounced that the tactics pursued +by la Rochejaquelein showed that he possessed the highest military +genius.</p> +<p>It was night, alone, that saved the routed army of the Republic +from absolute destruction. It is probable that, at the time, the +Vendean general had no idea of the completeness of the victory that +he had won, or of the disorganization of the enemy. Had he known +it, he would doubtless have attacked them again on the following +day; when he would have experienced no resistance, could have +captured Angers without firing a shot, and could, had he chosen, +have recrossed the Loire. The Vendeans, however, well content with +their success, returned to Laval, and there enjoyed a week's quiet +and repose.</p> +<p>The crushing defeat that the Republicans had experienced caused +an immense sensation at Paris, and in the towns through which the +Vendeans would pass on their way to the capital, which was at the +time actually open to them.</p> +<p>Patsey was delighted, when Jean and Leigh returned +unwounded.</p> +<p>"You both seem to bear a charmed life," she said. "Leigh has +indeed once been hit, but it was not serious; you have escaped +altogether. What is going to be done next?"</p> +<p>"We are going to rest here for ten days or so. There is plenty +of food to be had, and the rest will do wonders for the men. Of +course, we rode back with la Rochejaquelein. His opinion was, as it +always has been, that a march on Paris will alone bring this +terrible business to a close; but he knows that even his authority +will not suffice to carry out such a plan. As long as they are in +Brittany they are among friends, and are still near their homes; +but to turn their backs on these, and march on Paris, would appear +so terrible an undertaking that, reckless as they are of their +lives in battle, nothing would induce them to attempt it."</p> +<p>After ten days' delay, the Vendeans commenced their march +towards the coast. The battle at Vihiers was fought on the +twenty-seventh. By the sixth of November they had captured the +towns of Ernee and de Fougeres, defeating at the latter place three +battalions. Dol was next captured. Mayenne opened its gates without +resistance.</p> +<p>The greatest efforts were made, by the Republicans, to place the +seaports in a state of defence. Cherbourg would have been the best +point for the fugitives to attack, as here they would have found an +abundance of powder, of which they were in great need, and cannon; +and here they might have defended themselves until the promised +help arrived from England. Granville, however, had been fixed upon +by the British government; and the march thither was shorter, +therefore it was against Granville that the attack was +directed.</p> +<p>A considerable portion of the force, with the artillery, were +left at Avranches. Although assured that the march to the sea was +made in order to obtain succour there from England, there was much +fear among the peasants that the intention of the chiefs was to +embark, and to leave the army to its fate. Consequently they +advanced against Granville with less energy and enthusiasm than +usual.</p> +<p>However, half a league out of the town they came upon a portion +of the garrison, and repulsed them so successfully that they +entered one of the suburbs with them. The garrison had, for the +most part, shut themselves up in a fort which commanded the town; +having erected a strong palisade across the streets leading to it. +Four hundred men occupied this post.</p> +<p>The Vendeans had no axes to cut down the palisades, nor powder +to blow then in. They were therefore obliged to content themselves +with a musketry fire against it. As the garrison were well supplied +with ammunition, and kept up a constant fire, they suffered +heavily.</p> +<p>When night came, the Vendeans scattered among the houses to find +food, fire, and shelter; and all night the batteries on the heights +played upon them.</p> +<p>In the morning the Republicans redoubled their fire. It became +evident that the town itself could not be taken, and the mass of +the Vendeans, without orders from their chiefs, began to retire, +and in a short time the whole were in rapid retreat to +Avranches.</p> +<p>There the cry was raised, "Back to La Vendee!"</p> +<p>La Rochejaquelein, after halting his force on the main road a +few hours, called upon the men to follow him to Caen; but only one +thousand did so. On arriving at a village he learned that the bulk +of the army, instead of being behind him, had marched towards +Pontorson. He was therefore forced to retrace his steps and to +follow them and, on overtaking them, found that they had already +carried the bridge, driven away the enemy, and occupied the +town.</p> +<p>The enemy were closing round them, but the capture of Pontorson +deranged the plans of the Republicans. The place had been held by +four thousand men and ten pieces of cannon and, as it could be +approached only by a narrow defile, it was believed that it would +be impossible for the Vendeans to force their way into it. However, +after three hours' fighting, their desperate valour won the day, +and the Republicans were routed, with the loss of most of their +cannon.</p> +<p>The affair, indeed, appeared to the peasants to be a miracle +granted in their favour; and with renewed heart they marched the +next night to Dol. Kleber was with a large force in this +neighbourhood, but the impetuosity of Westermann again upset his +plans. As soon as the latter heard that Pontorson had been carried +by the Vendeans, and that they had marched to Dol, he pursued them +with three thousand infantry, two hundred cavalry, and four cannon. +He arrived within a short distance of Dol at six in the evening +and, without waiting for the infantry to come up, charged into the +town, and for a moment spread confusion among the Vendeans.</p> +<a id="PicG" name="PicG"></a> +<center><img src="images/g.jpg" alt= +"Westermann's cavalry charged into the streets of Dol." /></center> +<p>They, however, soon recovered from their surprise, and drove the +enemy out with loss. Westermann's infantry took no part in the +action. Kleber was occupied in closing every route by which the +Vendeans could leave Dol; but Westermann, who had held no +communication with him, and knew nothing of his plans, marched with +Marigny's division, with six thousand men, to attack the town.</p> +<p>This he did at two o'clock in the morning. The Vendeans at once +rushed to meet them, and first tried to turn the right; but they +failed here, and also in an attack on the left. They fought, +however, so fiercely that Westermann withdrew his troops to the +position that they had occupied before attacking. The Vendeans, +however, gave them no time to form in order of battle but, +heralding their charge with a heavy musketry fire, rushed down upon +them. The enemy at once broke and, leaving their cannon behind +them, continued their flight till they reached Pontorson.</p> +<p>In the meantime Marceau was advancing with his division by +another road; and the Vendeans, hearing this, ceased their pursuit +of Westermann's routed division and moved against him and, at four +o'clock in the morning, attacked him when within a league of Dol. A +combat ensued that lasted for three hours. The Vendeans then drew +off, on learning that the division of Muller was on the point of +joining that of Marceau.</p> +<p>Together these divisions could have forced their way into Dol, +but Muller was hopelessly drunk and, being the senior officer, the +greatest confusion arose and, had the Vendeans known what was +taking place, they could have gained a decisive victory.</p> +<p>Marceau, seeing that he could do nothing to restore order, rode +at full speed to Kleber's headquarters; and at daybreak the two +generals arrived at the spot, and found the two divisions mingled +in supreme disorder, the brigades and battalions being mixed up +together. Finding that nothing could be done with them, there, +Kleber drew them off; their confusion being almost converted into a +rout, by the fire of about a hundred Vendeans. A council of war was +held, and eighteen hundred men, with two guns, were sent to +Pontorson to join Westermann's defeated division.</p> +<p>That general was ordered to advance again, at once, upon Dol. +Kleber opposed this, and the rest of the council coming at last to +his opinion, orders were sent to Westermann to remain on the +defensive, and await fresh orders. Westermann, however, as usual, +disregarded these and, marching through the night, approached the +town and arrived, early in the morning, at a village close to +it.</p> +<p>The sounding of the church bells told that the Vendeans had +discovered the enemy, and in a few minutes these were seen rushing, +as usual, to the attack. In spite of the reinforcements that had +reached them, Westermann's troops fought worse than they had done +two nights before. The reinforcements were the first to give way. +The advanced guard speedily turned and fled. Westermann and +Marigny, with a small party of cavalry, fought desperately to cover +the retreat. Marigny however fell, and the whole force became a +mass of fugitives.</p> +<p>Kleber, on his way the next day to reconnoitre the town, met the +Vendeans advancing. Scattering rapidly, these occupied the ridges, +and attacked the brigade that formed his advanced guard so fiercely +that it broke and fled. Kleber sent to fetch some battalions of the +troops of Mayence and, as soon as they arrived, with some +battalions of grenadiers, formed them in order of battle. Other +troops came up, and they prepared for a serious engagement.</p> +<p>At this moment the Vendean column that had defeated Westermann +showed itself, on the right flank of the Republicans, and +threatened their rear. Kleber ordered some of the battalions to +take post further back, to cover the line of retreat. Other +battalions, seeing the movement, and believing this to be a signal +for retreat, followed.</p> +<p>The grenadiers alone stood firm, and defended themselves for +three hours. In the meantime the greater portion of the Republican +army was already in full flight, and a retreat was ordered. The +troops remaining on the field retired at first in good order but, +as the victorious Vendeans pressed on, this speedily became a +rout.</p> +<p>Marceau, gathering together such soldiers as still retained +their presence of mind, endeavoured to defend the bridge of +Antrain; but the Vendeans, pressing forward, swept them away; and +the fugitives fled, in a confused mob, as far as Rennes.</p> +<p>The Vendeans, on entering Antrain, at once scattered in search +of food; disregarding the orders and entreaties of la +Rochejaquelein and Stofflet, who urged them to press hotly upon the +routed enemy, and so to complete the victory they had won. At +Antrain they learned that the wounded, who had been left in +hospital at Fougeres, had been murdered in their beds by the Blues; +and they accordingly shot all the prisoners they had taken in the +battle.</p> +<p>The victory seemed to open the way to the Loire, and the +Vendeans steadily marched south through Mayenne and Laval, and +arrived in front of Angers. But the city was no longer in the +defenceless state in which it was when they first crossed the +Loire. As soon as it was perceived to be the point for which the +Vendeans were marching, four thousand troops were thrown into it, +and all preparations made for a stout defence.</p> +<p>"If they defend themselves as they ought to do," la +Rochejaquelein said to two or three of his officers, among whom was +Jean Martin, "there is no hope of taking the town. We have neither +cannon to blow down the walls, nor means of scaling them. +Thirty-six hours is the utmost we can hope for our operations. +Kleber and the rest of them will be up by that time. However--it is +our sole hope--possibly a panic may seize them when we attack; but +even cowards will fight behind walls and, after our failure at +Granville, I have little hope of our taking Angers, especially as +they must know how soon their army will be up."</p> +<p>The affair was a repetition of that at Granville. The Vendeans +at once obtained possession of one of the suburbs. Twenty pieces of +cannon opened fire upon it from the walls, while from the houses +the Vendeans replied with a musketry fire. During the night a +number of men laboured to undermine the wall by one of the gates, +and partially succeeded. But day broke before the work was +completed, and the defenders planted several cannon to bear upon +them.</p> +<p>The Vendeans were too much discouraged to make any further +effort; and when, a few hours later, news came that the Republican +army was fast approaching, and would reach the ground in an hour's +time, they again got into motion, and pursued their hopeless +journey in search of some point where they could cross the river, +if only to die in their beloved land.</p> +<p>On the following day Kleber was reinforced by a column, eight +thousand strong, from Cherbourg; and a reconnaissance was made +along the road by which the Vendeans had retreated. They found +everywhere the bodies of men, women, and children who had succumbed +to cold, fatigue, and misery. Westermann's cavalry set out in +pursuit, Muller following with his division to support him.</p> +<p>Marceau was now appointed commander-in-chief, pending the +arrival of Turreau and Rossignol. The latter had, almost from the +commencement of the war, intrigued against every general concerned +in the operations, especially against Kleber. He was himself +utterly without military talent, and owed his position simply to +his devotion to the Convention, and his readiness to denounce the +men who failed to satisfy its anticipations of an easy victory, or +who showed the slightest repugnance to execute its barbarous +decrees.</p> +<p>With the exception of some three thousand men, who marched at +the head of the Vendean column, the fugitives were now utterly +disheartened. Many hid their muskets and, cutting sticks, thought +that, being no longer armed, they would not be molested by the +enemy. Each night numbers stole away, in groups of twos and threes, +in the hope of finding a boat on the bank of the river. Others +scattered among the villages, their appearance exciting compassion; +but fear of the troops was more powerful, and the men for the most +part were seized and held prisoners.</p> +<p>Of the hundred thousand men, women, and children who had crossed +the Loire, more than half were dead. Of those who remained, fully +fifteen thousand were women and children.</p> +<p>On the march, Leigh always rode by the side of his sister, +generally carrying the child before him. Jean, as one of the +leading officers, now rode with Rochejaquelein at the head of the +column. Patsey suffered less, on her own account, than on that of +the poor people who had to journey on foot. The cold was intense +and, except when they entered a town, it was impossible to obtain +provisions. The horses were worn out and half famished, a great +proportion of the fugitives were without shoes, and the clothing of +all was in rags.</p> +<p>In order to spare her the sight of the misery prevailing among +those who marched in the rear of the column, Leigh always rode with +his sister in the rear of the leading division. He himself, for the +most part, walked on foot; lending his horse to some wounded man, +or exhausted woman.</p> +<p>When the column left Angers it had been intended to march to +Saumur and cross there, but the news arrived that a strong +Republican force had gathered there; and it was determined to +change the course, and to march through La Fleche to Le Mans. By +this sudden and unexpected movement, Rochejaquelein hoped to gain +time to give his followers two days' rest.</p> +<p>The immediate result, however, was to excite a feeling of +despair among a great portion of them. Their backs were now turned +to La Vendee, and it seemed to them that their last hope of +reaching their homes had vanished. Rochejaquelein's idea, however, +was that in their present state of exhaustion it was impossible to +hope to cross the Loire--guarded as it was at every point, and with +over one hundred thousand men between him and La Vendee--and he +intended, after giving them the much needed rest, to march round +through Chateaudun, to come down on the Loire above Orleans, and so +to make his way back into Poitou.</p> +<p>Had he had with him only men, the project, difficult as it +seemed, might possibly have been accomplished. Unembarrassed by +baggage trains or cannon, the peasants could have out marched their +pursuers; but hampered by the crowd of wounded, sick, women, and +children, the movement must be regarded as the inspiration of +despair.</p> +<p>Indeed, even the fighting men were no longer in a state to bear +the fatigue. Bad and insufficient food had played havoc with them. +Dysentery was raging in their ranks, and many could scarce drag +themselves along.</p> +<p>"We cannot conceal from ourselves that it is nearly over," Jean +said, when he told his wife and Leigh that the route was changed. +"We shall get to Le Mans, but the Republicans will be on our heels, +and one cannot doubt what the issue will be. Doubtless a small body +will hang together, and still try to regain La Vendee; but we shall +have done our duty. After our next defeat I will leave the +army.</p> +<p>"I shall not go without telling la Rochejaquelein of my +intentions. He has more than once spoken to me of you both, and it +was but two days ago that he said to me:</p> +<p>"'Martin, you are not like the rest of us. You have an English +wife, and your brave young brother-in-law is English, also. You +have to think of them, as well as of La Vendee. You can make your +home in England, and live there until better times come.</p> +<p>"'It is no longer a question of defending our country. It is +lost. Charette is there now, and still fighting; but as soon as we +are disposed of, all these troops that have been hunting us down +will be free to act against him, and he too must be crushed. The +peasants have nowhere else to go; and it is not with a desire to +defend their homes--which no longer exist--but to die in their +native land that they seek to return. You have from the first done +your utmost for La Vendee, but there can be no occasion that you +should throw away your life, and those of your wife and brother, +now that the cause is utterly lost, and all hope is at an end.</p> +<p>"'Think this over. I do not say that it is possible for you to +escape; but the longer you stay with us, the more difficult will it +become.'</p> +<p>"So you see, I am sure that when I tell him that, feeling that +we can no longer be of use, I am determined to make at least an +endeavour to reach England with you, he will approve."</p> +<p>"I think he is right, Jean. No one can say that you have not +done your duty to your country to the utmost, or can blame you for +now doing what you can for your family."</p> +<p>Just as they neared La Fleche, a squadron of the enemy's cavalry +fell upon the rear of the column. They killed many of the +fugitives, but were too small in number to threaten the safety of +the column, which kept on until it reached the bridge across the +Loir. This had been broken down, but fire was opened against the +cannon planted on the other side. The gunboats that were guarding +the river were driven away; and a party, moving up the bank, found +two little boats, and began to cross.</p> +<p>A detachment of Republicans hurried to attack them; but the +Loir, an affluent of the Loire, was narrow, and the musketry fire +of the main body drove them away, until two or three hundred men +had crossed. La Rochejaquelein went over and took the command, and +on their advance the Republicans took to their heels. +Rochejaquelein then recrossed, and drove off the cavalry that were +harrassing the rear.</p> +<p>Working desperately, a strong party threw beams across the +broken bridge, and the Vendeans occupied the town at daybreak. The +weary fugitives slept till midday, when the enemy's cavalry +reappeared; but Rochejaquelein with some mounted gentlemen attacked +and defeated them, and pursued them for some distance.</p> +<p>In the evening a force under Chalbos approached the town, but +the Vendeans sallied out and speedily scattered them. They then +broke down the bridge that they had repaired, and started for Le +Mans; which they captured after three-quarters of an hour's +fighting.</p> +<p>Two days later, Kleber was in front of the town. Westermann and +Muller's divisions first approached. The two days' rest had +reanimated the Vendeans, and Muller's infantry were driven back +three miles; but large reinforcements came up, and the peasants +were forced to fall back again. Then Westermann's cavalry charged +into the town, carrying dismay among its defenders; but la +Rochejaquelein and his officers soon reanimated them, and the +cavalry were driven out of the town, itself. They and the infantry +that had come up were able, however, to maintain themselves in the +suburbs.</p> +<p>By this time la Rochejaquelein was aware that the armies of +Brest, Cherbourg, and the west were all upon him. All through the +night the battle went on, without interruption. The Republican +columns could gain no ground, and were frequently obliged to give +way; but behind the Vendean line of defence, panic was gaining +ground among the fugitives. Three or four thousand escaped by the +road to Laval, but the retreat of the rest was cut off by the +cavalry.</p> +<p>In the morning, Kleber's division came up. They at once relieved +Marceau's division, which had been fighting all night, and renewed +the attack. The resistance was feeble. A few hundred men disputed +every foot of the way, and died with a consciousness that they had +at least covered the retreat of the rest.</p> +<p>A hot pursuit was at once organised and, while all taken in the +town were massacred at once, Westermann's cavalry pursued the +fugitives in all directions, covering the plain with corpses, and +pressing hard on the rear of the force that still held +together.</p> +<p>Jean Martin had, the day before the Republican attack, gone with +Leigh to la Rochejaquelein's quarters; and told him that he +intended, if the town was captured by the enemy, to endeavour to +save the life of his wife by flight.</p> +<p>"You are quite right," Rochejaquelein said warmly. "I entirely +approve of your determination. As long as ten of my men hold +together, it is my duty to remain with them; for I have accepted +the position of their commander, and I must share their fate to the +end. But it is different with you. As the cause of La Vendee, for +which you have fought, is lost, your first duty now is to your +wife. I trust that you will all three succeed in making your way to +England, and enjoy there the peace and rest that none can have in +unhappy France. I thank you for your gallant services.</p> +<p>"And I thank you in the name of La Vendee, Leigh, for the manner +in which you have fought for her; and also for the companionship +that has so often cheered me, during our last days.</p> +<p>"As for myself, I have no wish to live. I should feel +dishonoured were the army I led to be exterminated, and I, who +accepted the responsibility of leading it, to survive. We have the +consolation, at least, that never in history has a people fought +more bravely against overpowering odds than La Vendee has done; and +though at present we are called brigands, I am sure that the world +will acknowledge that we have fought like heroes, for our country +and our faith. Unfortunate as we may be, I am proud to be one of +those who have led them so often to victory.</p> +<p>"When will you go, my friend?"</p> +<p>"I intend to be with you to the last," Jean said. "When the +fight begins, Leigh and my wife will be ready, at a point agreed on +in the rear of the town. When all is lost, I shall join them there. +We shall ride until beyond pursuit, and then put on our +disguises."</p> +<p>"Then I will not say goodbye to you now," Rochejaquelein +said.</p> +<p>"Goodbye, Leigh. May Heaven keep you, and take you safely home +again."</p> +<p>Leigh was too much affected to speak and, after a silent grasp +of the hand of the gallant young soldier, he returned with Jean to +the quarters they occupied.</p> +<p>"Now for our plans," Jean said. "They are as vague as ever, but +we must settle now. It is quite evident that the alarm is so widely +spread, here in the west, that it will be well-nigh impossible to +pass through even a village without being questioned. Alencon on +the north has a strong garrison, at Mayenne on the west is a +division, and the whole country beyond will be alive with troops on +the search for fugitives. It is only to the east that the road is +open to us.</p> +<p>"I should say that the safest way will be to travel so as to +cross the Loir between Chateaudun and Nogent, and then come down on +the road running south from Fontainebleau through Montargis. +Travelling south through Nevers, we should excite no suspicion. If +questioned, we can say that we are going to visit some friends at +Macon. The unfortunate thing is that we have no papers; and I think +that our story had best be that we belong to Le Mans, and fled in +such haste, when the town was captured by the Vendeans, that we +escaped just as we stood, and omitted to bring our papers with +us.</p> +<p>"Fortunately we all speak French without accent, and there is +nothing about us to give rise to suspicion that we belong to La +Vendee. If we can think of a more likely story, as we go along, all +the better. When we get as far as Macon, if we ever get there, we +can decide whether to endeavour to cross the frontier into +Switzerland, or to go down to Toulon.</p> +<p>"Now remember, Patsey, my last injunctions are that, when you +perceive from the rush of fugitives that all is over, and that any +firing that may still be going on is but an attempt to cover the +retreat, you must not wait for me but, as soon as the sound of +combat approaches, you will ride off with Leigh. You need not +suppose, because I do not join you, that I am killed. The enemy may +have pushed so far through the town that I may find it impossible +to join you. But from whatever cause I tarry, you are not to wait +for me.</p> +<p>"If I am shot, it will be a consolation to me to know that you +will be away under your brother's protection. If I escape, I shall, +if I make my way to England, have the hope of meeting you there; +and shall not be haunted with the fear that you have delayed too +long, and have sacrificed your lives uselessly. I want you and him +to give me your solemn promise that you will act thus, and will, as +soon as he considers that further delay will be dangerous, ride +off. Remember that this is my last wish, this is my last +order."</p> +<p>"I will do as you wish, Jean," his wife said firmly. "God has +preserved us three thus far, and I trust that He will continue to +do so. I shall have the less hesitation because I think that, +alone, you will have perhaps a better chance of escaping than with +us. At any rate, we will carry out your instructions. But should we +miss each other, is there no place where we can arrange to +meet?"</p> +<p>"I do not see that it is possible to make any arrangements, +Patsey. You may be turned out of your course, by circumstances +which it is impossible to foresee; and the same may be the case +with myself. Suppose we named a seaport, there would in the first +place be difficulty in finding each other. You might see some +opportunity of getting across the water and, if you lost that, the +chance might not occur again; and the delay might cost you your +lives. I trust that we shall not be separated, dear, but I see +clearly that if such a misfortune should happen, it were best that +we should each make our own way, in the hope of meeting at +Poole.</p> +<p>"You may be sure that I shall join you, if possible; for I see +that, if separated, your difficulties will be far greater than +mine. You, too, would have the burden of the child. But let us +suppose that I was wounded, but got away and managed to obtain +shelter in some Breton cottage. You might be waiting for me, for +weeks, at an agreed point. Now, while travelling, you might escape +many questions; but were you to stop even for a few days at any +town or village, you may be sure that you would be questioned so +closely, by the authorities, that there would be little chance of +your getting on. I should know that, and should be fretting my +heart out."</p> +<p>"Yes, I see 'tis best that we should do as you say, Jean. God +forbid that we should be separated, but if you do not come to the +rendezvous, I promise you that we will, as you wish, go on by +ourselves."</p> +<p>"And now, dear, we will divide our money. We have still three +hundred louis left. I will take one hundred, and you shall take the +rest. You are much more likely to want money, if we are separated, +than I.</p> +<p>"You had best sew the greater part up in your saddle, +Leigh."</p> +<p>"I think we had better divide it as much as possible, Jean. We +can put seventy-five louis in each of our saddles, and the weight +would not be so great that anyone who happens to handle one of them +would notice it. I can put another five-and-forty in the belt round +my waist, and keep the odd five in my pocket for expenses. Of +course, if we decide to abandon our horses, I will make some other +arrangement."</p> +<p>"The best plan, Leigh, will be for us to change the louis for +assignats at the first opportunity. Gold is so scarce that each +time you offered to pay with it, it would excite suspicion. I have +no doubt that I can buy assignats here. We have taken a quantity +from the enemy, and la Rochejaquelein will, I am sure, be glad to +obtain some gold for them. It will be a double advantage: we shall +have less weight to carry, and shall be able to pay our way without +the gold exciting suspicion. The assignats now are only a quarter +of their face value, so that for two hundred louis I should get +eight hundred louis in assignats, of which I would take two +hundred, and you could take the rest."</p> +<p>"That would certainly be an excellent plan, Jean, for two +hundred louis in gold would be a serious weight to carry and, if +found on us, would in itself be sufficient to condemn us as +intending emigres."</p> +<p>Jean at once took two hundred louis, which had hitherto been +carried in their wallets, and went out. He returned in an hour.</p> +<p>"That is satisfactorily settled," he said. "Blacquard, who is in +charge of the treasury, was delighted to obtain some gold, and has +given us five times the amount in assignats. Of this I will take +two hundred and fifty louis' worth. You will have seven hundred and +fifty louis in assignats, and we will divide the hundred louis in +gold. Of the latter, you had best sew up twenty in each of your +saddles, and you can carry ten about you. People are so anxious for +gold that, in case of need, you can get services rendered for it +that you would fail to obtain for any amount of paper."</p> +<p>The greater portion of the assignats and the gold, as agreed, +was sewn up in the saddles; some provisions packed in the valises; +and Jean and Leigh went out together, and fixed upon a spot where +they were to wait. The preparations were all finished, when firing +broke out. Jean kissed his wife.</p> +<p>"May God's blessing keep you," he said. "I trust that we shall +meet again, when the fighting is over."</p> +<p>Then he kissed his child, wrung Leigh by the hand, and rode off +to join the general. The women, children, and the men who had +thrown away their arms, the sick and wounded, were already leaving +the town.</p> +<p>"Marthe, you must go now," Patsey said to the faithful +nurse.</p> +<p>They had bought a horse for her from a peasant who had captured +it, a riderless animal that belonged to one of Westermann +troopers.</p> +<p>"Here are fifty louis in assignats. I wish that you could have +gone with us, but that is not possible. Francois is waiting +outside, and will take care of you, as we have agreed. The best +possible plan will be to separate yourselves from the others as +soon as possible. The Blues are sure to be keeping close to them. +Ride straight for the river by by-lanes and, if you cannot obtain a +boat, swim your horse across, and then make for home. If we get +safely to England, we will write to you, as soon as these troubles +are over, and you can join us there."</p> +<p>"God bless you, madame. It breaks my heart to part with you and +the child, but I see that it is for the best."</p> +<p>Leigh fetched the horse round, and assisted her to mount behind +Francois. The two women, both weeping, were still exchanging adieus +when Leigh said to Francois:</p> +<p>"Ride on; the sooner this is over, the better for both."</p> +<p>The man nodded.</p> +<p>"God bless you, young master! I will look after Marthe. As soon +as we get away from the rest, I shall get off and run by her side. +The horse would never carry two of us far."</p> +<p>So saying, he touched the horse with his heel, and they rode +off.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch15" id="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: In Disguise.</h2> +<p>Leigh returned into the house with his sister.</p> +<p>"Cheer up, Patsey," he said; "it is very hard parting, but I +have every hope that they will succeed in getting safely home. +Francois is a sharp fellow. They have a good stock of food, and +they won't have to go into any village and, being only two, they +will have a far better chance of crossing the river than if they +kept with the others."</p> +<p>"How they are fighting!" Patsey said, a few minutes later.</p> +<p>Indeed the roar of musketry was unceasing, and was mingled with +the louder cracks of the field guns.</p> +<p>"Our men are holding their own," Leigh replied. "The firing is +no nearer than it was half an hour ago.</p> +<p>"Now, you had better lie down, Patsey. I will keep a sharp +lookout and, the moment I see any signs of our men retiring, we +will mount. I know there is no chance of your sleeping, but it will +rest you to lie down, and we shall have a long ride before us, +tomorrow."</p> +<p>Patsey nodded, but after he had gone out she did not lie down, +but threw herself on her knees by the couch, and prayed for the +safety of her husband. Hour after hour passed. From time to time +Leigh returned and, towards morning, told Patsey that it was time +that they should mount.</p> +<p>"Our men have not begun to give way yet," he said, "but they say +that Kleber's division has just arrived. There is a lull in the +fighting at present, but no doubt they will relieve the division +that has been fighting all night, and our men cannot hope to hold +out for long. I have just brought the horses round to the door. +Now, I will strap the valises on while you wrap Louis up +warmly."</p> +<p>In five minutes they started for the point agreed on. Before +they reached it, the firing broke out again with increased +violence. In an hour numbers of men began to make their way past +them. One of them halted. He was one of Jean's tenants.</p> +<p>"Ah! madame," he said, as he recognized her--for it was now +broad daylight--"I fear that all is lost. You had best ride at +once. The Blues will not come just yet, for la Rochejaquelein, with +four or five hundred of his best followers, will hold the place +till the last, so as to give us time to get away."</p> +<p>"Did you see my husband, Leroux?"</p> +<p>"He was with the general, madame. They and the horsemen charged +again and again, whenever the Blues pushed forward."</p> +<p>"Thank God he is safe so far!" Patsey said. "Goodbye, Leroux; we +may not meet again."</p> +<p>"We shall meet in heaven, madame," the man said reverently. +"They may take away our country, they may kill our cures, they may +destroy our churches, but they cannot take away our God. May He +protect you, madame!" and, pressing the hand she held out to him, +he hurried on.</p> +<p>Faster and faster the fugitives passed them, but for an hour the +combat continued unabated; then the exulting shouts of the Blues +showed that they were making way. The gallant band of Vendeans were +not, indeed, retiring; but they were being annihilated. Patsey had +said but little during the anxious time of waiting. From time to +time she murmured:</p> +<p>"Will he never come? Oh, God, send him to us!"</p> +<p>Presently a mounted officer rode past.</p> +<p>"Ride on! ride on!" he shouted. "The Blues will be here in a +minute!"</p> +<p>"We must go, Patsey," Leigh said as, without drawing rein, the +officer rode on.</p> +<p>"No, no; wait a few minutes, Leigh. He will surely come +soon."</p> +<p>Presently, however, a number of peasants, their faces blackened +with powder, ran past.</p> +<p>"The Blues are on our heels!" they shouted. "They will be here +in a minute; they are but a hundred yards away."</p> +<p>"Come, Patsey," Leigh said. "Remember your promise. We must go; +it is madness waiting any longer."</p> +<p>And as he spoke one of the peasants, running past, fell dead, +shot by a musket ball from the rear. Leigh seized Patsey's bridle +and, setting his own horse in motion, they rode on. They were but +just in time for, before they had ridden two hundred yards Leigh, +looking round, saw the Republicans issuing from the town.</p> +<p>"Pull yourself together, Patsey!" Leigh exclaimed. "We may have +their cavalry after us, in a minute or two. Remember, Jean trusts +you to carry out his instructions."</p> +<p>Patsey drew herself up, struck the horse with her whip, and +galloped on at full speed. They soon left the road followed by the +rest of the fugitives, and turned down one leading east. The din of +battle had ceased now, but a scattered fire of musketry showed that +the enemy were engaged in their usual work of shooting all who fell +into their hands.</p> +<p>After riding for an hour at full speed they drew rein at a wood +and, entering it, dismounted and put on their disguises. They had +no fear now of pursuit. The enemy's cavalry must have made a very +long march to reach the town, and their horses must be worn out by +their previous exertions; while their own had had forty-eight +hours' rest, during which time they had been well fed and cared +for. Moreover, any pursuit that was made would be in the direction +taken by the bulk of the fugitives.</p> +<p>Mounting again, they rode on. It was but a narrow country road +that they were traversing and, during the day, they only passed +through two or three small hamlets.</p> +<p>"Are the brigands coming this way?" they were asked.</p> +<p>"No," Leigh replied. "They are fighting at Le Mans. If they are +beaten they won't come this way, but will make south. We thought it +best to leave the town. When fighting is going on in the streets it +is time for quiet people to be off."</p> +<p>They rode forty miles before night, and then entered a wood; +having agreed that, until they got farther away from the scene of +action, and struck the road running south, it would be better not +to enter any place where they would be questioned. Choosing an open +space among the trees, Leigh took off the bridles to let the horses +pluck what grass they could, after giving to each a hunch of bread +from their store. Then he returned, with the blankets that had been +rolled up and fastened behind the saddles.</p> +<p>"Now, Patsey, you must eat something and drink some wine. You +must keep up your strength, for the sake of Louis and Jean."</p> +<p>Patsey had spoken very few words during the day. She shook her +head.</p> +<p>"I will try for Louis's sake," she said; "as to Jean--" and she +stopped.</p> +<p>"As to Jean," he said, "we have every reason to hope for the +best. Many things may have happened to prevent his joining us. The +Blues may have pushed in between his party and us, and he may have +found that he could not rejoin us. His horse may have been shot and +he obliged to fly on foot. He has gone through all these battles +from the first, and has never been wounded. Why should we suppose +that he has not done the same now? I feel sure that if he had lost +his horse he would not have tried to join us, for he would have +thought that he would have hampered our escape.</p> +<p>"Jean is full of resources, and has everything in his favour. He +is not like the others, who have but one aim, to get back to La +Vendee and die there, and whose way is barred by the Loire. He has +all France open to him and, if he gains a port, has but to get some +sailor clothes to pass unnoticed. He is well provided with money, +and has everything in his favour. When he once gets away from Le +Mans, the road would be open, for we may be sure that the enemy +will all gather in the rear of the remains of our army."</p> +<p>"I see all that," Patsey said; "and if I were but sure that he +got safely away, I should feel comparatively easy. However, Leigh, +I will try and look at the best side of things. If Jean is killed +he has died gloriously, doing his duty till the last. If he is not, +he will some day be restored to me."</p> +<p>"That is right, dear," he said. "You have always been so hopeful +and cheery, through all this business, that I am sure you will keep +up your courage now. We have every reason to hope and, for my part, +I confidently expect to see Jean, safe and sound, when we arrive +home. Now let us set to; we both want something badly."</p> +<p>Patsey did her best and, being indeed faint from hunger, having +eaten nothing since the evening before, she felt all the better and +stronger when she had finished her meal; and was able to chatter +cheerfully to little Louis, who had ridden before Leigh all day, +and who was now just beginning to talk. Then they spread a blanket +on the ground and, lying down together for warmth, covered +themselves with the rest of their wraps; and Leigh was glad to +find, by her steady breathing, that the fatigue of the last +twenty-four hours had sufficed to send his sister to sleep, in +spite of her grief at her separation from her husband.</p> +<p>The next day they crossed the road leading to Tours, between +Chateaudun and Chartres. Once over this there was no longer any +occasion for haste. There was no fear of their connection with the +struggle in the west being suspected, and they had now only to face +the troubles consequent on travelling unprovided with proper +papers.</p> +<p>Late that evening they entered the town of Artenay, on the main +road from Paris to Orleans, coming down upon it from the north +side. Here they entered a quiet inn. The landlord was a jovial, +pleasant-faced man of some sixty years of age; and his wife a kind, +motherly-looking woman. As usual, the travellers signed the names +they had agreed upon in the book kept for the purpose, Patsey +retaining her own name, and he signing as Lucien Porson.</p> +<p>The landlady, seeing that Patsey was completely worn out, at +once took her off to her room.</p> +<p>"Ah! I thought that monsieur was too young to be madame's +husband," the landlord said.</p> +<p>Leigh laughed.</p> +<p>"I am her brother," he said. "Her husband is a sailor, and she +is to join him at Toulon."</p> +<p>"I see the resemblance," the landlord said. "It is a long +journey indeed for her, and with a child under two years old, and +in such weather.</p> +<p>"But you forget that such a place as Toulon no longer exists. It +has been decreed that the town that received the English and +resisted the Republic is to be altogether destroyed, except of +course the arsenal, and is henceforth to be known as 'the town +without a name.'"</p> +<p>The tone, rather than the words, convinced Leigh that his host +was not an admirer of the present state of things. Leigh shrugged +his shoulders slightly, and said, with a smile:</p> +<p>"Perhaps France will change her own name. Surely a Republic +cannot put up with the name that has been associated, for +centuries, with kings."</p> +<p>The landlord brought his hand down, with a heavy smack, on +Leigh's shoulder.</p> +<p>"Ah," he said, "I see that you are too young, as I am too old, +to care for the present changes. With anyone in the town I should +not venture to say anything; but I am sure, by your face, that you +can be trusted."</p> +<p>"And I can say the same to you, landlord."</p> +<p>"Are your papers, by the by, in good order?"</p> +<p>"Frankly, we have no papers."</p> +<p>The landlord gave a low whistle, expressive of surprise and +consternation.</p> +<p>"And how do you expect to travel, monsieur? How you have got so +far as this, I cannot make out; for at any tavern where you put up +you might, of course, have been asked for them."</p> +<p>"We have not put up at any towns, as yet; but have slept at +little places, where no questions were asked."</p> +<p>"But you can't get on like that, monsieur. Even in the small +villages, they are on the watch for suspected persons. You must +have papers of some sort."</p> +<p>"That is all very well," Leigh said; "the question is, where to +get them?"</p> +<p>"What story do you mean to tell?"</p> +<p>"If we had been stopped anywhere on our way here, we should have +said that we belonged to Le Mans; that, like most of the other +inhabitants, we fled before the Vendeans entered, and in such haste +that I forgot all about papers; and indeed could not have got them, +had I thought of it, as all the authorities had fled before we +did."</p> +<p>"That story, added to your appearance and that of madame as +respectable citizens, might succeed sometimes, with those who are +not anxious to show their zeal; but as most of these functionaries +are so, you would probably, if it was a village, be sent on under a +guard to the next town, and if it were a town would be thrown into +prison. And you know, to get in a prison in our days is--"</p> +<p>"Equivalent to a sentence of death," Leigh put in as he +hesitated.</p> +<p>"You must get papers somehow--something that would pass at any +rate in the villages, where as often as not there is not a man who +can read. I will see what I can do. A cousin of mine is clerk to +the mayor. He is a good fellow, though he has to pretend to be a +violent supporter of the Convention.</p> +<p>"I don't know how you are situated, monsieur, but times are +hard, and all salaries terribly in arrears; and when they are paid +it is in assignats, and I need hardly say that when you pay in +assignats you don't buy cheap."</p> +<p>"We have money," Leigh said, "and I would pay any reasonable +sum, in gold, for proper papers."</p> +<p>"Sapristi! You might almost tempt the maire himself, by offering +him gold. Only he would suspect that you must have more hidden +away, and that by arresting you, he could make himself master of +the whole, instead of only a part; but since you offer gold, I have +no doubt that my cousin would not mind running some little risk. +How much shall I say, monsieur?"</p> +<p>"I would, if necessary, give forty louis."</p> +<p>"That is more than his yearly salary," the innkeeper said; "half +of that would be ample. I will go to him at once. It is important +that you should get papers of some kind, for at any moment anyone +might come in and demand to see them."</p> +<p>"Here are ten louis. I have more sewn up in my saddle, and can +give him the other ten later on, when I get an opportunity to go to +the stable unnoticed."</p> +<p>"That will do very well, monsieur. I will be off at once."</p> +<p>It was an hour before he returned, and Leigh and Patsey had just +finished supper. As there were two or three other persons in the +room he said nothing, but signified by a little nod that he had +succeeded. A quarter of an hour later the other customers, having +finished their meal, went out.</p> +<p>"Here are your papers," he said, as he handed a document to +Leigh.</p> +<p>It was a printed form, blanks being left for the names, +description, and the object of journey.</p> +<p>"Arthenay Mairie,</p> +<p>"To all concerned--</p> +<p>"It is hereby testified that citizen Lucien Porson, and his +sister citoyenne Martin, both of good repute and well disposed to +the Republic, natives of this town of Arthenay, are travelling, +accompanied by a child of the latter, to Marseilles, whither they +go on family affairs, and to join citoyenne Martin's husband, a +master mariner of that town."</p> +<p>The destination had been altered when they heard of the state of +things at Toulon. The document was purposed to be signed by the +maire, under his official seal.</p> +<p>"There is only one difficulty," the landlord said, as Leigh and +Patsey warmly thanked him; "and that is that, although it will pass +you when you have once left this town, it would be dangerous to use +it here; and you may at any moment be asked for it. But my cousin, +who is a charming fellow, pointed out the difficulty to me, and +said:</p> +<p>"'The best thing will be for me to take a couple of men, and pay +the official visit to him, myself.'</p> +<p>"I expect that he will be here in a few minutes."</p> +<p>"Then, as the stableman has gone out at last--at least I see no +lights there--I will go and get the rest of the money."</p> +<p>"Yes, I met him a hundred yards off, on my way back. There is no +one about. I will take a lantern and go out with you."</p> +<p>In ten minutes they returned, Leigh having the ten louis +required in his pocket. A quarter of an hour later the door opened, +and a man wearing the scarf which showed him to be an officer of +the municipality entered, followed by two men with the cockade of +the Republic in their hats.</p> +<p>"This is citizen Porson and citoyenne Martin, his sister," the +landlord, who accompanied the party, said.</p> +<p>The functionary walked up to the table and said gruffly, "Your +papers, citizen."</p> +<p>Leigh handed him the document. He glanced through it.</p> +<p>"That is right," he said. "Citizen Porson and citoyenne Martin, +of the arrondissement of Paris, travelling to Marseilles, duly +signed by the maire of the arrondissement and duly sealed. That is +all in order. We are obliged to be particular, citizen; there are +many ill disposed to the Republic travelling through the +country."</p> +<p>"Will you sit down, citizen, and take a glass of wine with me? +Landlord, draw two stoups of wine for these two good citizens."</p> +<p>The two men followed the landlord out to the public room.</p> +<p>"I should think, Jeannette," Leigh said to his sister, "you had +better to retire to bed. You have had a long day's ride, and must, +I am sure, be tired out."</p> +<p>As soon as she had left the room, Leigh dropped the ten louis +into the adjoint's hand.</p> +<p>"I thank you with all my heart," he said. "You have done a good +action, and I can assure you that it can do no harm to the +Republic, against whom I have no intention of conspiring. There is +no fear, I suppose, that the maire's signature may be +questioned?"</p> +<p>"There is no fear whatever of that, because the signature is +precisely similar to that which occurs on all official documents. +The maire is without doubt an excellent Republican, and a devoted +servant of the Convention, but he is altogether ignorant of +letters, and the consequence is that I sign all official documents +for him. So you see there was no trouble whatever in filling in, +signing, and sealing this letter. The only matter that concerned me +was that, if by any chance you should be arrested as a suspect, +possibly a demand might be made as to how you obtained this pass. +However, even that did not trouble me greatly; for as I myself open +and read the maire's letters, I should have no difficulty in +keeping him altogether in the dark as to the purport of any letter +that might come, and should myself pen an answer, with explanations +which would no doubt be found satisfactory."</p> +<p>"And now can you tell me, sir, which in your opinion would be +the best port for me to make to, to leave the country? It matters +little whether we go by land or sea."</p> +<p>"It would be more easy for you to make your way to a port than +across the frontier," the adjoint said, "but when you reach a port, +your difficulties would but begin. In the first place, our trade +with foreign countries is almost at a standstill, and every vessel +that goes out is rigidly searched for concealed emigres.</p> +<p>"On the other hand, once across the frontier your troubles would +be at an end; but every road is closely watched, every village is +on the lookout, for the orders are precise that all persons leaving +France shall be arrested and detained until in a position to prove +their identity, and to place the truth of the reason given for +journeying beyond all doubt. I do not say that it might not be +possible to bribe peasants to take you by unfrequented paths over +the Jura; but the journey would be arduous in the extreme, and +probably impossible to be performed on horseback.</p> +<p>"But for my part, if I were in your position and desired to +leave the country, I should go north instead of south. I should go +in the first place to Paris, stay there in quiet lodgings for a +little time until you became known, and you might then get your +papers visaed to enable you to continue your journey to Calais or +Dunkirk. Money will go just as far among the incorruptibles of +Paris as it will here. You might obtain a passage down the Seine, +to Rouen or Havre."</p> +<p>"That would certainly suit us best. I regret, now, that I had +the paper made out for Marseilles."</p> +<p>"That can easily be remedied, monsieur. If you will walk back +with me to the mairie, I will write a fresh paper out, and destroy +the one I have given you. But what shall I say is your object in +journeying to Paris? You are too young to be going to purchase +goods and, indeed, would hardly be taking a woman and child with +you for such a purpose.</p> +<p>"Now, monsieur, frankly tell me who you are. I have some +relations in Paris, quiet bourgeois, who keep a small shop near the +markets. If I were to give you a letter to them, saying that you +have business in Paris, and have asked me to recommend someone who +would provide you with quiet lodgings, no doubt they would +willingly take you in. But I would not involve them in danger. You +might be recognised as being members of some family who are +proscribed, and in that case not only would my friends get into +trouble but, as they would, of course, say that you were +recommended to them by me, I might find myself in a very unpleasant +position."</p> +<p>"There is no fear of anything of that sort. I and my sister are +both English. She married the son of a merchant at Nantes, and I +came over with her to learn the business. There have, as you know, +been troubles in that part of France. We endeavoured to escape, but +she was separated from her husband--who has, I greatly fear, been +killed--and we, of course, are both anxious to rejoin our family in +England."</p> +<p>"How long have you been in France, monsieur? You speak the +language well."</p> +<p>"We have been over here nearly three years."</p> +<p>"Well, I do not think that there is any risk; unless, of course, +you are caught in the act of trying to make your escape. But I +think that it would be as well that my friends should be prepared +for your coming. I know a man who is leaving for Paris tomorrow. I +will give him my letter, and ask him to deliver it personally, as +soon as he gets there; then you can follow, twenty-four hours +later. Now that it is known that I have examined your papers, and +found them correct, there will be no further inquiry about you and, +at any rate, you could stay here for a day or two without any +questions being asked."</p> +<p>"That would be an admirable plan, monsieur; and I cannot tell +you how much I am obliged to you."</p> +<p>"Say no more about that, monsieur; you have paid me well for it +and, moreover, I am not a bad fellow, though at present I am +obliged to appear to be a strong supporter of the people in Paris. +Now, if you will put on your hat and come along with me, I will +leave you a short distance from the hotel de ville, to which I have +access at all hours. I shall of course simply put, in the passport, +that you are travelling to Paris on private matters, and that you +will stay with your friend, citizen Tourrier, in the rue des +Halles."</p> +<p>A quarter of an hour later Leigh returned to the auberge, +furnished with the required paper. The adjoint had said, on handing +it to him:</p> +<p>"I shall not come round tomorrow. We met as strangers yesterday, +and it is as well I should not appear to be intimate with you. But +should you find yourself in any difficulty, send for me at once, +and I will soon set matters right."</p> +<p>"Is it all satisfactorily arranged, monsieur?" the hotel keeper +asked, when Leigh returned.</p> +<p>"Perfectly. Your friend has done even more than he +promised."</p> +<p>And he told him of the change that had been made in the +plans.</p> +<p>"That is certainly better. I have been wondering, myself, how +you would ever be able to get away from Marseilles. Now it seems +comparatively easy. I have no doubt that my cousin's friends in +Paris will be able to get you another pass, or to put you in the +way of travelling to one of the ports; though no doubt it will be +almost as difficult to get away, from there, as from +Marseilles."</p> +<p>"I think that could be managed, landlord. I am a pretty good +sailor, and there ought to be no great difficulty in getting hold +of a boat and making out to sea and, when once away, I could steer +for England, or get on board some vessel bound there."</p> +<p>He tapped at his sister's door. She was still up.</p> +<p>"You are very late, Leigh."</p> +<p>"Yes, but you will be able to sleep as long as you like +tomorrow, as we are not going to start till next day, and are then +going north instead of south. Our paper has been changed for Paris, +instead of Marseilles; and we are going to the house of a cousin of +the man who gave me the pass, so we shall be safe so far; and ought +to have no difficulty, whatever, in journeying from there either to +Havre or one of the northern ports. I will tell you all about it, +tomorrow."</p> +<p>They passed the next day quietly, and both felt better for the +short rest. In addition to the pass, the adjoint had given Leigh a +note to his cousin. It was unsealed, and read:</p> +<p>"My dear Cousin,</p> +<p>"The bearer of this is Monsieur Porson, and his sister, Madame +Martin, of whom I wrote to you. You will find them amiable people, +who will give you but little trouble. I have assured them that they +will find themselves very comfortable with you, and that you will +do all in your power for them, for the sake of your affectionate +cousin.</p> +<p>"Simon Valles,</p> +<p>"Adjoint to the maire of Arthenay."</p> +<p>They journeyed by easy stages, stopping at Etampes, Arpajon, and +Longjumeau, and rode on the fourth day into Paris. They had no +difficulty in finding the shop of Monsieur Tourrier. It was a +grocer's and, as soon as they alighted from their horses, its owner +came out and greeted them heartily.</p> +<p>"Madame and monsieur are both most welcome," he said. "I have +received a letter from my cousin Simon. I am glad, indeed, to +receive his friends. Fortunately our rooms upstairs are unlet. +Strangers are rare in Paris, at present."</p> +<p>He called a boy from the shop, and told him to show Leigh the +way to some stables near. He then entered the house, accompanied by +Patsey with her child. Here she was received by Madame Tourrier, a +plump-faced businesslike woman, and was not long in finding out +that she was the real head of the establishment.</p> +<p>"I have got the rooms ready for you," she said. "We were +surprised, indeed, to get a letter from Simon Valles; for he is a +poor correspondent, though he generally comes to stay with us for +three days, once a year. He is a good fellow, but it is a pity that +he did not go into trade. He would have done better for himself +than by becoming adjoint to the maire of Arthenay. It has a high +sound, but in these days, when men are paid their salaries in +assignats, it is but a poor living. However, I suppose that it is +an easy life, for I don't think hard work would suit Simon. The +last time he was up we tried to persuade him that he would do +better here, but he laughed and said that people's heads were safer +in Arthenay than they were in Paris. But that is folly; the +Convention does not trouble itself with small shopkeepers. It knows +well enough that we have work enough to do to earn our living, +without troubling ourselves about politics; yet if the truth were +known, a good many of us are better to do than some of those they +call aristocrats. This is a busy quarter, you see, and we are close +to the markets, and the country people who come in know that we +sell good groceries, and on cheaper terms than they can get them in +their villages. We should do better, still, if my husband would but +bestir himself; but men are poor creatures, and I don't know what +would become of them, if they had not us women to look after their +affairs."</p> +<p>They now reached the rooms, which were small but comfortable, +and the price which Madame Tourrier named seemed to Patsey to be +very moderate.</p> +<p>"You see, your room is furnished as a sitting room also, madame, +and you and your brother can talk over your affairs here. As to +your meals, I could provide your cafe au lait in the morning, but I +can't undertake to cook for you. But there are many good places, +where you can obtain your meals at a cheap rate, in the +neighbourhood. How long do you expect to remain in Paris?"</p> +<p>"That I cannot say, at present. My husband is a sailor, but I +have not heard from him for a long time. At Arthenay there is but +small opportunity of learning what happens outside, and it may be +that I shall have to travel to Havre to obtain news of him; +although I am troubled greatly by the fear that his ship has been +lost, or captured by the English. We have never been in Paris +before, and my brother naturally wishes to stay a short time, to +see the sights."</p> +<p>Madame Tourrier shook her head.</p> +<p>"There are but few sights to see," she said. "The churches are +all closed, or at least are turned into meeting places and clubs. +It is not as it was before the troubles began; there are few +amusements, and no reviews or pageants. I do not say that it is not +better so. I have no opinion on such subjects. I have never once +been to the hall of representatives. I have no time for such +follies and, except on Sunday afternoons, I never stir out of +doors. Still, no doubt, it will all be new to him, and as you have +horses you can ride over to Versailles, and other places round. +There is not much of that now; people think of nothing but the +Convention, talk of nothing but of the speeches there, and of +Robespierre and Saint Just and Danton. It seems to me that they are +always quarrelling, and that nothing much comes of it.</p> +<p>"Now if you will excuse me, madame, I will go down to the shop +again. My husband cannot be trusted there a minute and, if my back +is turned, he will be selling the best sugar for the price of the +worst, then we shall lose money; or the worst sugar for the price +of the best, and then we shall lose customers."</p> +<p>So saying, she hurried away. In a few minutes Leigh came up.</p> +<p>"I was told where to find you," he said. "Madame is in the thick +of business, and there were half a dozen customers waiting to be +served. Monsieur was standing a few yards away from the front of +the shop. It was he who gave me instructions for finding your +room.</p> +<p>"'It is best,' he said, 'that madame should be asked no +questions while she is busy. I always go out myself, when customers +come in. She is one of the best of wives, and manages affairs +excellently, but her temper is short. She likes to do things her +own way and, as it pleases her, I never interfere with her.'"</p> +<p>"I think he is wise not to do so," Patsey laughed. "I can see +already that she is mistress of the establishment. But from what I +have seen at Nantes, I think that it is generally the women who +look after the shops and mind the businesses. However, though she +speaks sharply, I should say that she is a kind-hearted woman. +However, we may be very thankful that we have obtained a shelter +where we can live, safely and quietly, until we have fixed on our +plans for the future."</p> +<p>But although Monsieur Tourrier was, in all matters connected +with the business, but as a child in the hands of his wife, he was +far better acquainted with what was passing around them; and when +Leigh mentioned to him that he intended to ride out to Versailles, +he at once warned him against doing so.</p> +<p>"My dear monsieur," he said, "I know nothing of the state of +things at Arthenay, and for aught I know people may go out riding +for pleasure there; but it would be little short of madness to +attempt such a thing here. At present things have got to such a +state that for any man to seem richer than another is, in itself, a +crime. Here all must be on an equality. Were you to ride out, every +man you pass would look askance at you. At the first village +through which you rode you would be arrested, and to be arrested at +present is to be condemned. There are no questions asked, the +prisoners are brought in in bunches, and are condemned wholesale. I +say nothing against the condemnation of the aristocrats; but when +perhaps two or three aristocrats are brought up with half a dozen +journalists, and a dozen others who may have been arrested merely +out of spite, and are all condemned in five minutes, it is clear +that the only way to live is to avoid being arrested, and the only +way to avoid being arrested is to avoid attracting attention.</p> +<p>"If you were really going on a matter of business, it would be +different, but to ride to Versailles merely to see the place would +be regarded as ample proof that you were an aristocrat; and no one +would regard your papers as anything but a proof that these had +been obtained by fraud, and that you were either an aristocrat, or +a spy of Pitt's, or a Girondist, and certainly an enemy of the +Convention. Therefore, monsieur, if you wish to go anywhere, walk, +or go out in a market cart, for to ride might be fatal."</p> +<p>"I will take your advice," Leigh said. "I did not think that +things were so bad as that."</p> +<p>"They could not be worse, monsieur; it would be impossible. But +we who are quiet men think that it cannot go on much longer; even +the sans-culottes are getting tired of bloodshed. There is no +longer a great crowd to see the executions, and the tumbrils pass +along without insults and imprecations being hurled against the +prisoners.</p> +<p>"The men of the Convention, having killed all the Girondists, +are now quarrelling among themselves. Robespierre is still all +powerful, but the party opposed to him are gaining in strength, and +there is a feeling that, ere long, there will be a terrible +struggle between them and, if Robespierre is beaten, there are many +of us who think that the reign of terror will come to an end. We +who are too insignificant to be watched talk these things over +together, when we gather at our cafe, and there is no one but +ourselves present; and even then we talk only in whispers, but we +all live in hopes of a change, and any change must surely be for +the better."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch16" id="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: A Friend At Last:</h2> +<p>Day after day, Leigh went out into the town. More than once he +saw the fatal tumbrils going along in the distance, but he always +turned and walked in the opposite direction. Once or twice, having +changed his clothes for those of a workman, he fought his way into +the public galleries of the Convention and listened to the +speeches; in which it seemed to him that the principal object of +each speaker was to exceed those who had gone before him in +violence, and that the most violent was the most loudly applauded, +both by the galleries and the Assembly.</p> +<p>Patsey was most anxious to be off, but he urged that it would +not do to show haste. She did not leave the house at all, while he +was out almost all day. At the end of the fortnight, he told +Monsieur Tourrier that he had now finished his business, and asked +him if he could obtain from the maire of the arrondissement a pass +down to Havre.</p> +<p>"It is a pity that you did not get your pass direct from +Arthenay," he said. "You say that your sister wants to make +inquiries about a husband there, and that you are taking her down, +and you also say that you are a sailor."</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Then, I should think that the best thing for you would be to +dress yourself as a sailor again. It will seem more natural than +for you to be in that civilian dress. I can go with you, and say +that you were strongly recommended to me by the maire's adjoint at +Arthenay, and that your papers are all en regle. If he asks why you +did not have your papers made out in the first place to Havre, say +that you had hoped to have been joined by your brother-in-law here; +but as he has not arrived your sister is anxious about him, and +wishes therefore to go on to Havre, which indeed he has requested +her to do, as it was uncertain whether he would be able to leave +his ship.</p> +<p>"I know, of course, that it is all right, or my cousin would not +have recommended you so strongly to me; but in these days everyone +is suspicious, and one cannot be too cautious. I will get one of +the market authorities to go up with me. I am well known to them +all, and 'tis likely that none of the people at the mairie will +know me, seeing that I am a quiet man, and keep myself to +myself."</p> +<p>Leigh had no trouble in buying a sailor's dress, at a shop down +by the wharves and, having put this on, went up with Monsieur +Tourrier and one of the market officers to the mairie. As the +former had anticipated, there was no difficulty. Leigh's pass was +examined. The market official testified to the grocer as being a +well-known citizen, doing business with the market people, and +taking no part in public affairs; while Monsieur Tourrier showed +the letter that he had received from his cousin, the adjoint at +Arthenay.</p> +<p>"What is the name of the ship which your sister's husband +commands?" the maire asked.</p> +<p>"The Henriette, a lugger. Formerly she traded with England but, +since the war broke out, she trades between the ports on our +western coast."</p> +<p>"And you have been a sailor on board her?"</p> +<p>"Yes, citizen."</p> +<p>The maire nodded, and made out the pass for Jeannette Martin, +travelling to join her husband, the captain of the lugger +Henriette; for her brother, Lucien Porson; and for Louis Martin, +aged two years, son of the above-named citoyenne Martin.</p> +<p>As they agreed that it would now be best to travel by water, +Leigh next went to the stables and, as the horses were both good +ones, obtained a fair price for them. The next morning they went on +board a sailing craft going down the river and, after a cordial +adieu from their host and hostess, and a promise to take up their +abode there, on their return through Paris, they went on board. +Leigh had sold the saddles with the horses; having, on the journey +to Paris, removed the bundles of assignats concealed in them.</p> +<p>The accommodation on board was very fair. Patsey occupied a +roomy cabin aft, the rest slept in a large cabin forward; for +before the troubles began, the majority of people travelling from +Paris down to Rouen or Havre went by water, and although the boats +were mainly constructed for the carriage of merchandise, the +conveyance of passengers formed an important part of the profits. +At present, however, there was but little travelling, and Patsey +had the women's cabin to herself; while one other male messenger, +with the master and two hands, had the forward compartments to +themselves.</p> +<p>The master explained that, at ordinary times, his two men +occupied a tiny place boarded off from the hold, or in summer slept +on deck; but that, as there were so few passengers, they lived with +the rest "for," as he growled under his breath, "the present."</p> +<p>The voyage was slow but not unpleasant. There was scarce wind +enough to fill the two sails carried by the boat, but the captain +and his two hands frequently got out sweeps, to keep the boat in +the middle of the current. They stopped for a day at Rouen, while +the cargo destined for that town was landed. Patsey and Leigh were +glad to spend the day in the town, visiting the cathedral, taking +their meals at a restaurant, for the cuisine on board the boat was +not of the highest character.</p> +<p>"We used to keep a regular cook," the captain lamented. "In +those days we often carried several passengers; but at present, +when we seldom have more than one or two, we cannot afford it. The +Revolution is no doubt a grand thing, and has greatly benefited the +nation, but it has weighed hardly on us. There are but half the +boats on the river there used to be, and they are hardly paying +expenses, now that no one travels. Those that go to sea are worse +off still for, what with the falling off in trade, and with the +English cruisers all along the coast, there is little employment +for seamen, save in the privateers. However, they don't starve; for +the greater portion of the men on the coast have to go in the ships +of the Republic."</p> +<p>On the sixth day after leaving Paris, they arrived at Havre. +Here they had no difficulty in obtaining lodgings, in a small +auberge near the port. Their pass was, on their arrival, sent to +the authorities of the town and duly stamped. Leigh's first +inquiries were for the Henriette. He found that she was well known +in the port, and had sailed for La Rochelle, six weeks before.</p> +<p>"She does not very often come up here," one of the sailors said. +"Sometimes she is months between her visits. As likely as not, she +may have been captured on her way down. Her port is Bordeaux and, +if you wanted to find her, you had much better have gone straight +there than come to this place."</p> +<p>"I do want to find her," Leigh said. "Is there any chance of +finding a ship going down south?"</p> +<p>"Well, you might find one," the man said; "but you would have to +take your chance of getting there. Many of the ships are laid up, +for the risk of capture is great. It is small craft that, for the +most part, make the venture. They creep along inshore, and either +run into a port or anchor under the guns of a battery if they see a +British cruiser outside. Drawing so little water, they can keep in +nearer than a cruiser would dare to; and as they all can take the +mud, they do not mind if they stick on the sands for a tide."</p> +<p>Leigh returned with the news to his sister.</p> +<p>"What do you think, Patsey?" he said. "I do not say that we +cannot cross from here in a boat, though I have learned that the +entrance to the Channel is guarded by gunboats. If we passed safely +through these, we should have serious risk and many hardships to +undergo. I hear that there are numerous French privateers, and we +might be picked up by one of them, instead of by an English +cruiser. I am afraid that our passes, in that case, would not avail +us in the slightest.</p> +<p>"Now, if we go down to Bordeaux, we have only to wait till the +Henriette comes in. Possibly she may be there when we arrive. In +that case, I am sure that Lefaux will be willing to take us out, +and either put us on board a British cruiser, or land us in +England."</p> +<p>"Certainly we will go to Bordeaux," Patsey said. "We may find +Jean there. If he escaped that night he would make for the Loire +and, as he is a good swimmer, he would get over without difficulty, +and he would then try to make his way towards Bordeaux."</p> +<p>"That may be so, Patsey; but I would not be too sanguine about +our finding him there. It was so much nearer for him to have made +for one of the northern ports that he might very well have done so +and, as soon as he managed to obtain a sea outfit, he would no +longer be suspected of having anything to do with the +Vendeans."</p> +<p>They had learnt before this that, after the fight at Le Mans, +the Vendeans had made for the river, had desperately fought their +way through the forces that barred their march, had come down on +the banks, but had failed to find any means to cross it. Then they +had turned into Brittany again for a short distance, had fought two +or three more desperate battles, and had again reached the Loire. +There was but one leaky boat to be found. In this la +Rochejaquelein, with a few of his officers, had crossed the river +to bring back some boats that were moored on the opposite bank. +Directly they got across they were attacked, but la Rochejaquelein, +with two or three others, effected their escape.</p> +<p>After this the Vendeans no longer kept together. The women and +children, wounded and invalids, hid themselves in the woods; where +they were hunted down like wild beasts, and either slaughtered at +once or sent to Nantes, where thousands were either executed or +drowned by the infamous Carrier, one of the most sanguinary +villains produced by the Revolution. Many of the men managed to +cross the river either by swimming on rough rafts or in boats. In +La Vendee the war was still going on, for Charette had marched up +again from Lower Poitou, and was keeping a large force of the +Republican troops engaged.</p> +<p>"I will try not to hope too much," Patsey said. "But at any +rate, I am for going down to Bordeaux for, apart from the chance of +finding Jean there, it seems much safer than putting out to sea in +a little boat."</p> +<p>"I certainly think so," Leigh replied. "Now I will go out and +make inquiries as to what craft there may be, bound south."</p> +<p>He returned in a couple of hours.</p> +<p>"I have arranged for our passage, Patsey. She is a fast-looking +little craft, with very decent accommodation. She is in the wine +trade, and brought a cargo safely up last week, and will start +again the day after tomorrow. She carries a crew of eight hands; +and I have made inquiries about the captain, and hear a very good +report of him, and he seemed to me a first-rate fellow. When I +mentioned the name of the Henriette he said that he knew her well, +and was acquainted both with the present captain and with your +Jean. He had heard, from Lefaux, that her former owner had been +denounced, and had been obliged to fly from Nantes to a chateau +that he had in La Vendee. The Henriette has never been into Nantes +since, but went down to Bordeaux, and was there registered in +another owner's name, and Lefaux had worked for him ever since.</p> +<p>"'I fancy,' he said, 'she sometimes makes a run with brandy to +England. She was in that business before, and had, Lefaux said, +been chased many a time by English cutters, but had always managed +to give them the slip.'</p> +<p>"I was half inclined to tell him that I was Jean's +brother-in-law, but I thought it better not to until we had been to +sea for a day or two, and had learned a little more about him."</p> +<p>The next day Leigh went to the mairie and explained that, not +having found the ship commanded by citoyenne Martin's husband, and +thinking it likely that they would hear of him at Bordeaux, they +had taken passage by the Trois Freres, which sailed the next day. +The addition was made to his papers without a question, and the +next morning they went on board. They were heartily received by the +captain.</p> +<p>"You ought to bring us luck, madame," he said; "I mean +citoyenne, but the old word slips out of one's mouth, sometimes. It +is not often that I have a lady passenger. There are few who travel +now and, before the war broke out, people preferred taking passage +in larger ships than mine. Still, I will do my best to make you +comfortable, and I can assure you that Leon, my cook, is by no +means a bad hand at turning out dainty dishes. He was cook in an +hotel, at one time; but he let his tongue wag too freely and, +having to leave suddenly, was glad enough to ship with me. +Fortunately he likes the life, and I do not think anything would +tempt him to go back to an hotel kitchen again."</p> +<p>"I am not particular, I can assure you," Patsey said. "In these +times we all have to rough it. Still, I own that I like a good +dinner better than a bad one."</p> +<p>"We shall put in to a good many little ports," the skipper said. +"Sailing as close as we do inshore, I always make a port if I can, +as evening comes on; and we are therefore never without fresh meat, +fish, and vegetables."</p> +<p>"How long shall we be going down?"</p> +<p>"That I cannot tell you. It all depends upon the wind. We may, +too, be kept in port for two or three days if there is an enemy's +cruiser anywhere about. We may get there in ten days, we may take +three weeks."</p> +<p>Before the boat set sail, a commissary with two men came on +board and examined the passes of the passengers, and searched below +the hatches to make sure that no one was hidden there. As soon as +they had completed their inspection the sails were hoisted, and the +Trois Freres started on her way down the Channel. The wind was +light and blowing from the southwest, and they were just able to +lay their course, and anchored for the night off the mouth of the +Vire river.</p> +<p>"I suppose tomorrow you will get round the Cape de la Hague, +captain?" Leigh said.</p> +<p>"No, we shall not attempt that. The coast is a very difficult +one, with furious currents. We shall bring up off Cherbourg and +start at daylight; and shall, I hope, be well down towards the bay +of Avranches by nightfall. There is no fear of a British cruiser +till we get out towards Ushant. They do not care about coming +inside the islands; what with the fogs, the rocks, and the +currents, it is safer outside than in. Besides, there is little to +be picked up except coasters like ourselves, and fishing boats. +There is hardly any foreign trade between Havre and Brest. It is +from there down to the mouth of the Gironde that their cruisers are +so thick. From Ushant to Boulogne there are plenty of them, but +these are chiefly occupied in guarding their ships going up and +down the Channel from our privateers, which run out from every +port: Dieppe and Havre, Granville, Avranches, and Saint Malo."</p> +<p>The skipper had by no means over praised his cook, who turned +them out a better dinner than any that they had eaten since the +troubles began, with the exception only of those they had had at +Arthenay.</p> +<p>"He takes a pride in it," the captain said, "and you will never +get good work done in any line, unless by a man who does so. A +sailor who is careless about the appearance of his ship is sure to +be careless about the keeping of the watch, and is not to be +trusted in matters of navigation. When you see a craft with every +rope in its place, everything spotlessly clean, the brass work +polished up, and the paint carefully attended to, you may be sure +that the skipper is as particular in more important matters. It is +just so with our man. It is a little bit of a galley, but his +saucepans shine like gold, everything is clean and in its place. He +grumbles if we run short of anything, and is a good deal more +particular about my dinner being just what it should be than I am +myself.</p> +<p>"Sometimes when we have rough weather I say to him, 'Make me a +soup today, Leon. I shall be well content with that, and it is not +weather for turning out a regular dinner.'</p> +<p>"He always replies gravely, 'Monsieur, anyone can cook when the +sea is calm. It is on an occasion like this that one who knows his +business is required. Monsieur will dine as usual.'</p> +<p>"And up comes dinner, with three or four courses, cooked to +perfection. For myself, I would rather snatch a few mouthfuls and +go up on deck again; but this would hurt Leon's feelings if he saw +it, and he might even consider that he must seek another employer, +for that his talents were wasted upon me; so I go through it all +with exemplary patience. I would not lose him for anything, not +only because I own I like good food, but the Trois Freres has such +a reputation for good living that, if I am in port, passengers will +wait for days to sail with me, instead of going by other craft.</p> +<p>"And then, too, I have no trouble with my crew, and it is +rarely, indeed, that I change one of my hands; for although their +meals are of course much simpler than mine, they are all perfect in +their way.</p> +<p>"It takes a great deal of trouble off my hands, too. Instead of +my having a dozen little accounts to go into, at every port we +enter, I allow him a certain sum and he manages on that--so much a +day for my own table, so much for each passenger, and so much for +the crew. How he does it, I don't know. I find that it is cheaper +than it used to be, before his time; and yet I have all sorts of +dainties I never dreamt of, then.</p> +<p>"I say to him sometimes, 'Leon, you must be ruining yourself;' +but he smiles and says, 'I am well content, captain; if you are +satisfied, I am so.'</p> +<p>"He buys the fish off the boats as they come in, and I can +understand that he gets them far more cheaply than if he waited +till they were hawked in the streets. He is great at omelets and, +when he has a chance, he is ashore before the countrywomen come +into the market; and will buy the whole stock of eggs, a pound or +two of butter, and three or four couples of fowls from one woman, +who is glad to sell cheaply and so be free to return home at once. +At Bordeaux he lays in a stock of snipe and other birds from the +sand hills and marshes, oysters, and other such matters. He is a +great favourite with the crew and, in cold weather or stormy +nights, there is always hot soup ready for them.</p> +<p>"He has only one fault. As a rule, the cooks are expected to +help get up the anchor and sails, but he will not put a hand to +sailors' work. He says that a cook must not have a rough hand, but +that it should be as soft as a woman's. Personally, I believe that +is all nonsense. However, as we have a fairly strong crew, I do not +press him on the subject; though sometimes, when I tail on to a +rope myself, and see him leaning quietly against his galley smoking +his pipe, I am inclined to use strong language."</p> +<p>"I don't think that is much to put up with, captain," Patsey +said with a smile, "if he always cooks for you such breakfasts and +dinners as we have had today; and I do think that there is, +perhaps, something in what he says about rough hands."</p> +<p>"Well, I feel that myself," he said. "Still, it is a little +aggravating, when everyone else is working hard, to see a man +calmly smoking, and never raising a finger to help."</p> +<p>The next day they kept very close inshore. More than once a +white sail was seen in the distance, which the captain pronounced, +from its cut, to belong to a British cruiser.</p> +<p>"The weather is fine, you see, and the wind is steady, so they +are coming rather farther into the bay than usual. We shall see +more of them, as soon as we are round that cape ahead, for they +keep a very sharp lookout off Cherbourg."</p> +<p>It was not, however, until they had rounded Ushant that any +British vessel came near enough to cause them uneasiness. There +were two large frigates cruising backwards and forwards off Brest, +and a brig-of-war came within shot, as they were doubling Penmarch +Point.</p> +<p>"There is plenty of water for her, here," the skipper said. +"However, she will hardly catch us, before we are under shelter of +the batteries of Quimper."</p> +<p>"I should have thought that she would hardly think you worth the +trouble of chasing."</p> +<p>"It may be that they think we are carrying fresh meat from Saint +Malo to Nantes. There is a good deal of trade that way, this time +of year, when meat will keep good for a week. Or it may be that +they want to get news of what ships there are in Brest. However, it +is certain that he is in earnest; he is politely requesting us to +lower our sails."</p> +<p>He laughed as a puff of white smoke broke out from the brig and, +a second or two later, a ball dashed up the water fifty yards ahead +of them. The emotions with which Patsey and Leigh watched the brig +differed much from those of the captain. They would gladly have +seen the lugger overhauled and captured, but they soon saw that +there was little chance of this. The lugger was a fast boat, the +wind just suited her, and the brig fell farther and farther astern +until, as the former entered the bay of Quimper and laid her course +north, the brig hauled her wind and turned to rejoin the vessels +off Brest.</p> +<p>Keeping close to the land, they passed L'Orient and Quiberon and +Vannes without stopping, and did not drop anchor again until they +entered the bay on the eastern side of the island of Noirmoutier. +The next day they passed out through the narrow channel of Froment, +and had gone between the island and the mainland, for a distance of +two miles, when they saw a large brig making in towards the +shore.</p> +<p>"Another of those cruisers," the captain exclaimed. "This is +more serious, for there is no bay we can run into, and the fellow +is bringing the wind down with him. Our only chance is to anchor +under the guns of Saint Jean des Montes; we shall be lucky if we +get there in time."</p> +<p>The brig came up fast, and was within a mile when the lugger +caught the wind; then running along rapidly she held her own until +off Saint Jean, when she ran in as close as her draught would +permit, and anchored. Two French privateers were already lying in +there, one having dropped anchor only a few minutes before the +Trois Freres arrived.</p> +<p>"I expect it was that fellow that the brig was in chase of, and +I am not by any means sure that we have done with her, yet. They +are as likely as not to try to cut out one, if not both, of these +privateers. Of course it would look like madness, with the guns of +that battery on the height protecting them, but they have done such +things so often that one can never say that one is altogether safe +from them."</p> +<p>The brig stood in until two or three guns in the battery opened +fire, when she turned and made out to sea again.</p> +<p>"That means nothing," the captain said. "Of course she would not +attack in daylight. I dare say she will sail pretty nearly out of +sight, so as to make the privateers believe that she had no +intention of meddling with them. If I was sure that was her game, I +would get up sail again, as soon as it is dark, and make for +Oleron; but it is likely enough that she may think that that is +just what the privateers will do, and will sail in that direction +herself, so as to cut them off before they get there, and force +them to fight without the protection of a shore battery.</p> +<p>"There is the bell for breakfast! Leon would not be two minutes +late, if there was an action going on close to us."</p> +<p>Half an hour later they went on deck again.</p> +<p>"At any rate, the sea has saved us the trouble of discussing the +matter," the captain said. "We are aground. The tide turned just +before we got here. It is now half past twelve, and we shall not be +afloat again for nearly twelve hours.</p> +<p>"Well, there is one thing: if they are thinking of trying to cut +out the privateers, they are not likely to do it before two or +three o'clock in the morning. As soon as we float I shall haul out, +a cable's length or two, so as to ensure our being able to get off; +and if they do attack, I shall get up my sails at once, and run +south. They will be too much occupied to give us a thought. Whereas +if I stay here, and they capture the privateers, they might take it +into their heads to come on board and set fire to the lugger; +which, as I am part owner, would be a very serious matter to +me."</p> +<p>It was apparent that the privateers had no thought of the brig +returning, at any rate at present, as boats went backwards and +forwards between them and the shore.</p> +<p>"What do you think, Leigh?" his sister asked quietly, as they +were sitting alone together.</p> +<p>"I do not know in the least," he said. "Our best chance is that +the two Frenchmen seem to be so confident that they are safe under +the guns of the fort, that they will take no very great +precautions. One of them mounts eight guns, the other ten, and they +ought to be a match for the brig, even without the forts; for we +could see, by her ports, that she only carries sixteen guns. +However, I think myself that she will very likely have a try at +them. It will be a very dark night, for the sky is overcast and +there is no moon."</p> +<p>It was between ten and eleven when, just as they were about to +turn in, the captain ran in.</p> +<p>"Quick, madame, you must hurry on your clothes! I heard a sound +just now that could only be made by a boat. As we are still +aground, I shall bring a boat alongside and land. There is nothing +like being on the safe side!"</p> +<p>The two privateers were lying a quarter of a mile farther out, +and there were still lights burning on board them.</p> +<p>"The fools!" the captain growled, as Leigh and his sister came +on deck; Leigh carrying little Louis, who had been put to bed fully +dressed. Indeed, no time had been lost, for his mother and Leigh +had agreed that it would be better to lie down in their clothes, in +case of an alarm being given.</p> +<p>"The fools!" the captain repeated. "If they had extinguished +every light, as they ought to have done, the boats would have had +difficulty in finding them. Now, they could not miss them if they +tried.</p> +<p>"Now, madame, will you please take your place in the boat with +me? I am sure that there are boats coming along. Of course the oars +are muffled, and there is enough sea on to prevent us hearing the +splash. I think the noise I heard was caused by one of the +stretchers giving way."</p> +<p>Reluctantly Patsey and Leigh took their places in the boat. Just +as they reached the shore, a shout was heard on board one of the +privateers and, a moment later, came the sound of a British cheer. +It was followed by a hubbub of shouts, then muskets flashed out +from the decks, and almost immediately came the sounds of conflict. +A blue light was struck on the deck of one of the privateers and, +by its light, those on shore could obtain a view of the conflict. +The boats had boarded from the shore side. Two of them lay +alongside each of the privateers, and the crews could be seen +climbing up by the chains and leaping down upon the decks.</p> +<p>"They deserve to be taken," the captain said. "They have not +even triced up their boarding nets."</p> +<p>A confused medley of sounds came to the shore; with the shouts +of the French sailors were mingled the clash of cutlasses and the +crack of pistols. The British sailors fought, for the most part, +silently. On the heights above, blue lights were burning in the +battery, and men could be seen standing on its crest watching the +combat below, but powerless to assist their friends.</p> +<p>It was but five minutes after the outbreak of the combat when a +loud British cheer, followed by a dead silence, showed that one, at +least, of the privateers had been captured. The fighting still +continued on the deck of the other craft but, from the vessel that +had been captured, a number of sailors leapt down into one of their +boats, and rowed to the assistance of their comrades. The +reinforcements apparently decided the issue of the fight, for in a +couple of minutes the British cheer was again heard, and the blue +light was promptly extinguished, as were all the other lights on +both vessels. Scarcely was this done when the guns from the battery +boomed out.</p> +<p>"It is of no use their firing," the captain said. "I don't think +they can depress the guns enough to bear upon them.</p> +<p>"There, they are making sail!" he went on, as the creaking of +blocks was heard. "Of course they have cut the cables. They would +not waste time in getting up anchors, with the forts playing upon +them. However, it is mere waste of powder and shot on such a night +as this. I don't suppose the gunners can make them out, now; for a +certainty they won't be able to do so, as soon as they have moved +off another quarter of a mile. Of course a stray shot may hit them, +but practically it is all over.</p> +<p>"I think that we can go on board again. I did not think of it +before, but they would hardly set fire to us, for the light would +enable the gunners to see them till they were a long way out.</p> +<p>"There is no doubt those Englishmen can fight. Our men are all +right when they are under sail, and it is a question of exchanging +broadsides, but the success of so many of their cutting out +expeditions shows that, somehow or other, we lose heart when we are +boarded. We must have had nearly twice as many men as there were in +those four boats, and yet it seemed to be a certainty, as soon as +the English got among them.</p> +<p>"Our craft had much better have sailed out together when the +brig came in this morning, and fought her fairly. They ought to +have been more than a match for her. No doubt they would have done +so if they had thought that they would be attacked tonight; but +they relied upon the battery, and allowed themselves to be taken +completely by surprise.</p> +<p>"I could see, even from this distance, that most of them were +fighting in their shirts; and I expect that they were sound asleep +when the attack began, and men roused in that sudden way can never +be relied upon to do their duty as they would do, if prepared to +meet it."</p> +<p>The party were soon on board the lugger again. Just as daylight +was breaking there was a trampling of feet on the deck, and Leigh, +going up, found that sail was being hoisted. Keeping close to the +shore they ran down, without putting in anywhere, to La Rochelle. +Here they waited for a day and then, keeping inside the Isle of +Oleron, entered the Gironde and, the next day, anchored in the +Garonne, off the quays of Bordeaux.</p> +<p>After thanking the captain very heartily for his kindness during +the passage, they landed, showed their papers to an official on the +quay, and then, being unhampered by luggage, walked quietly away. +As there was nothing particularly noticeable in their appearance, +they attracted no attention whatever. It was five o'clock when they +landed, and already becoming dusk. They waited until it was quite +dark and then, having inquired for the house of Monsieur Flambard, +the merchant to whom Jean had assigned the Henriette, they knocked +at his door.</p> +<p>It was a handsome house, not far from the quays. The lower +portion was evidently occupied by the offices. As a servant opened +the door, Leigh, seeing that his sister hesitated to speak, +inquired if Monsieur Flambard was at home.</p> +<p>"He is," the man said shortly, "but he does not see people on +business after the office is closed."</p> +<p>Leigh saw that his dress, as a sailor, did not impress the +man.</p> +<p>"I think he will see us," he said, "if you take the name up to +him. Will you tell him that Citoyenne Martin wishes to speak to +him."</p> +<p>A minute later the merchant himself, a handsome man of about the +same age as Jean Martin, came down.</p> +<p>"Ah! madame, I am glad indeed to see you," he said; for he had +more than once been up to Nantes, during the time she was living +there, and had been frequently at the house. "I have been in great +anxiety about you."</p> +<p>"Has Jean been here?" she asked, in a tone of intense +anxiety.</p> +<p>"No, madame, I have heard nothing of him for many months; not, +indeed, since his lugger first came down here, with his letter and +the deed of her sale to myself. Did you expect to find him +here?"</p> +<p>"I hoped so, although there was no arrangement between us to +meet here. Still, I thought that he would have made his way down +here, if possible, as he would then be able to escape in the +lugger."</p> +<p>"He may have found it more difficult than he thought," Monsieur +Flambard said, soothingly. "But do not let us be standing here. +Pray, come up. My wife will be glad to welcome you, for she has +often heard me speak of Martin's English wife."</p> +<p>Leigh had been standing behind Patsey while they spoke but, as +the merchant closed the door, his eye fell upon him.</p> +<p>"Ah, monsieur, now I recognize you. You are Monsieur Leigh +Stansfield, the brother of madame. I welcome you also, +cordially."</p> +<p>So saying, he led the way upstairs.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch17" id="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: A Grave Risk.</h2> +<p>Nothing could be kinder than the reception of the fugitives by +Madame Flambard. She had heard so much of Patsey, she said, from +her husband, to whom she had been married six months before, that +she had quite shared his anxiety about the fate of Jean Martin, who +had more than once been mentioned as being one of the leaders of +the Vendeans. She soon went off with Patsey to put the child to bed +and, while they were away, Monsieur Flambard took Leigh into his +smoking room.</p> +<p>"Before," he said, "I ask you anything about your adventures, I +must explain to you the state of things here. Until November last +Bordeaux, and indeed the whole of the Gironde, was moderate. All +our deputies--who have now, as perhaps you know, either fallen on +the scaffold or been hunted down like wild beasts--belonged to that +party. They were earnest reformers, and were prominent among the +leaders of the Revolution. They went with the stream, up to a +certain point. They voted for most of the sanguinary decrees, +although in time they strove to mitigate the horrors inflicted by +the extreme party; but after a long conflict the latter, supported +by the mob of Paris, obtained the ascendency, and the Girondists +underwent the same fate that had befallen so many others. For +myself, I cannot pity them. They were all men of standing and of +intelligence but, without perceiving the terrible results that must +follow, they unchained the mob and became its victims.</p> +<p>"Up to that time there had been but few executions here, and the +power remained in the hands of the moderate party. Two months +since, however, there was a local insurrection. The party of the +terror suddenly rose, seized the members of the council, and threw +them into prison. Other prominent citizens were seized, and the +guillotine began its bloody work in earnest. Since that time every +citizen of position or standing lives in momentary danger of +arrest. Not a day passes, but a dozen or so are seized and dragged +off. I grant that, at present, there is nothing like the wholesale +butchery that goes on at Nantes under that fiend Carrier; it is +only those who have wealth and property that are seized. Not only +in this town, but in the whole department, the agents of those who +assumed power are busy. It is the Gironde, and therefore hateful to +the party of Robespierre; and the proprietors of the land, who have +hitherto been left unmolested, are being brought in daily.</p> +<p>"The trial is of course a mere farce. The prisoners are +murdered, not because they are moderates, but because they are +rich; and their wealth is divided among the members of the council, +and the mob who support them. So far I have been unmolested. I have +never taken any part in politics, business being sufficient to +occupy all my time. Another thing is that I employ a considerable +number of men, in addition to the crews of some ten vessels which +belong to me. I believe that I am popular generally on the wharves, +and it is the knowledge that my arrest might promote a tumult, and +might reverse the present order of things, that has led to my being +left alone so far.</p> +<p>"Fortunately my servant, who let you in, has been in the family +for the past five-and-thirty years, and is devoted to me. Had it +been otherwise the position would have been a dangerous one. A +report to the council that a young man in the attire of a sailor, +accompanied by a lady and child, had arrived, and been at once +received, would suffice to set them in motion. I should be accused +of having a suspect, probably one of the emigres hidden here, and +it would be difficult for me to explain your reception. You must, +in the first place, attire yourself in clothes such as are worn by +the mate of a privateer. I suppose you have papers, or you would +not have been permitted to land."</p> +<p>Leigh took out the passes and handed them to him. Monsieur +Flambard glanced through them.</p> +<p>"You must have managed well to have got hold of these passes, +and they certainly put the matter on safer ground. However, I +should find some difficulty in explaining how I came to show +hospitality to two persons who, by a strangely roundabout course, +had made their way from Arthenay. It is a little unfortunate that +your sister kept her own name. Had it been otherwise, I might have +said that her husband was captain of one of my ships. But he is +unfortunately not unknown here. After Martin's flight from Nantes, +a claim was made by the committee of public safety at Nantes for +the Henriette. Fortunately your brother-in-law had dated his bill +of sale to me a fortnight before he left. The trial took place here +and, as in those days law and justice still prevailed in the civic +courts, the decision was given in my favour.</p> +<p>"It was urged on the other side that the transaction was +invalid, as Martin must have parted with his vessel knowing well +that he was a traitor to the Republic, and that his property would +be confiscated. However, we got the best of them. There was no +proof whatever that Martin was conscious that he was suspected of +being disaffected, and we claimed that he had only sold it as, +having married, he had decided to give up the sea and to settle +upon his estates in La Vendee. Of course, at that time La Vendee +had not risen, and it was not a crime worthy of death to own an +estate there. Still, the case attracted attention, and the fact +that my guest was a Madame Martin might recall the circumstances, +and at once awake a suspicion that she was the wife of one of those +who had led the insurgents of La Vendee; in which case her life and +yours would be certainly forfeited, and my receiving you would be +regarded as amply sufficient evidence of my connection with the +insurgents.</p> +<p>"Now, for our sakes, as well as yours, I think that it would be +strongly advisable that you should take up your abode elsewhere. +Believe me that it is no want of hospitality, but a measure of +precaution, both for your sake and ours. Tomorrow morning I should +have to send in a statement that two guests have arrived here, and +it is therefore most desirable that you should move without delay. +Fortunately the wives of two or three of my captains live here; one +of these especially, an excellent woman, has a house much larger +than she needs, and takes in lodgers, generally captains whose +families do not reside here, when their ships are in port. +Therefore the fact that a sailor, with a sister and her child, have +taken rooms there will excite no suspicion, whatever. She will, as +a matter of course, send in your name to the police of the town, +together with your passes. They will be marked and returned +without, probably, being glanced at."</p> +<p>"I think that that will be an excellent arrangement, sir," Leigh +said, "and I quite see that our stay here might be awkward for you, +as well as us."</p> +<p>"I will at once go with you; that is, as soon as you have told +your sister the reason why it will be better for you to establish +yourselves elsewhere than here. I may tell you that I, myself, have +been quietly making preparations for flight; but it is not all my +captains whom I can trust. The Henriette, which I expect here +shortly, has been delayed; but on her arrival I propose that we +shall all cross the Channel together. I hear the ladies' voices in +the next room. It were best that we got this painful business over, +at once."</p> +<p>Madame Flambard was greatly distressed, when Leigh gave his +sister an account of the conversation they had had, and the +resolution at which they had arrived; but Patsey at once saw that +it was most desirable that the change should be made, and assured +her hostess that she fully recognized that their safety would be +imperilled by staying at their house.</p> +<p>"It would be a cruel kindness, on your part, to insist upon our +stopping here, Madame Flambard. We know that it is from no lack of +hospitality that we are leaving, but that you are making a real +sacrifice, in order to procure our safety.</p> +<p>"Shall I put on my things at once, monsieur?"</p> +<p>"By no means. I will go with your brother, first, to see if +Madame Chopin has other lodgers. If so, I will go to the wife of +one of my clerks, who also lets a portion of a house; or, if you +would not mind poor accommodation, to another of the captains' +wives as, in your brother's character of a sailor, it would be more +natural for you to go to such a lodging, which may very well have +been recommended to you by the skipper of the lugger in which you +came here. When we have arranged things, we will return. It is but +a quarter of an hour's walk, for the house stands near the river, +above the bridge."</p> +<p>He at once set out with Leigh. On arriving at the house, they +found that there were at present no lodgers there.</p> +<p>"This young sailor has brought a letter of recommendation to me, +Madame Chopin. He has a married sister and her child with him, and +I am sure that you will make them very comfortable, and can supply +them with what they may require. They have just arrived by sea, +from Havre; the length of their stay is uncertain. This young man +is looking for a berth as mate, and shall have the first vacancy on +one of my vessels. His sister may stop with you for some time, as +she is hoping that her husband will return here, though he is so +long overdue that I fear his ship has been either lost or captured +by the English."</p> +<p>"I will do my best to make them both comfortable, Monsieur +Flambard, and thank you for recommending them to me."</p> +<p>Leigh saw the rooms, which consisted of two bedrooms, and a +third room which was similarly furnished; but Madame Chopin said +that she would take down the bed and put some other furniture into +it, so that they could use it as a sitting room.</p> +<p>"We should prefer that, madame; for my sister at times is +greatly depressed, and we should prefer being alone."</p> +<p>"I can quite understand that," the woman said. "Well, you will +not be troubled with society here, as I have only these three rooms +to let so that, unless my husband comes home before you go, we +shall be quite alone."</p> +<p>"I shall return with my sister in an hour's time," Leigh said; +"that will not be too late for you?"</p> +<p>"No, monsieur, it is little past eight o'clock yet, and it will +take me fully two hours to get everything straight and tidy."</p> +<p>"Very well, then, we will say ten o'clock," Monsieur Flambard +said. "I will keep Monsieur Porson, as he has news to give me +concerning the friend who recommended him to me."</p> +<p>On their return to the merchant's, they sat chatting for an hour +over the adventures through which Leigh and his sister had passed, +and the manner in which they were separated from Jean Martin.</p> +<p>"I think you have every reason to hope, madame," Monsieur +Flambard said cheerfully. "Jean is not the sort of fellow to let +himself be caught in a hole; and I expect that, when he found that +he could not rejoin you, he at once struck north, either for +Dunkirk or Calais, and has probably managed to be taken over in a +fishing boat or a smuggler and, if he failed in doing so, he would +probably make off in a boat single handed. I think that you have +every reason to hope that you will find him at Poole, when you +arrive there; but even should he not be there, there will be no +reason for despair. He may have had difficulty in getting away. He +may have been impressed for the naval service. At any rate, I have +great faith that he will turn up, sooner or later. Certainly, when +he has once managed to get a seafaring outfit, he will be safe from +any fear of detection as one of the terrible Vendean +insurgents."</p> +<p>At a quarter to ten little Louis was taken out of bed, wrapped +up in a cloak, and carried by Leigh. Monsieur Flambard insisted on +again accompanying them. The streets were now almost deserted, and +they soon arrived at Madame Chopin's.</p> +<p>"I quite forgot to ask if you would want anything, before going +to bed; but I can make you a cup of good coffee, if you would like +it."</p> +<p>"Thank you, but we have eaten but an hour ago."</p> +<p>Saying goodnight to Monsieur Flambard, they went up to their +rooms, their hostess leading with a candle. She had made the most +of her time, since Leigh left the house. White curtains had been +put up at the windows, and everything looked beautifully clean; and +Patsey uttered an exclamation of pleasure when she entered the +room.</p> +<p>"This does indeed look fresh and homelike," she said. "Thank you +for taking so much trouble, madame."</p> +<p>The next morning Leigh procured a jacket and waistcoat, with +brass buttons; and a cap with a gold band. He then sauntered along +the wharves and went aboard the Trois Freres, and told the skipper +that no news had been received of his sister's husband. It had been +agreed that it was best that they should not go to Monsieur +Flambard's house, but that the merchant should call at the lodging, +after dark. When Leigh returned to the midday meal, he found that +the papers had come back from the mairie, duly stamped and +countersigned, and that as no one had been to the house to make +inquiries, it was evident that no suspicion had been excited.</p> +<p>During the next four or five days Leigh went but little into the +town, contenting himself with keeping near the wharves, watching +the vessels loading or discharging cargo, and spending much of his +time on board the Trois Freres. On the afternoon of the fifth day +he saw a lugger approaching and as it came near, he made out, to +his great delight, that it was the Henriette. As soon as she +dropped anchor in the stream, her boat rowed to the wharves. Lefaux +was sitting in the stern and, as soon as he landed, went off in the +direction of Monsieur Flambard's office.</p> +<p>Leigh did not go near him. He thought that it would be better +that the honest sailor should learn that he and his sister were +there from the merchant, before he spoke to him; as any imprudent +remark on the sailor's part might be caught up by one of the spies +of the committee, and lead to trouble. As he expected, Monsieur +Flambard came round with Lefaux, that evening.</p> +<p>"I am heartily glad to see you again, madame," he said, as +Patsey shook him by the hand; "and you too, Monsieur Stansfield. I +began to think that I never should do so, and I only wish that +Monsieur Jean was here, too. Still, I feel confident that he has +got safely away; trust a sailor for getting out of a scrape. You +must have gone through a lot, madame, but you don't look any the +worse for it."</p> +<p>"Except anxiety for my husband, I have gone through nothing to +speak of. I had a horse to ride, and generally a shelter to sleep +under, and for myself I had little to complain of; but it was +terrible to see the sufferings of the peasant women and children, +and of the many men broken down by sickness. And there was, too, +the anxiety as to the safety of my husband and brother, in each +battle that took place. But of hardship to myself there was very +little."</p> +<p>"Well, madame, I hope that I shall soon have the pleasure of +sailing into Poole again, with you and Monsieur Leigh on board; and +also with my good master, Monsieur Flambard, and his wife."</p> +<p>"When will you be off again?" Patsey asked eagerly.</p> +<p>"That is what I have come to talk with you about, Madame +Martin," Monsieur Flambard said. "I have pretty good information as +to what passes, at the meetings of the wretches who call themselves +the committee of public safety, and I hear that there will very +shortly be a seizure of a number of prominent citizens, and my name +has been mentioned. They are only hanging back until they can +decide upon what shall be the pretext, since none of those named +have taken any part in politics here. All those who have done so +have been already seized. However, the blow may come at any +moment.</p> +<p>"The Henriette has already begun to discharge her cargo. +Fortunately, there is not much of it. The moment that she has +finished she will drop down below the rest of the shipping, and be +ready to start at any moment. If we find that the matter is not +absolutely pressing, we will go quietly on board as soon as she is +ready, and sail at once; as there will then be no fear of her being +stopped.</p> +<p>"If, however, I find that the order for our arrest is on the +point of being issued, I will send her down and let her lie beyond +Fort Medoc and Blaye. If it were discovered that I was missing, a +few hours after she had started, it would be suspected at once that +I had gone in the Henriette. Mounted messengers would carry the +news down to both forts, and the boat would be forced to heave to, +as she passed between them.</p> +<p>"Therefore I shall have a light carriage, with two fast horses, +kept in readiness a quarter of a mile outside the town; and a relay +of horses fifteen miles on, which is about halfway, and join the +ship below the forts. If, as may possibly happen, I am suddenly +arrested in the streets, I shall have my servant near me. He will +have his orders, which will be to hurry back home to tell his +mistress to put on the disguise of a peasant woman, that has +already been prepared for her, and to go with her at once to the +carriage; and another man, whom I can also thoroughly trust, is to +come here and say to you, 'It is a bad day.'</p> +<p>"Then you and your sister and the child will at once start to +join my wife. She has most reluctantly consented to carry out this +plan for, as I tell her, it will add to my sufferings a +hundredfold, were she also to be arrested."</p> +<p>By dint of great exertions the Henriette was unloaded by the +following evening and, half an hour after her last bale was ashore, +she dropped down the river with the tide. She was to anchor off a +small village, two miles beyond Fort Medoc; and if inquiry was made +as to why she stopped there, Lefaux was to say that he was to take +in some wine that Monsieur Flambard had bought from a large grower +in that district, and that the lugger was then going to Charente to +fill up with brandy for Havre.</p> +<p>Leigh had, the day before, gone with the merchant into the +extensive cellars which adjoined the house.</p> +<p>"There is not a man here," Monsieur Flambard said, "who would +not do all in his power for me. Some of them have been with the +firm nearly all their lives. I treat them well, and I am happy to +say that not one of them has taken any part in our last troubles. +Indeed, I am told that is one of the matters that, if I am +arrested, will be brought against me. It will be said that it was a +proof of my enmity to the Convention that none of my people took +the side of the patriots.</p> +<p>"However, it tells both ways. I have over forty men here. They +have, of course, friends among the porters and others working on +the wharves; and a disturbance might take place, were I arrested. +However, the scoundrels have now got such absolute power that, no +doubt, they feel that they could disregard any local rising and, +indeed, with the plunder of my store before them, they could reckon +on the devotion of the greater part of the mob of the town."</p> +<p>On the morning after the Henriette had sailed, the merchant took +Leigh down to a little wayside inn, half a mile below the town, +where he had placed his carriage and horses; and gave instructions +to his coachman that he was to place himself under Leigh's +orders.</p> +<p>"At whatever hour of the day or night he comes, you will start +at once with him, and the lady and child who accompany him. You +will know in that case that I am not coming, but have been +arrested."</p> +<p>"But, master--"</p> +<p>"It must be as I say, Pierre. Once I am arrested--and it is +almost certain my wife would be arrested with me--nothing can be +done to help, and it would be a great satisfaction to me to know +that my friends have escaped. There will be in that case no need of +extreme haste, for no one knows that they are in any way connected +with me, and there will be no inquiries for them."</p> +<p>Leigh told Patsey that afternoon that, in the event of the +Flambards being arrested, he might possibly, instead of coming +himself, send a messenger to her; and that she must then start at +once, and await his coming in front of the church, at the end of +the street in which the merchant's house stood.</p> +<p>"You had better have a letter written to our landlady, inclosing +the sum due to her and a week's rent in advance; and say that we +are hastily called away to Blaye, but may return in a few days, and +begging her to keep the rooms vacant for a week, for which you +leave the money. You had better write the letter at once, so that +if you get my message you can leave instantly. There is nothing +like being prepared for everything. Of course the arrest of the +Flambards would not really affect us in any way, or add to our +danger; but if the coachman were to hear of it before we got there, +he might disregard his master's orders, and return at once with the +carriage."</p> +<p>Leigh had in his mind the very short notice that Desailles had +had of his danger, and how narrowly he escaped being arrested, +although he had a friend who kept him acquainted with what was +going on. He thought that it was still more likely that the arrest +of the Flambards would take place suddenly. It would probably be +decided upon by two or three of the men, who were the leaders of +the party of terror; and no word would get about as to their +intentions until the arrest had been absolutely made, in which case +the captives would be lodged in prison before the matter would be +known, and all fear of an emeute be thereby prevented. He had +therefore decided upon what was the best course to pursue, and +posted himself in the street, where he could observe anyone who +entered or left Flambard's house.</p> +<p>It was already getting dusk when he saw two commissaries of the +committee, with six armed men, stop before the door and knock. It +was opened. Two of the men remained outside, and the rest entered. +He ran to the stores. The head cellarman had gone round the place +with him and his master, and Leigh at once went to him.</p> +<p>"Lefranc," he said, "your master and mistress have just been +arrested. Two commissaries and six armed men have gone into the +house. There is time to save them yet. They have a carriage in +waiting, a short distance away; and if we can overpower these men +and tie them up, so that they cannot give the alarm until morning, +Monsieur Flambard and his wife will get safely away. They have a +vessel waiting for them in readiness, down the river."</p> +<p>"I am your man, sir, and every one here."</p> +<p>"Half a dozen will be enough. Pick out that number of strong +fellows, whom you can rely upon. Let them all take off their +aprons, and tear up this black silk handkerchief and, as we leave +the cellar, let each man put a piece over his face, to act as a +mask. There is a private door leading to the house, is there +not?"</p> +<p>"Yes, monsieur."</p> +<p>"Well, draw the men off quietly, so that the others shall not +notice them; and tell them to go to that door, and to put on their +masks there. Let each man take some weapon, but not a mallet, or +anything used in the trade. Let them bring some stout rope with +them."</p> +<p>The man nodded and hurried away, and Leigh went to the end of +the stores abutting on the house, and stopped at the door he found +there. In a minute the men began to arrive. They had, as he +directed, thrown aside their leather aprons and put on blouses; so +that they differed in no way, in appearance, from ordinary working +men. One or two were armed with hammers, others with long knives. +Each carried a piece of black handkerchief in his hand, long enough +to go from the forehead down to the mouth. Leigh tied these on with +strings, cutting holes with his knife through which they could +see.</p> +<p>When the six men and the foreman had assembled, they entered the +house. The old servant was standing in the hall, wringing his hands +in distress.</p> +<p>"Where are they?" Leigh asked.</p> +<p>"In the master's study, sir. They are searching the +drawers."</p> +<p>"Come on quietly," Leigh said to the men. "We must take them by +surprise."</p> +<p>The door of the study was standing open, and lights burned +within. Leigh had already instructed his followers to go at once +for the armed men, and to knock them down before they had time to +use their muskets. Going noiselessly up, they entered the door with +a sudden rush.</p> +<p>The two commissaries were engaged in emptying the contents of +the table drawers into a basket. The armed ruffians had leant their +muskets against the wall, and had seated themselves in comfortable +chairs. Flambard stood with his arm round his wife, looking +disdainfully at the proceedings of the commissaries.</p> +<p>In a moment the scene changed. Before the men could even rise +from their seats they were knocked down, bits of sacking thrust +into their mouths, and their arms tied. Leigh had levelled one of +the commissaries by a blow in the face, and the foreman had struck +down the other with a hammer. These were also securely tied.</p> +<p>The Flambards stood, a picture of astonishment. The whole thing +had passed so instantaneously that they could scarcely realize what +had happened. When they did so, Madame Flambard, who had hitherto +preserved her calmness, burst into tears; while her husband +embraced Leigh with passionate gratitude.</p> +<p>"Now, monsieur," the latter said, "you had better collect at +once any money and jewels you wish to take with you, while we are +making sure of these ruffians.</p> +<p>"Now, my men," he went on, "take these fellows into different +rooms; but first let me see that the ropes are securely tied; +although, as sailors, you are not likely to make any mistake that +way. Still, it is as well to be on the safe side."</p> +<p>He himself then examined the fastenings, and added a few more +cords.</p> +<p>"Now, when you have got them into separate rooms, tie their feet +to a heavy piece of furniture. Make a slipknot at the end of +another rope, put the noose round the neck, and fasten the other +end to another piece of furniture, that there may be no chance of +their getting loose, till their friends come to their +assistance."</p> +<p>He saw all this securely done. Then he said:</p> +<p>"There is one more thing to see to. In time those fellows at the +door will be getting impatient, and will begin to suspect that all +is not right. We must get them inside, and then tie them up with +the others. Stand back behind the door as they enter and, as I +close it, throw yourselves upon them. One of you grip each of them +by the throat, and another seize his musket and wrench it from him. +The rest will be easy."</p> +<p>The men placed themselves as directed, and Leigh then opened the +door and said:</p> +<p>"You are to come in. They will take some little time over the +papers, and there is plenty of good wine for you to amuse +yourselves with."</p> +<p>With an exclamation of satisfaction, the two men entered.</p> +<p>"It is very dark in here," one said, as Leigh closed the door. +"Why didn't you get a light?"</p> +<p>The words were scarcely spoken when there was a rush, a sudden +exclamation, the sound of a short struggle, and then silence.</p> +<p>"Keep hold of them tightly, while I fetch a candle," Leigh said +and, running upstairs, soon came down with the light.</p> +<p>The two guards were standing helpless in the hands of their +captors, and gripped so tightly that they were unable to utter the +least sound.</p> +<p>"Now, put the gags into their mouths and truss them up, as you +did the others."</p> +<p>Leaving the men to carry out his orders, he ran upstairs +again.</p> +<p>"Everything is arranged now," he said. "The whole of the fellows +are bound, and the road is free for you. I should go out by the +back way, for there is sure to be a little crowd in front of the +house, attracted by the sight of the guard standing outside. I do +not think that there is any extraordinary hurry, but in an hour or +so, if either of the men who have ordered your arrest is waiting at +the prison, he may get impatient, and send down to see what detains +the party here.</p> +<p>"I am going, in the first place, to have the servants bound, so +that they may not be suspected of having aided in this business. As +soon as that is done, I shall hasten to my lodging and bring my +sister and the child to the inn where you have your carriage. Of +course, you will have the horses put in as soon as you get there. I +shall not be very long behind you, as I shall take the first fiacre +and drive down to that end of the town, and then discharge him. As +I am not in any way associated with you, even if inquiries are +made, our movements will throw no light upon yours."</p> +<p>The conversation took place in the bedroom where Madame Flambard +was, with her husband, packing up a few necessaries.</p> +<p>"As we go downstairs," he went on, "I shall make some remark +about our going straight on board. That will put them on the wrong +scent, and they will waste a lot of time searching all the craft in +the river. I do it principally because I want them to believe that +you have been rescued by a party of sailors. You heard me say that, +as sailors, they would be accustomed to tie the knots tightly; and +of course my uniform will help to lead them astray. The men with me +were really some of your cellarmen, under Lefranc."</p> +<p>"We shall be ready in three minutes. Fortunately we have not +much beyond my wife's jewels that we want to save. Like your wife's +brother, I have already made provision in England for this."</p> +<p>"I will be off as soon as I see the servants tied up."</p> +<p>He ran downstairs again. The two men and the maids willingly +suffered themselves to be tied up, when Leigh explained to them the +reasons for which it was done.</p> +<p>"Mind," he said, "if questioned, you say you believe that the +men who rushed in and fastened you up were sailors."</p> +<p>Before the work was done Monsieur Flambard came down and, +standing at the door which communicated with the cellars, shook +hands with his rescuers as they went out; and thanked them most +heartily, in the name of himself as well as his wife, for the +service that they had rendered. The men, before they passed through +the door, took off their masks. It had already been arranged that +they should at once scatter, and return quietly to the places where +they had been at work, and in so large a place it was not likely +that their absence had been noticed, as it would be supposed that +they had gone to another part of the cellar, and it was not above +twenty minutes since they had left it.</p> +<p>As soon as they had gone out, the door was locked on the inside. +Leigh and the Flambards went out at the back entrance into another +street, and there separated, Leigh hurrying back to his lodgings. +Madame Chopin opened the door.</p> +<p>"Madame," he said, "I have good news for my sister. I hope that +we shall be able to obtain news of her husband at Blaye; for he +may, if my information is correct, have sailed up the Dordogne, and +we may catch him as he comes down again. If my information is not +correct, we shall return here. I will therefore, if you will allow +me, pay you our reckoning at once, and also the rent of the rooms +for another week; so that if we return, we may find them +unoccupied."</p> +<p>"But you are not going to start this evening, surely, +monsieur?"</p> +<p>"Yes; I have arranged for a passage on a boat that is on the +point of starting, and have not a moment to lose."</p> +<p>He ran upstairs to Patsey.</p> +<p>"They have gone on to the carriage," he said. "Put on Louis's +things and your own. I will tell you all about it, as we go."</p> +<p>He then went down again and settled up with his landlady, who +was profuse in her exclamations of regret at their departure. In a +couple of minutes Patsey came down. She had the letter that she had +written in her hand. Leigh took it from her.</p> +<p>"I have already settled up with our kind hostess," he said. "Say +goodbye, dear, at once, or the boat may be starting without +us."</p> +<p>A minute later they were out of the house. Leigh carried Louis, +and led the way to a spot near, where two or three fiacres were +always standing. He took the first, and told the driver to put them +down in a street at the lower end of the town, the name of which he +had noticed when he went with Monsieur Flambard to the inn where +the carriage was standing.</p> +<p>When he got to the end of the street he told the driver to stop, +saying that he was not sure of the number. Paying the man his fare, +they walked slowly down the street until the fiacre had driven off; +and then, returning, took the road leading into the country.</p> +<p>Ten minutes' walking brought them close to the little inn. They +met the carriage coming along slowly, three hundred yards before +they arrived there. It stopped at once.</p> +<p>"You are here sooner than I expected, madame," Monsieur Flambard +said, as he alighted and helped Patsey.</p> +<p>As she took her place by the side of Madame Flambard, the latter +threw her arms round her neck.</p> +<p>"Thank God this awful time is over!" she said. "It is to your +brother we owe it that we are not, both, now in that terrible +prison.</p> +<p>"Leigh is good at breaking prison," Patsey said. "He rescued me +from the gaol at Nantes."</p> +<p>By this time her husband and Leigh had taken their places. +Louis, still soundly asleep, was transferred to his mother's lap; +and the carriage, turning, went back at the full speed of the +horses.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch18" id="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: Home.</h2> +<p>"Why did you come down the road?" Leigh asked Monsieur Flambard, +as the carriage flew past the little inn. "We had not arranged for +that, and in the dark we might have passed it without knowing that +it was yours."</p> +<p>"We were on the lookout for you, and had no fear of missing you. +I decided to drive back to the town as we went out. I believe the +innkeeper to be an honest fellow, and he has been one of our +customers for a number of years; but I thought it just as well to +throw dust in his eyes. Therefore, as I got into the carriage, I +said in his hearing:</p> +<p>"'Don't go through the main streets of the town, but drive round +and strike the road beyond it. Keep on to Langon. We shall stop +there tonight.'</p> +<p>"We drove off fast, and only broke into a walk just before you +met us. The innkeeper would have gone into the house again, before +we met; and as I noticed that the shutters were up, he certainly +would not have supposed that the vehicle which passed was our +carriage, coming back again.</p> +<p>"Well, thank God we are all safe and together! In three hours we +shall be at the village. Lefaux was to keep a boat ashore, and to +be himself at the inn. There is only one in the village."</p> +<p>The road was a good one, and the horses fast, and in less than +an hour and a half they reached the spot where the relay of horses +had been stationed. Five minutes sufficed to make the change and, +in a little under three hours after starting, they arrived at the +village two miles below Fort Medoc. They stopped at the first +house.</p> +<p>"Now, Gregoire," Monsieur Flambard said, as they alighted, "here +are five louis for yourself. You had better drive back to the place +where we changed horses, and put up there for the night. Tomorrow +you can go quietly back to Bordeaux. Don't get there until late in +the afternoon. Return the carriage and the other two horses to the +stables where you hired them, and take my two horses back to our +stables.</p> +<p>"You are sure to be questioned, and can tell them the truth. Say +that you acted by my orders, and had no idea of the reason for +which I had hired the carriage and the extra horses; that you knew +that I often made flying visits to the vineyards, and you thought I +wanted to see some proprietor of Medoc, on business, and to return +as quickly as possible; and were much surprised when you saw that +madame went with me. Do not say anything about our picking up my +friends on the road."</p> +<p>"I understand, monsieur, and I will stick to that story. God +bless you, sir, and you, madame; and I trust that, before long, you +will be back again with us."</p> +<p>"I hope so, Gregoire, but I fear it will not be for some time to +come."</p> +<p>They now walked forward, Leigh hurrying on in front until he +came to the little village inn. It was already closed but, on his +knocking violently at the door, a window above was opened.</p> +<p>"What are you making such a noise for, at this time of +night?"</p> +<p>"I have come to call Captain Lefaux," he said. "A messenger has +just brought an order, from Bordeaux, that he is to get up anchor +at daylight."</p> +<p>"I will call him," the landlord said, and in three minutes +Lefaux came out.</p> +<p>"We are all here, Lefaux," Leigh said, "and we want to go on +board and get up anchor at once, and to be as far down the river as +we can, before daylight."</p> +<p>"The saints be praised that you have all escaped, Monsieur +Stansfield! We will lose no time. I have two men sleeping in a +cottage, close to where the boat is made fast. They sleep on the +ground floor, and I can tap at the window and get them out. I told +them to turn in as they stood, as they might be wanted at any +moment."</p> +<p>The others had now come up, and together they went down to the +boat. The tide had turned about an hour before, and the boat was +afloat.</p> +<p>"Now, I will fetch the men out," the skipper said, and in five +minutes he came down with them.</p> +<p>They untied the head rope of the boat, from the stump to which +it was fastened, and hauled it in.</p> +<p>"That is the lugger, I suppose?" Leigh said, pointing to a dark +object, a hundred yards from the shore.</p> +<p>"That is her, sir, and it won't take us long to get under weigh. +Everything is ready for hoisting sail."</p> +<p>They rowed off to the Henriette, and Leigh could hardly restrain +a shout of joy at finding himself once again on board her. The crew +had been unchanged since they left Nantes and, tumbling up on deck +as they heard the boat coming off, greeted Leigh most heartily; and +respectfully saluted Patsey and their owner. They would have broken +into cheers, had not their skipper sharply silenced them.</p> +<p>"It will be time enough to cheer when we reach the open sea, +lads," he said; "and we will do so more heartily still, when we +land Madame Martin, Monsieur Leigh, and the owner and his wife +either on English ground, or the deck of an English ship."</p> +<p>"You mistake, captain," Monsieur Flambard said. "As you know, +the lugger was only passed over to me by Monsieur Martin to escape +confiscation. There is no longer any need that I should appear as +owner; and in fact Madame Martin, as representative of her husband, +is the owner of the Henriette, and I and my wife are passengers on +board her."</p> +<p>"I hope that you will find it all right below, madame," Captain +Lefaux said. "Captain Martin's cabin--we have always called it +so--is ready for you and Madame Flambard. Monsieur will take the +spare cabin, and Monsieur Leigh mine."</p> +<p>"I will sleep on one of the sofas in the saloon, captain. I +should not feel comfortable if I turned you out; and besides, I +like being able to pop quietly on deck, whenever I feel inclined: +so that is settled."</p> +<p>"Now we will have a tumbler of hot brandy and water," the +captain said. "You have had a cold drive.</p> +<p>"What will you take, ladies?"</p> +<p>Both declared that they wanted nothing but to get to bed, and +they at once retired to the after cabin with little Louis, who had +slept without waking, ever since he had been lifted from his bed at +Bordeaux. The captain had given orders, as soon as he came on +board, to have the sails hoisted and, as Monsieur Flambard and +Leigh sipped their grog, they had the satisfaction of hearing the +water rippling past; and of feeling, by the heel of the boat, that +there was sufficient wind to send them along at a good rate.</p> +<p>"What is she making, captain?" Leigh asked, as he went up to +take a last look round.</p> +<p>"About five knots, but the wind is getting up. There was +scarcely a breath when I turned in, at ten o'clock."</p> +<p>"How far do you call it to the mouth of the river?"</p> +<p>"It is about forty miles to the tower of Cordouan. Once past +that, we reckon we are at sea."</p> +<p>"Eight hours going, at five knots. It is nearly twelve now. It +will be daylight when we get there."</p> +<p>"I hope that we shall be there before that, sir. You have not +allowed for the tide, nor for the wind increasing. I reckon we +shall be there by six, and day does not begin to break till an hour +later.</p> +<p>"I want to get past without being seen. There are always a +couple of gunboats lying there. I fancy that they know us pretty +well by this time, but sometimes as we go out they make us lie to, +and come on board to see that we are not taking off suspected +persons, and that any passengers we have tally with those on the +manifest. If they should take it into their heads to do that in the +morning, it would be awkward; and I am anxious to get past without +being seen. Once out of gunshot I do not mind. I fancy that we can +show our heels to either of the gunboats."</p> +<p>Leigh and Monsieur Flambard turned in. The latter slept soundly, +but Leigh went frequently on deck.</p> +<p>"She is doing well," the captain said gleefully, "she is going +fully seven knots an hour. You see, Master Leigh, I still keep to +Captain Martin's terms, and count by knots instead of by leagues. +The tide is giving us another two knots. I reckon that, at the rate +we are going, we shall keep it pretty nearly down to the mouth of +the river. Seven and two are nine, and as I have just been looking +up the chart, and as I find that it is but thirty-seven from the +village where we started, we shall do it in five hours at the +outside.</p> +<p>"The river is wide at the mouth, and by heading south directly +we get there, and running so for a couple of miles before we put +straight out to sea, there will be no chance whatever of our being +seen. Once away, we shall of course lay a course inside the islands +till we are off Finisterre; then we can either strike out into the +Channel, or coast along as far as Cape la Hague, and thence sail +straight for Poole. But there is no occasion to discuss that, at +present."</p> +<p>Satisfied with the assurance of the captain, Leigh turned in +again at two o'clock, and this time slept soundly. When he awoke +the motion of the vessel told him he was at sea, and he saw that it +was broad daylight. Leaping off the sofa, he saw by his watch that +it was eight o'clock, and he was speedily on deck. The mate was in +charge.</p> +<p>"The captain turned in half an hour ago, sir. Do you wish him to +be called?"</p> +<p>"Certainly not. Where are we now?"</p> +<p>"We are just passing between the island of Oleron and the +mainland."</p> +<p>"Oh, yes, I see. When I came down, of course we saw it from the +other way; and I did not recognize it, at first. So we managed to +get past Cordouan without being seen?"</p> +<p>"Yes, we rounded the south point of the river before six +o'clock, laid her head southwest for an hour and, just as it became +light, changed our course north and passed three miles to seaward +of the tower. They doubtless supposed that we were coming up from +Bayonne. At any rate, they paid no attention to us."</p> +<p>"The wind is blowing pretty strongly."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, we should have had a rough tumble of sea if it had +been from the west, and should have had to lie up under shelter of +the island; but as it is blowing right off shore, it is just about +the right strength for us, and we shall make a quick run of it if +it holds.</p> +<p>"I hear there is no news of Captain Martin, monsieur?"</p> +<p>"No, I am sorry to say there is not; but I have every hope that +we shall find he has got to Poole before us."</p> +<p>"We are all hoping that nothing has happened to him. Of course, +we heard that he was fighting in La Vendee and, as every one of us +comes from one port or another there, we only wished that we had +been with him."</p> +<p>"You were well out of it, Edouard. It was a terrible business. +No one could have fought better than your people did, but they had +all France against them; and few, indeed, of those who were engaged +from the first can ever have returned to their homes. And even when +they get there there can be no safety for them, for Carrier and his +commissioners seem to be determined to annihilate the Vendeans +altogether."</p> +<p>The mate indulged in many strong expressions as to the future +fate of Carrier and his underlings.</p> +<p>"We heard of that attack on the jail, Master Leigh. I guessed +that you were in that, for among the prisoners who were delivered +the names of Monsieur Martin and Madame Jean Martin were +mentioned."</p> +<p>"Yes, Captain Martin and I were in the thick of it. There was +very little fighting to do, for we chose a time when the troops +were all busy with Cathelineau's and Stofflet's attack; and we had +really only to open the door of the prison, to get them out."</p> +<p>"The captain has been telling us that Monsieur Flambard was also +in danger of arrest. It is atrocious. Everyone knows that he is a +good master, and I never heard a word said against him."</p> +<p>"That has very little to do with it," Leigh said. "His crime was +that he was rich, and the scoundrels wanted his money. They did +arrest him, but he was rescued before they got him out of his +house, and fortunately everything had been prepared for his flight. +At the present moment they are searching high and low for him, and +I expect that no craft there will be permitted to leave till she +has been thoroughly ransacked, to make sure that he and madame are +not hiding there."</p> +<p>"Ah, they are bad times, monsieur. It may be that things were +not quite as they might have been, though for my part I never saw +anything to grumble at; nor did any other Vendean, as far as I ever +heard; but if things had been ten times as bad as they were, they +would have been better than what is going on now.</p> +<p>"Why, monsieur, all Europe must think that we Frenchmen are +devils. They say that more than a hundred thousand people have been +put to death, not counting the loss in La Vendee."</p> +<p>"Which must be quite as much more, Edouard; and it is no +consolation to know that the loss of the Blues must have been fully +equal to ours."</p> +<p>"How is it to end, monsieur?"</p> +<p>"I think that the first part will end soon. As far as I could +find out as we travelled through the country, and in Paris, even +the mob are getting sick of this terrible bloodshed. That feeling +will get stronger, until finally I believe that Robespierre and his +gang will be overturned. What will come after that, I don't know. +One may hope that some strong man will rise, drive out the +Convention, and establish a fixed government. After that, I should +say that no one can guess what will follow."</p> +<p>"There is one consolation, monsieur. No change can be for the +worse."</p> +<p>"That is absolutely certain."</p> +<p>He went to the galley.</p> +<p>"Well, cook, when are you going to let us have some breakfast? I +am famishing, for I have eaten nothing since twelve o'clock +yesterday."</p> +<p>"It will be ready in twenty minutes, monsieur. I was just going +to ask you if you would call the ladies, or whether you will take +the cafe au lait and eggs to their door."</p> +<p>"I will go and ask them."</p> +<p>He went and knocked at the cabin door.</p> +<p>"Patsey, cafe au lait will be ready in twenty minutes. Will you +and Madame Flambard take it in your cabin, or come into the +saloon?"</p> +<p>"I am just dressed, and shall be up on deck with Louis in two or +three minutes. Madame Flambard will not get up. It is her first +voyage, and she will not take anything to eat."</p> +<p>He was just going to knock at the merchant's door, when there +was a shout from within:</p> +<p>"I have heard what you are saying, and shall be dressed in ten +minutes."</p> +<p>Patsey was soon on deck.</p> +<p>"This is splendid, Leigh! And now that we have got away so +wonderfully, I feel more hopeful than I have done before that Jean, +also, will have made his escape.</p> +<p>"Well, Louis, what do you think of this? You had better keep +hold of your uncle's hand, as well as mine, or you may get a nasty +tumble."</p> +<p>"Nasty, bad ship, mama?"</p> +<p>"It is because the wind is blowing hard, and the sea is rough. +We had smooth water on our last voyage, you know."</p> +<p>"Louis not like him," he said positively; "very bad ship."</p> +<p>"You will be all right, if you keep hold of your uncle's hand. +He will walk up and down with you."</p> +<p>"This is good, indeed," Monsieur Flambard said. "If we go on as +well as we have begun, we shall have nothing to grumble at."</p> +<p>The voyage to Ushant was accomplished without any adventure. The +lugger was so evidently French that two or three privateers, who +passed close by, paid no attention to them; and although they saw +the sails of more than one British cruiser, they either escaped +observation or were considered too insignificant to be chased.</p> +<p>On the voyage they had agreed that, when they came to Ushant, +they would be guided by the wind. If it continued to blow as it had +done, from the east, it would be a great loss of time to beat in to +Saint Malo, and they would be within sight of England long before +they could make in there.</p> +<p>As the wind was unchanged, they therefore laid their course from +Ushant for the Isle of Wight. Before they had been many hours out +they saw an English brig of war, making toward them. They did not +attempt to escape, but slightly changed their course so as to head +for her.</p> +<p>As the brig approached, they lowered their mainsail. The brig +was thrown up into the wind, a couple of lengths away.</p> +<p>"Send your boat on board!" the captain of the brig shouted.</p> +<p>They had indeed already got the boat over the side.</p> +<p>"You may as well come with me," Leigh said, as he stepped into +her. "Monsieur Flambard will take care of Louis while you are +away."</p> +<p>Seeing that there was a woman in the boat, the brig lowered its +accommodation ladder, and the captain was standing at the +gangway.</p> +<p>"We are English, sir," Leigh said. "The lugger is owned by my +sister's husband, if he is alive. If not, I suppose it belongs to +her. We are escaping from France, with two French friends. My +brother-in-law was a Vendean, and has fought through the war. We +were with him until, at the attack on Le Mans, we were separated. +We hope to meet him at Poole. The vessel traded between that port +and Nantes until the war broke out. Some members of the family are +already established there, and our father is a magistrate, living +within a couple of miles of the town."</p> +<p>"I am sorry, madam, that I cannot offer you a passage; but I +must not leave my cruising ground."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir. We are doing very well in the lugger. We intend +to register her as a British vessel; and the crew, who are all +Vendeans, will probably remain in our service until things settle +down in France."</p> +<p>"And were you through the war too, madam?" the captain asked +Patsey.</p> +<p>"Not through the whole of it," she replied. "Our chateau was +burned down by the Republicans, and I was carried to the prison at +Nantes; and should have been guillotined had not my husband and +brother rescued me, when the Vendeans were attacking the town. I +remained at the farmhouse, until the Vendeans could no longer +maintain themselves in La Vendee and crossed the Loire; then I +accompanied my husband."</p> +<p>"Well, madam, I congratulate you heartily on your escape. We +heard terrible tales, in England, of what is going on in +France."</p> +<p>"However terrible they are, they can hardly give you an idea of +the truth. At Nantes, for instance, the guillotine is too slow; and +hundreds of men, women, and children are put into boats, which are +sunk in the middle of the river. It is too horrible to think +of."</p> +<p>"Is there anything that I can do for you, madam? Anything in the +way of provisions with which we can supply you?"</p> +<p>"No, thank you, we have everything that we can want."</p> +<p>"Then I will detain you no further," he said, "and can only wish +you a pleasant voyage. I see, by the course you are steering, that +you are making for the Isle of Wight. You ought to be there +tomorrow afternoon."</p> +<p>The boat returned to the lugger, the sails were filled again +and, at four next afternoon, the Henriette passed Handfast Point, +and headed for the entrance to Poole harbour. As the distance from +home lessened, Patsey's excitement increased hourly. She could not +sit down for a minute, quietly, but walked restlessly up and down +the deck. She had scarcely spoken when Leigh said, after a long +look through the telescope:</p> +<p>"I can make out the house on the hill, quite plainly, +Patsey."</p> +<p>At any other time Patsey, who dearly loved their old home, would +have shown the liveliest interest; but just then her thoughts were +all of Jean, and she could spare none for anything else.</p> +<p>"They must have made us out, by this time," she said, as they +passed Durleston.</p> +<p>"I should think so, but I don't suppose they watch as we used to +do in the old days. The revenue men up there--" and he nodded up +the cliff "--must of course see that we are French; and if there +are any of them who were here, three or four years ago, no doubt +they know us again, and must be wondering what brings us here."</p> +<p>They had scarcely passed Durleston when Patsey sprang on to the +rail, holding fast by the shrouds, and gazed intently at the narrow +entrance of the channel, between the island and the mainland.</p> +<p>"There is a boat coming out," she exclaimed.</p> +<p>"The coast guard are sure to have launched their boat, as soon +as they made us out. They would naturally come out to inquire what +a French lugger is doing here."</p> +<p>He went forward with his telescope, and took a long look at the +boat.</p> +<p>"Yes, it is the coast guard, rowing six oars."</p> +<p>In a minute or two he went back to his sister.</p> +<p>"Do get down, Patsey," he urged. "Of course they may have news +of Jean, but you must not be disappointed, too much, if they have +not. You know that we have agreed, all along, that very likely we +shall be the first back; and no news cannot be considered as bad +news. It will only mean that we must wait."</p> +<p>She shook her head, but did not reply.</p> +<p>"There are three men in the stern," she said at last.</p> +<p>Leigh sprang up onto the rail behind her.</p> +<p>"Yes, there are three sitters."</p> +<p>Suddenly one of the men stood up. The boat was still too far +away for the figure to be distinguished. Leigh would have called to +the captain, to use his glass; but he feared to hold out even a +hope, to Patsey, that Jean might be in the boat.</p> +<p>A minute later the standing figure began to wave his arms +wildly.</p> +<p>"It is Jean, it is Jean!" Patsey cried. "He has made me +out."</p> +<p>It was well that Leigh had taken his place beside her, for +suddenly her figure swayed; his arm closed round her and, calling +to the captain to help him, he lowered her and laid her on the +deck.</p> +<p>"My sister has fainted. Bring a bucket of water."</p> +<p>Madame Flambard took Patsey from him.</p> +<p>"She thinks she sees her husband in that boat," Leigh said. +"Pray try and get her round, before it comes up. I think it must be +he; but if it should not be, we will take her below, directly we +are sure. It will be a terrible blow to her to be disappointed, +now; but possibly they may have news of him, and that would be +almost as good as his being here."</p> +<p>"She could not have recognized him, at this distance," Monsieur +Flambard said.</p> +<p>"No, she did not; but he would have recognized her. At least, he +must have seen that there was a woman standing upon the rail, +watching them; and it was hardly likely that, coming in his own +boat, it should be anyone but her. I don't see why anyone else +should have waved his arms, suddenly, in the way that he did."</p> +<p>He took the bucket of water from Lefaux's hands.</p> +<p>"We think it is Captain Martin," he said. "Run up the shrouds +and take a look through the glass."</p> +<p>Then, taking a double handful of water, he dashed it into his +sister's face.</p> +<p>"But, monsieur--" Madame Flambard began to remonstrate.</p> +<p>"Oh, it does not matter about her being wet a bit," Leigh said. +"The great thing is to bring her round.</p> +<p>"There, she is opening her eyes. I never saw her faint before. +She is not that sort."</p> +<p>At this moment, there was a joyous shout from the skipper:</p> +<p>"It is Captain Martin, himself! Hurrah, boys! It is the +captain."</p> +<p>The crew broke into joyous shouts.</p> +<p>"It is Jean, Patsey," Leigh said, sharply. "Thank God, it is +he.</p> +<p>"Steady, steady!" he added, as his sister suddenly sat up, and +held out her arms to be lifted to her feet. "Are you all right, +dear? He will not be alongside for some little time. Don't try to +get up for a minute or two."</p> +<p>As Madame Flambard supported her, he ran down into the cabin, +poured out a little brandy and water, and ran upstairs again with +the glass.</p> +<p>"There, dear, drink this. You must be strong enough to greet +him, as he comes alongside."</p> +<p>She drank it up, and then he helped her to her feet. She stood +leaning on the rail, but unable to see the boat through her tears. +Leigh ran up a few of the ratlines and waved his cap and, two or +three minutes later, the whole crew, clustered along the side, +raised a loud cheer as the boat came near.</p> +<p>Patsey held out her arms to Jean, who had, after his first eager +signal, dropped back into his seat; and sat there, with his face +covered in his hands, until within two or three hundred yards of +the lugger. Then he had stood up again. He waved his cap in reply +to the cheers of the crew, but his eyes were fixed upon Patsey.</p> +<a id="PicH" name="PicH"></a> +<center><img src="images/h.jpg" alt= +"For two or three minutes, husband and wife stood together." /></center> +<p>As the boat came alongside he sprang on to the channel, swung +himself over the rail, Patsey falling into his arms as his feet +touched the deck. The others all drew back and, for two or three +minutes, husband and wife stood together. Then Jean, placing Patsey +in a chair, turned and embraced Leigh warmly.</p> +<p>"I felt sure that you would bring her back safely," he said. "I +never allowed myself to doubt it, for a minute; and as soon as I +made the lugger out, from the height there, I was sure that she was +on board; and ran down to the coast guard station, and Captain +Whittier and the crew were in her, in a couple of minutes.</p> +<p>"Where is Louis?"</p> +<p>"Here he is!" Monsieur Flambard said, coming forward with the +child in his arms.</p> +<p>Louis knew his father at once, and greeted him with a little +shout of pleasure.</p> +<p>"And you, too, Flambard?" Jean said, after he had kissed and +embraced his boy. "I am glad indeed that you, too, have escaped +from that inferno they call France."</p> +<p>"Yes, and my wife too, Martin; and, like your wife, we owe our +safety to Leigh."</p> +<p>Although they had not met before, Jean and Madame Flambard shook +hands as warmly as if they had been old friends, filled as they +were by a common happiness.</p> +<p>Captain Whittier now came on board. He had hitherto remained in +the boat, in order that the family meetings should be got over +before he showed himself.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see you, Master Leigh," he said, shaking hands as +he spoke; "though I certainly should not have known you again. You +ought no longer to be called Master Leigh, for you are a grown man. +We have talked of you, often and often; and it was not until +Captain Martin arrived, a week ago, that we had any idea of what +had become of you.</p> +<p>"Everyone will be glad to know that you are safely back; and you +too, Mrs. Martin. Everyone has missed Miss Patsey, as they still +call you when they speak of you."</p> +<p>Jean had been shaking hands with Lefaux and the crew, and now +returned.</p> +<p>"I don't know how we stand with this craft, captain. She has +come into port of her own free will, and not as a prize. I claim +that she is the property of a French Royalist, now an emigre; and +as England, so far from being at war with French Royalists, is +their ally, I intend to transfer her to my wife, and to have her +registered as an English ship."</p> +<p>"Well, I suppose that you will have to settle that with the +authorities, Captain Martin; but I should think that you are right, +for other French craft have come across with emigres, and have +always been allowed to return. Is there any cargo on board?"</p> +<p>"None," Leigh said. "She left Bordeaux the moment she discharged +the cargo she brought there."</p> +<p>As they dropped anchor off the island another boat came +alongside, with Mr. Stansfield and his two sons, and there was +again a scene of tender greeting between them, her, and Leigh.</p> +<p>"Where is Polly?" Patsey asked.</p> +<p>"She was married, two years ago," her father said, "to Harry +King, the son of the banker, you know. Of course, she lives in +Poole now.</p> +<p>"And so this is your little boy?"</p> +<p>"Yes, but he cannot understand you, at present. We have always +talked French with him since the troubles began as, had he spoken a +word or two of English, it might have been fatal to him, and to us; +but he will soon pick it up, now he is among you all."</p> +<p>It was a happy party, indeed, that evening at Netherstock, where +Mr. Stansfield had insisted that Monsieur and Madame Flambard +should stay, till they could find a lodging to suit them in Poole. +Madame Martin and her daughter, Louise, arrived a few minutes after +the others had reached the house; as Jean had sent off a boy to +tell them, as soon as he made out the lugger; and a little later +Patsey's sister, Polly, came over from Poole.</p> +<p>At first, innumerable questions were asked on each side; and +then Leigh related all that had happened, since they left Le Mans. +Monsieur Flambard interrupted, when it came to the point where +Leigh had rescued him and his wife, and gave full particulars of it +to Jean, who translated it to the others. Then it came to Jean's +turn.</p> +<p>"I was with Rochejaquelein," he said. "We had made our last +charge down on the head of the enemy's column. It was hot work. +Desailles was shot through the head, close by my side and, as we +rode off, I felt my horse stumble, and knew that it was hit. Almost +at the same moment my sword fell from my hand, my right arm being +broken by a musket ball.</p> +<p>"La Rochejaquelein had given orders that this charge was to be +the last. He knew that, by this time, the main part of the army +would have left the town. My horse lagged behind the others, and I +was just turning it to ride to our meeting place, when it fell +under me.</p> +<p>"I decided at once not to attempt to come to the rendezvous. In +the first place, I felt sure that you had already followed out my +instructions; and in the next place, had I joined you, I should +have ruined your chance of escape. Being dismounted, I should have +hampered your flight and, even had we escaped pursuit, your having +a man with a broken arm with you would, everywhere, have roused +suspicion. I therefore determined to go as far as I could, and then +hide in a wood and shift for myself.</p> +<p>"I got a peasant, who was running past me, to stop for a moment +and bind my arm tightly with my sash. It was broken high up. I +walked, for two or three hours, in the direction opposite to that +in which the army had retreated. The peasant who had bound my arm +up accompanied me. I found that he came from a farm near us. He had +recognized me at once, but I had not noticed who it was. I told him +to try and save himself, but he would not hear of it.</p> +<p>"'Monsieur will require my aid," he said, 'and it is my duty to +render it. Besides, I am as likely to escape one way as the other. +Monsieur knows more about the roads than I do, and will be able to +direct me.'</p> +<p>"Of course, I assented, for I was glad indeed to have him with +me. As soon as we hid up in a wood, he cut two strips of bark off +the trunk of a young tree, cut off the sleeve of my coat and shirt, +put the arm straight and, with a strip torn off my sash first +bandaged it, and then applied the two pieces of bark as splints, +and finally bound another bandage round them.</p> +<p>"He had carried with him the blanket and valises he had taken +off the saddle. The latter contained a bottle of wine, and some +food, and on this we lived for three days. Then I determined upon +starting. He went out in the evening and managed to buy, at a +cottage, two loaves of bread and a couple of bottles of wine. We +divided these. Then I put on my disguise, and we started in +different directions, he making south for the river, which I trust +the good fellow managed to reach and cross safely, while I struck +north.</p> +<p>"My wine and bread lasted me for four days, by which time I had +arrived at Louviers, on the Seine. I was now a hundred miles from +Le Mans, and altogether beyond the line of action. I felt +comparatively safe. My arm was so painful, however, that I felt +that, at whatever risk, I must see a surgeon.</p> +<p>"I went first to an inn, where my appearance as a stranger, and +without means of conveyance, excited the surprise of the +landlord.</p> +<p>"'You are hurt, monsieur,' he said.</p> +<p>"'Yes; my horse fell under me and threw me heavily, and broke my +arm. Before I could recover myself, it had run away. Fortunately a +peasant who was going by bandaged my arm up, and I was able to walk +on here. Who is the best surgeon in the place?'</p> +<p>"He mentioned the name of the doctor, and said that he had the +reputation of being very skilful and kind. He offered to send for +him but, being close by, I said that I would rather go to him.</p> +<p>"The man's face gave me confidence, as soon as I entered. I knew +that it would be of no use to tell him the story of a fall, and I +said at once:</p> +<p>"'Monsieur, I believe doctors are like confessors, and that they +keep the secrets of their patients.'</p> +<p>"He smiled.</p> +<p>"'Monsieur has a secret, then?'</p> +<p>"'I have,' I said. 'I have had my arm broken by a musket +ball--it does not matter how or when, does it?'</p> +<p>"'In no way,' he said; 'my business is simply to do what I can +for you.'</p> +<p>"'It is seven days old,' I said, 'and is horribly painful and +inflamed.'</p> +<p>"He examined the wound.</p> +<p>"'The bone is badly broken,' he said. 'It is well for you that +it has been bound up with some skill, and that these rough splints +have kept it in its place. Of course, what you require is rest and +quiet. Without cutting down to the bone I cannot tell how badly it +is splintered and, in the state of inflammation that it is now in, +I could not venture upon that. I can only rebandage it again, and +give you a lotion to pour over it, from time to time.</p> +<p>"Tell me frankly what you are. You can trust me.'</p> +<p>"'I am a sailor,' I said, 'captain of my own craft. I am also a +Vendean and, as the cause is now lost, I am making my way down to +the sea. I hope, in some way or other, to make my escape to +England, where I have friends, my wife being an Englishwoman. What +I require more than anything is a suit of sailor's clothes.'</p> +<p>"'I will do what I can to help you, my friend. I am not one of +those who think that France can be regenerated by the slaughter of +the whole of the best of her people, and by all power being given +to the worst.</p> +<p>"'Let me see; I cannot go and buy sailor's clothes myself, but +my old servant can be trusted absolutely. There is a shop down by +the river where such things are sold. I will get her to go down +there, and say that she has a nephew just arrived from sea, and +that she wants to give him a new rig out; but as he has hurt +himself, and cannot come, she must choose it. What is your +height?'</p> +<p>"'About five foot ten,' I said.</p> +<p>"'And how broad round the shoulders?'</p> +<p>"'Forty-three inches. I have plenty of money to pay for all that +is necessary, and more,' and I took out my roll of assignats.</p> +<p>"'Since you are well provided,' he said, 'I will take some. The +people are very poor, and we all suffer together. They pay me when +they can and, so that I can make ends meet, I am well content.'</p> +<p>"In an hour the woman returned, with a suit of rough sailor's +clothes, and you may imagine how glad I was to put them on, the +doctor helping me on with the jacket.</p> +<p>"'Now,' he said, when I had dressed and eaten some food the old +servant had set before me, 'it happens that at daybreak tomorrow +one of my patients, the master of a river boat, is starting on the +turn of tide for Honfleur. I will first go round to the auberge, +and tell the landlord that your arm is badly broken, and that I +shall keep you here for the night, as you will require attention; +then I will go to the captain, and arrange for your passage. When I +tell him that you are a patient of mine, and that I should be +obliged if he would find you some quiet lodging at Honfleur, where +you can remain till your arm is better and you are fit to be about +again, I have no doubt he will manage it. He is a good fellow, and +I shall let him understand that you don't want inquiries made about +you.</p> +<p>"'Now, you had better lie down on a bed upstairs, and try to +sleep. I will call you in time to go down to the boat.'</p> +<p>"'There is no fear of my getting you into trouble?' I asked. 'I +would rather go on to Honfleur by road at once, than do so.'</p> +<p>"'There is no fear of that; the maire is a friend and patient of +mine. And if, as may be the case, the landlord mentions the arrival +of a stranger, and his coming to me; I shall simply tell the maire +that, your arm being badly broken, I kept you for the night, and +then sent you on by boat; and that as for papers, not being a +gendarme, I never thought of asking you for them.'</p> +<p>"The next morning he dressed my arm again, and then himself took +me down to the boat, and handed me over to its skipper. He +absolutely refused any payment for his services; but I insisted on +his receiving a couple of hundred francs, in assignats, for the use +of his poorer patients.</p> +<p>"The skipper carried out his instructions to the letter. We got +to Honfleur after dark, on the day after starting, and he went with +me to the cottage of a widow of his acquaintance.</p> +<p>"He said to her, 'Mother, I want you to take care of this young +sailor. He has broken his arm, and wants nursing. He does not want +his being here to be known, because he is afraid he might be packed +off in one of the ships of war, as soon as he recovers. I suppose +you can manage that?'</p> +<p>"'Oh, yes,' she said; 'I have very few visitors, and no one +would guess that I have anyone upstairs.'</p> +<p>"'He has plenty of money to pay your charges. Now I will leave +him with you, and will look in tomorrow, to see how he is getting +on.'</p> +<p>"I stayed there a fortnight, by which time the inflammation had +pretty well subsided. No one could be kinder than the old woman +was. She used to bathe my arm by the hour, and she fed me up with +broth.</p> +<p>"At the end of that time I felt ready for work, though my arm +was of course useless. So, having paid my account, I went down +boldly to the river and crossed to Harfleur, and then went on to +Havre. I stayed there for a couple of days, at a sailors' cabaret; +where they supposed that I belonged to a vessel in port, and no +questions were asked.</p> +<p>"Finding that it would be difficult to pass the gunboat lying +there, I walked up to Fecamp, picked out a likely looking boat +afloat by the quay; and at night got on board, rowed quietly out, +and then managed to get the sail hoisted. The wind was offshore, +and by the morning I was out of sight of the French coast. I laid +my course for Portsmouth, and landed there that evening. Being +fortunately able to speak English, I had only to leave the boat +tied up to the quay, and go up to a small inn close by. I slept +there, crossed to Gosport, and walked to Southampton the next +morning; and got into Poole on the following day, and soon found +where my mother and sister were staying.</p> +<p>"So you see I had, altogether, very little adventure on my way +from Le Mans. Since then, I have spent most of my time up here +sweeping the water with your father's glass. I had been watching +the Henriette, for hours, before she came near enough for me to be +sure that it was she; though of course, I could see that she was a +French-rigged boat.</p> +<p>"As soon as I made her out I sent off word to my mother, and ran +down to the coast guard station. I felt sure that you were on +board, for otherwise the lugger would not have come over here. +Still, of course, I could not be absolutely certain until I saw +that the figure I could make out, standing on the rail, was that of +a woman."</p> +<p>It was some little time before their plans were finally decided +upon. It was evident that, at present, no trade could be done in +French wines. However, as Jean, his mother, and his friend Flambard +had sufficient capital to enable them to live without trade, for +some time, they agreed that they should establish themselves at +once, in London, as wine merchants. Flambard had correspondents in +Spain and Portugal, from whom he could obtain wine of these +countries; and they agreed that Poole did not offer opportunities +for carrying on any considerable trade. Both insisted that Leigh +should become a member of the firm and, a month after their arrival +at Poole, the party moved up to London.</p> +<p>Madame Martin, her daughter, Jean and his wife took a house, +between them, at Hackney; and Monsieur Flambard and his wife +established themselves in another, a few hundred yards away.</p> +<p>From time to time came scraps of news from across the Channel. +La Rochejaquelein and Stofflet, after being separated from their +followers when crossing the Loire, had gathered a small band +together, and gained some successes over parties of the enemy. Two +grenadiers, after one of these skirmishes, were on the point of +being shot by the peasants when Henri came up to save their lives. +One of the prisoners, however, recognizing the gallant leader of +the Vendeans, raised his musket and shot him dead.</p> +<p>It was not for two years after this that the struggle was +finally brought to a conclusion, for the heroic people of La Vendee +continued to resist all the efforts of their enemies; until +Stofflet and Charette were captured and executed, the one in +February, 1796, the other in the following month. The moderation +and judgment of General Hoche finally brought about the end of a +war which stands unexampled, in history, for the noble resistance +offered by a small body of peasants to the power of a great +country.</p> +<p>As soon as Monsieur Flambard heard, from his correspondents +abroad, that a consignment of wine was on its way they took an +office; for it had already been agreed that, having no connection +for sales to private customers, they would work only as wholesale +merchants, dealing with the trade and with large hotels and other +establishments, contenting themselves with the smallest possible +rate of profit until they made a connection; and at the end of two +or three years, they were doing a considerable business.</p> +<p>The Henriette sailed for France, shortly after their arrival in +Poole, as the crew preferred returning home. Lefaux was to trade as +before and, being so well known at all the western ports, was +certain of obtaining freights. He was to pay wages and all other +expenses, and to transmit the balance as opportunity occurred.</p> +<p>Three years later, when the internal affairs of the country had +calmed down, Jean managed to get a letter sent to the priest of +their village, asking him to inquire about Marthe; and after a +considerable time an answer was received, saying that she and +Francois had reached home in safety, had been married shortly after +their return, and were doing well; having, with their joint +savings, purchased at a very low price one of Jean's confiscated +farms.</p> +<p>Ten years later the firm of Flambard, Martin, & Stansfield +were doing a large business, and when the war came to a +termination, and trade with Bordeaux, Charente, and Nantes was +renewed, Monsieur Flambard returned to Bordeaux and, having a large +connection there, the firm soon became known as the largest +importers of foreign wines in London.</p> +<p>Madame Martin had, long before that, died. Patsey was the mother +of three boys and two girls, and Leigh had a separate establishment +of his own, and had been for fifteen years a married man. Mr. +Stansfield was still alive, and things went on at Netherstock in +very much the same fashion as before Patsey left home.</p> +<p>Jacques Martin had been one of the many who were guillotined +when the terror came to an end, after the death of Robespierre.</p> +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of No Surrender!, by G. A. 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A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: No Surrender! + A Tale of the Rising in La Vendee + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: Stanley Wood + +Release Date: December 11, 2006 [EBook #20091] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NO SURRENDER! *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + +No Surrender! +A Tale Of The Rising in La Vendee +by G. A. Henty. + +Contents + +Preface. +Chapter 1: A French Lugger. +Chapter 2: The Beginning Of Troubles. +Chapter 3: The First Successes. +Chapter 4: Cathelineau's Scouts. +Chapter 5: Checking The Enemy. +Chapter 6: The Assault Of Chemille. +Chapter 7: A Short Rest. +Chapter 8: The Capture Of Saumur. +Chapter 9: Bad News. +Chapter 10: Preparations For A Rescue. +Chapter 11: The Attack On Nantes. +Chapter 12: A Series Of Victories. +Chapter 13: Across The Loire. +Chapter 14: Le Mans. +Chapter 15: In Disguise. +Chapter 16: A Friend At Last: +Chapter 17: A Grave Risk. +Chapter 18: Home. + +Illustrations + +"Follow Me!" he shouted. "Make for the gun!" +At the first volley, the colonel of the dragoons and many of his men fell. +A scattered fire broke out from the defenders. +Leigh gave the word and, leaping up, they threw themselves on the traitor. +He was the bearer of terrible news. +Jean seized one of them by the throat. +Westermann's cavalry charged into the streets of Dol. +For two or three minutes, husband and wife stood together. + + + +Preface. + + +In the world's history, there is no more striking example of heroic +bravery and firmness than that afforded by the people of the +province of Poitou, and more especially of that portion of it known +as La Vendee, in the defence of their religion and their rights as +free men. At the commencement of the struggle they were almost +unarmed, and the subsequent battles were fought by the aid of +muskets and cannon wrested from the enemy. With the exception of +its forests, La Vendee offered no natural advantages for defence. +It had no mountains, such as those which enabled the Swiss to +maintain their independence; no rivers which would bar the advance +of an enemy; and although the woods and thickets of the Bocage, as +it was called, favoured the action of the irregular troops, these +do not seem to have been utilized as they might have been, the +principal engagements of the war being fought on open ground. For +eighteen months the peasants of La Vendee, in spite of the fact +that they had no idea of submitting either to drill or discipline, +repulsed the efforts of forces commanded by the best generals +France could furnish; and which grew, after every defeat, until at +length armies numbering, in all, over two hundred thousand men were +collected to crush La Vendee. + +The losses on both sides were enormous. La Vendee was almost +depopulated; and the Republicans paid dearly, indeed, for their +triumph, no fewer than one hundred thousand men having fallen, on +their side. La Vendee was crushed, but never surrendered. Had the +British government been properly informed, by its agents, of the +desperate nature of the struggle that was going on; they might, by +throwing twenty thousand troops, with supplies of stores and money +into La Vendee, have changed the whole course of events; have +crushed the Republic, given France a monarch, and thus spared +Europe over twenty years of devastating warfare, the expenditure of +enormous sums of money, and the loss of millions of lives. + +G. A. Henty + + + +Chapter 1: A French Lugger. + + +Some half a mile back from the sea, near the point where the low +line of sandy hill is broken by the entrance into Poole Harbour, +stood, in 1791, Netherstock; which, with a small estate around, was +the property of Squire Stansfield. The view was an extensive one, +when the weather was clear. Away to the left lay the pine forests +of Bournemouth and Christ Church and, still farther seaward, the +cliffs of the Isle of Wight, from Totland Bay as far as Saint +Catherine Point. Close at hand to the south was Studland Bay, +bounded by Handfast Point. Looking towards the right was a great +sheet of shallow water, for the most part dry at low tide, known as +Poole and Wareham Harbours, with its numerous creeks and bays. + +Netherstock was an old house, with many nooks and corners. The +squire was a justice of the peace but, unless there was some +special business on, he seldom took his place on the bench. He was +a jovial man, who took life easily. He was popular among his +neighbours, especially among the poorer classes; for whom he had +always a pleasant word, as he rode along; and who, in case of +illness, knew that they could always be sure of a supply of soup, +or a gill of brandy at Netherstock. + +Among those of his own class it was often a matter of wonder how +James Stansfield made both ends meet. The family had, for two or +three generations, been of a similar temperament to that of the +present holder; men who spent their money freely, and were sure to +be present whenever there was a horse race, or a main of cocks to +be fought, or a prizefight to come off, within a day's ride of +Netherstock. Gradually, farm after farm had been parted with; and +the estate now was smaller, by half, than it had been at the +beginning of the century. + +James Stansfield had, however, done nothing further to diminish it. +He had a large family, but they could hardly be said to be an +expensive one, seeing that little was spent upon the fashion of +their clothes; and beyond the fact that the curate in charge of the +little church in the village of Netherstock came over, every +morning for two or three hours, to give the boys and girls the +elements of education, they went very much their own way. Mrs. +Stansfield had died, five years before this. Polly, the eldest +girl, aged twenty, acted as mistress of the house. Next to her, at +intervals of little more than a year, came Ralph and John; two +strongly built young fellows, both fearless riders and good at all +rustic games. What supervision the farm work got was given by them. + +Patsey, the second girl, was generally admitted to be the flower of +the Stansfields. She was bright, pretty, and good tempered. She was +in charge of the dairy, and the Netherstock butter was famous +through the country round, and always fetched top prices at the +market. The youngest of the family was Leigh, who was now fourteen. +He was less heavily built than his brothers, but their tutor +declared that he was the quickest and most intelligent of his +pupils; and that, if he had but a chance, he would turn out a fine +young fellow. + +The boys were all fond of boating and sailing, which was natural +enough, as the sea washed two sides of the estate. They had two +boats. One of these lay hauled up on the sands, a mile to the east +of the entrance to the harbour. She was a good sea boat and, when +work was slack about the place, which indeed was the normal state +of things, they would often sail to Weymouth to the west, or +eastward to Yarmouth or Lymington, sometimes even to Portsmouth. +The other boat, which was also large, but of very shallow draught +of water, lay inside the entrance to the harbour; and in her they +could go either north or south of Brownsea Island, and shoot or +fish in the many inlets and bays. There were few who knew every +foot of the great sheet of water as they did, and they could tell +the precise time of the tide at which the channels were deep enough +for boats drawing from two to three feet of water. + +The most frequent visitor to Netherstock was Lieutenant, or, as he +was called in courtesy, Captain Whittier, the officer in command of +the coast guard station between Poole and Christ Church; his +principal station being opposite Brownsea Island, the narrowest +point of the entrance to the harbour. He was a somewhat fussy +little officer, with a great idea of the importance of his duties, +mingled with a regret that these duties did not afford him full +scope for proving his ability. + +"Smuggling has almost ceased to exist, along here," he would say. +"I do not say that, across the harbour, something that way may not +still be done; for the facilities there are very much greater than +they are on this side. Still, my colleague there can have but +little trouble; for I keep a sharp lookout that no boat enters by +the passage south of the island without being searched. Of course, +one hears all sorts of absurd reports about cargoes being run; but +we know better, and I believe they are only set on foot to put our +officers from Swanage Westward, and beyond Christ Church down to +Hurst Castle, off their guard." + +"No doubt, captain; no doubt," James Stansfield would agree. +"Still, I fancy that, although times are not what they were, it is +still possible to buy a keg of brandy, occasionally, or a few yards +of silk or lace, that have never paid duty." + +"Yes, no doubt occasionally some small craft manages to run a few +kegs or bales; and unfortunately the gentry, instead of aiding his +majesty's representatives, keep the thing alive by purchasing +spirits, and so on, from those who have been concerned in their +landing." + +"Well, you know, Captain Whittier, human nature is pretty strong. +If a pedlar comes along here with ribbons and fal-lals, and offers +them to the girls at half the price at which they could buy them +down at Poole, you can hardly expect them to take lofty ground, and +charge the man with having smuggled them." + +"I do not think the young ladies are offenders that way," the +officer said, "for I have never yet seen them in foreign gear of +any sort. I should, if you will allow me to say so, be more +inclined, were you not a justice of the peace, to suspect you of +having dealings with these men; for your brandy is generally of the +best." + +"I don't set up to be better than my neighbours, captain," the +squire said, with a laugh; "and if the chance comes my way, I will +not say that I should refuse to buy a good article, at the price I +should pay for a bad one in the town." + +"Your tobacco is good, too, squire." + +"Yes, I am particular about my tobacco, and I must say that I think +government lays too high a duty on it. If I had the making of the +laws, I would put a high duty on bad tobacco, and a low duty on a +good article; that would encourage the importation of good +wholesome stuff. + +"I suppose you have heard no rumours of any suspicious looking +craft being heard of, off the coast?" + +"No, I think that they carry on their business a good deal farther +to the west now. My post is becoming quite a sinecure. The +Henriette came into Poole this morning, but we never trouble about +her. She is a fair trader, and is well known at every port between +Portsmouth and Plymouth as such. She always comes in at daylight, +and lays her foresail aback till we board her, and send a couple of +men with her into Poole or Wareham. Her cargo is always consigned +to well-known merchants, at all the ports she enters; and consists +of wines, for the most part, though she does occasionally bring in +brandy. + +"He is a fine young fellow, the skipper, Jean Martin. I believe his +father is a large wine merchant, at Nantes. I suppose you know him, +squire?" + +"Yes, I have met him several times down in the town, and indeed +have bought many a barrel of wine of him. He has been up here more +than once, for I have told him, whenever he has anything +particularly good either in wine or spirits, to let me know. He +talks a little English, and my girls like to have a chat with him, +about what is going on on his side of the water. He offered, the +other day, to give Leigh a trip across to Nantes, if I was willing. + +"Things seem to be going on very badly in Paris, by what he says; +but he does not anticipate any troubles in the west of France, +where there seems to be none of that ill feeling, between the +different classes, that there is in other parts." + +The departure of Captain Whittier was always followed by a broad +smile on the faces of the elder boys, breaking occasionally into a +hearty laugh, in which the squire joined. + +"I call him an insufferable ass," Ralph said, on this particular +evening. "It would be difficult, as father says, to find an officer +who is, as far as we are concerned, so admirably suited for his +position." + +"That is so, Ralph. There is scarcely a man, woman, or child in +this part of Dorsetshire who does not know that there are more +goods run, on that piece of water over there, than on the whole +south coast of England. I sincerely trust that nothing will ever +bring about his recall. Personally, I would pay two or three +hundred a year, out of my own pocket, rather than lose him. There +is no such place anywhere for the work; why, there are some +fourteen or fifteen inlets where goods can be landed at high water +and, once past the island, I don't care how sharp the revenue men +may be, the betting is fifty to one against their being at the +right spot at the right time. + +"If the passage between our point and the island were but a bit +wider, it would be perfect; but unfortunately it is so narrow that +it is only on the very darkest night one can hope to get through, +unnoticed. However, we can do very well with the southern channel +and, after all, it is safer. We can get any number of boats, and +the Henriette has only to anchor half a mile outside the entrance. +We know when she is coming, and have but to show a light, directly +she makes her signal, and the boats will put out from Radhorn +passage and Hamworth; while messengers start for Bushaw, and +Scopland, and Creach, and a dozen farmhouses, and the carts are +sure to be at the spot where they had been warned to assemble, by +the time the boats come along with the kegs; and everything is +miles away, in hiding, before morning. + +"If it is a dark night the Henriette makes off again, and comes +boldly in the next afternoon. If one of the revenue boats, either +from here or Studland, happens to come across her before she gets +up anchor, there she is--the crew are all asleep, with the +exception of a man on watch; she is simply waiting to come in, when +there is light enough to enable her to make her way up the +passage." + +James Stansfield was, in fact, the organizer of the smuggling +business carried on at Poole, and the adjacent harbours. There was +not a farmhouse, among the hills to the south of the great sheet of +water, with which he was not in communication. Winter was the +season at which the trade was most busy, for the short summer +nights were altogether unsuited for the work; and when the cold +weather drove the wildfowl in for shelter, there was splendid +shooting, and Ralph and John were able to combine amusement with +business, and to keep the larder well stocked. + +The night signals were made from a cleft in the sand hills, half a +mile from the house; the light being so arranged that it could not +be seen from Brownsea Island, though visible to those on the south +side, from Studland right away over the hills to Corfe Castle, even +to Wareham. It was shown but for half a minute, just as the bells +of Poole Church struck nine. At that hour, when the lugger was +expected, there was a lookout at the door of every farmhouse and, +the moment the light was seen, preparations were made for the +landing at the spot of which notice had been given, by one or other +of the boys, on the previous day. Then, from quiet little inlets, +the boats would put off noiselessly, directly there was water to +float them; for it was only at high tides that the shallows were +covered. They would gather in the channel south of Brownsea, where +the boys and often their father would be in their boats in +readiness, until a momentary glimmer of a light, so placed on board +the lugger that it could only be seen from the spot where they were +awaiting it, showed the position of the craft and their readiness +to discharge cargo. + +It was exciting work, and profitable; and so well was it managed +that, although it had been carried on for some years, no suspicion +had ever entered the minds of any of the revenue officers. +Sometimes many weeks would elapse between the visits of the lugger, +for she was obliged to make her appearance frequently at other +ports, to maintain her character as a trader; and was, as such, +well known all along the coast. + +It was only a year since the Henriette had taken the place of +another lugger, that had previously carried on the work, but had +been wrecked on the French coast. She had been the property of the +same owner, or rather of the same firm; for Jean Martin, who had +been first mate on board the other craft, had invested some of his +own money in the Henriette, and assumed the command. It was +noticed, at Poole, that the Henriette used that port more +frequently than her predecessor had done; and indeed, she not +infrequently came in, in the daytime, with her hold as full as when +she had left Nantes. + +It was on one of these occasions that Jean Martin, on coming up to +Netherstock, had a long talk with the squire. + +"So you want my daughter Patsey?" the latter said, when his visitor +had told his story. "Well, it has certainly never entered my mind +that any of my girls should marry a Frenchman. I don't say that I +have not heard my boys making a sly joke, more than once, when the +Henriette was seen coming in, and I have seen the colour flying up +into the girl's face; but I only looked at it as boys' nonsense. +Still, I don't say that I am averse to your suit. We may be said to +be partners, in this trade of yours, and we both owe each other a +good deal. During the last eight years you must have run something +like forty cargoes, and never lost a keg or a bale; and I doubt if +as much could be said for any other craft in the trade. + +"Still, one can't calculate on always being lucky. I don't think +anyone would turn traitor, when the whole countryside is interested +in the matter; and I wouldn't give much for the life of anyone who +whispered as much as a word to the revenue people. Still, accidents +will take place sometimes. Your father must have done well with the +trade, and so have I. + +"At any rate, I will leave it in Patsey's hands. I have enough of +them, and to spare. And of course, you will be able to bring her +over, sometimes, to pay us a visit here. + +"I think, too, that your offer of taking Leigh over with you helps +to decide me in your favour. They are all growing up and, if +anything were to put a stop to our business, this place would not +keep them all; and it would be a great thing, for Patsey, to have +her brother as a companion when you are away. The boy would learn +French, and in your father's business would get such a knowledge of +the trade with Nantes as should serve him in good stead. At any +rate, he will learn things that are a good deal more useful to him +than those he gets from the curate. + +"Well, you know you will find her in the dairy, as usual. You had +better go and see what she says to it." + +It is probable that Jean Martin had already a shrewd idea of what +Patsey's answer would be, and he presently returned to her father, +radiant. Patsey, indeed, had given her heart to the cheery young +sailor; and although it seemed to her a terrible thing, that she +should go to settle in France, she had the less objection to it, +inasmuch as the fear that the smuggling would be sooner or later +discovered, and that ruin might fall upon Netherstock, was ever +present in her mind, and in that of her elder sister. + +To her brothers, engaged in the perilous business, it was regarded +as a pleasant excitement, without which their lives would be +intolerably dull. It was not that she or they regarded the matter +in the light of a crime, for almost everyone on that part of the +coast looked upon smuggling as a game, in which the wits of those +concerned in it were pitted against those of the revenue men. It +brought profit to all concerned, and although many of the gentry +found it convenient to express indignation, at the damage done to +the king's revenue by smuggling; there were none of them who +thought it necessary to mention, to the coast guard, when by some +accident a keg of brandy, or a parcel with a few pounds of prime +tobacco, was found in one of the outhouses. + +Patsey had suffered more than her sister, being of a more lively +imagination, and being filled with alarm and anxiety whenever she +knew that her father and the boys were away at night. Then, too, +she was very fond of Leigh, and had built many castles in the air +as to his future; and the thought that, not only would he be with +her, but would be in the way of making his road to fortune, was +very pleasant to her. She knew that if he remained at Netherstock +he would grow up like his brothers. His father might, from time to +time, talk of putting him into some business; but she understood +his ways, and was certain that nothing would come of it. + +Martin had, before, expressed to her his doubt as to whether her +father would consent to her going away with him; but she had no +fear on the subject. In his quiet, easygoing way he was fond of his +children; and would scarcely put himself out to oppose, vehemently, +anything on which they had set their hearts. He had, too, more than +once said that he wished some of them could be settled elsewhere; +for a time of trouble might come, and it would be well to have +other homes, where some of them could be received. + +"Patsey has consented," Jean Martin said, joyously, as he rejoined +the squire. + +"Well, that is all right. I think, myself, that it is for the best. +Of course, it must be understood that, in the matter of religion, +she is not to be forced or urged in any sort of way; but is to be +allowed to follow the religion in which she has been brought up." + +"I would in no way press her, sir. We have Protestants in France, +just as there are Catholics here; though I must admit that there +are not many of them in La Vendee. Still, the days when people +quarrelled about religion are long since past; and certainly at +Nantes there is a Protestant congregation, though away in the +country they would be difficult to find. However, I promise you, +solemnly, that I will in no way try to influence her mind, nor that +of the boy. He will still, of course, look upon England as his +home, and I should even oppose any attempt being made to induce him +to join our church. You have plenty of Frenchmen in this country, +and no question as to their religion arises. It will be just the +same, with us." + +Six weeks later, the Henriette returned. In her came Monsieur +Martin, whose presence as a witness of the ceremony was considered +advisable, if not absolutely necessary. He had, too, various +documents to sign in presence of the French consul, at Southampton, +giving his formal consent. The marriage was solemnized there at a +small Catholic chapel, and it was repeated at the parish church at +Poole, and the next day the party sailed for Nantes. + +It was two months before the lugger again came in to Poole. When it +returned, it took with it the squire and Polly, to whom Monsieur +Martin had given a warm invitation to come over to see Patsey, in +her new home. + +They found her well and happy. Monsieur Martin's house was in the +suburbs of Nantes. It had a large garden, at the end of which, +facing another street, stood a pretty little house that had been +generally used, either as the abode of aged mothers or unmarried +sisters of the family, or for an eldest son to take his wife to; +but which had now been handed over to Jean and his wife. This was +very pleasant for Patsey, as it united the privacy of a separate +abode with the cheerfulness of the family home. She had her own +servant, whose excellent cooking and, above all, whose scrupulous +cleanliness and tidiness, astonished her after the rough meals and +haphazard arrangements at Netherstock. + +Whenever she felt dull during Jean's absences, she could run across +the garden for a talk with his mother and sister; at meals and in +the evening she had Leigh, who spent most of his time at the +cellars or in the counting house of Monsieur Martin; learning for +the first time habits of business, and applying himself eagerly to +acquiring the language. + +The squire was put up at Monsieur Martin's, and Polly slept in the +one spare room at her sister's, all the party from the pavilion +going over to the house, to the midday meal and supper. The squire +and Polly were much pleased with their visit. It was evident that +Patsey had become a prime favourite with her husband's family. +Jean's sister Louise was assiduous in teaching her French, and she +had already begun to make some progress. Louise and her mother were +constantly running across to the little pavilion, on some errand or +other; and Patsey spent as much of her time with them as she did in +her own house. + +Jean's absences seldom exceeded ten days, and he generally spent a +week at home before sailing again. He had driven her over to stay, +for three or four days, at a small estate of his own, some forty +miles to the southeast of Nantes, in the heart of what was called +the Bocage--a wild country, with thick woods, narrow lanes, high +hedges, and scattered villages and farms, much more English in +appearance than the country round Nantes. The estate had come to +him from an aunt. Everything here was very interesting to Patsey; +the costumes of the women and children, the instruments of +husbandry, the air of freedom and independence of the people, and +the absence of all ceremony, interested and pleased her. She did +not understand a single word of the patois spoken to her by the +peasants, and which even Jean had some difficulty in following, +although he had spent a good deal of his time at the little chateau +during the lifetime of his aunt. + +"Should you like to live here, when not at sea, Jean?" asked +Patsey. + +"Yes, I would rather live here than at Nantes. Next to a life at +sea, I should like one quite in the country. There is plenty to do +here. There is the work on the place to look after, there is +shooting, there is visiting, and visiting here means something +hearty, and not like the formal work in the town. Here no one +troubles his head over politics. They may quarrel as they like, in +Paris, but it does not concern La Vendee. + +"Here the peasants love their masters, and the masters do all in +their power for the comfort and happiness of the peasants. It is +not as in many other parts of France, where the peasants hate the +nobles, and the nobles regard the peasants as dirt under their +feet. Here it is more like what I believe it was in England, when +you had your troubles, and the tenants followed their lords to +battle. At any rate, life here would be very preferable to being in +business with my father, in Nantes. I should never have settled +down to that; and as my elder brother seems specially made for that +sort of life, fortunately I was able to go my own way, to take to +the sea in the lugger, and become the carrier of the firm, while +taking my share in the general profits." + +"How is it that your brother does not live at home? It would seem +natural that he should have had the pavilion, when he married." + +"He likes going his own way," Jean said shortly. "As far as +business matters go, he and my father are as one; but in other +matters they differ widely. Jacques is always talking of reforms +and changes, while my father is quite content with things as they +are. Jacques has his own circle of friends, and would like to go to +Paris as a deputy, and to mix himself up in affairs. + +"Though none of us cared for the lady that he chose as his wife, +she had money, and there was nothing to say against her, +personally. None of us ever took to her, and there was a general +feeling of relief when it was known that Jacques had taken a house +in the business quarter. + +"He looks after the carrying business. Of course, my lugger does +but a very small proportion of it. We send up large quantities of +brandy to Tours, Orleans, and other towns on the Loire; and have +dealings with Brittany and Normandy, by sea, and with the Gironde. +He looks after that part of the business. My father does the buying +and directs the counting house. Though my art is a very inferior +one, I have no reason to complain of my share of the profits." + +The first eighteen months of Patsey's married life passed quietly +and happily. She could now speak French fluently and, having made +several stays at the country chateau, could make herself understood +in the patois. Leigh spoke French as well as English. Fortunately +he had picked up a little before leaving home, partly from his +tutor, partly from endeavouring to talk with French fishermen and +sailors who came into Poole. He frequently made trips in the +Henriette, sometimes to Havre and Rouen, at others to Bordeaux. He +had grown much, and was now a very strong, active lad. He got on +very well with Monsieur Martin; but kept as much apart as he could +from his eldest son, for whom he felt a deep personal dislike, and +who had always disapproved of Jean's marriage to an Englishwoman. + +Jacques Martin was the strongest contrast to his brother. He was +methodical and sententious, expressed his opinion on all subjects +with the air of a man whose judgment was infallible, and was an +ardent disciple of Voltaire and Rousseau. It was very seldom that +he entered his father's house, where his opinions on religious +subjects shocked and horrified his mother and sister. He lived with +an entirely different set, and spent most of his time at the clubs +which, in imitation of those of Paris, had sprung up all over the +country. + +"What is all the excitement about, Jean?" Leigh asked his +brother-in-law, one evening. "There are always fellows standing on +casks or bales of timber along the wharf, shouting and waving their +arms about and, sometimes, reading letters or printed papers; and +then those who listen to them shout and throw up their caps, and +get into a tremendous state of excitement." + +"They are telling the others what is being done at the Assembly." + +"And what are they doing there, Jean?" + +"They are turning things upside down." + +"And is that good?" + +"Well, there is no doubt that things are not as well managed as +they might be, and that there is a great deal of distress and +misery. In some parts of France the taxation has been very heavy, +and the extravagance of the court has excited an immense deal of +anger. It is not the fault of the present king, who is a quiet +fellow, and does not care for show or pageants; but it is rather +the fault of the kings who preceded him, especially of Louis the +Fourteenth--who was a great monarch, no doubt, but a very expensive +one to his subjects, and whose wars cost an enormous sum. + +"You see it is not, in France, as it is with you. The nobles here +have great power. Their tenants and serfs--for they are still +nothing but serfs--are at the mercy of their lords, who may flog +them and throw them into prison, almost at their pleasure; and will +grind the last sou out of them, that they may cut a good figure at +court. + +"In this part of France things are more as they are in England. The +nobles and seigneurs are like your country gentlemen. They live in +their chateaux, they mix with their people and take an interest in +them, they go to their fetes, and the ladies visit the sick, and in +all respects they live as do your country squires; paying a visit +for a few weeks each year to Paris, and spending the rest of their +time on their estates. But it is not from the country that the +members of the Assembly who are the most urgent for reforms and +violent in their speech come, but from the towns. There were two +writers, Voltaire and Rousseau, who have done enormous mischief. +Both of them perceived that the state of things was wrong; but they +went to extremes, made fun of the church, and attacked institutions +of all sorts. Their writings are read by everyone, and have shaken +people's faith in God, and in all things as they are. + +"I do not say that much improvement could not be made, but it will +never be made by sudden and great changes, nor by men such as those +who are gradually gaining the upper hand in the Assembly. The +people ought to have a much stronger voice than they have in their +own taxation. They see that, in England, the ministers and +parliament manage everything; and that the king--although his +influence goes for a good deal, and he can change his ministers as +often as he likes--must yet bow to the voice of parliament. I think +that that is reasonable; but when it comes to a parliament composed +largely of mere agitators and spouters, I, for my part, would +rather be ruled by a king." + +"But what is it that these people want, Jean?" + +"I do not think they know in the least, themselves, beyond the fact +that they want all the power; that they want to destroy the +nobility, overthrow the church, and lay hands on the property of +all who are more wealthy than themselves. Naturally the lowest +classes of the towns, who are altogether ignorant, believe that by +supporting these men, and by pulling down all above them, it would +no longer be necessary to work. They want to divide the estates of +the nobles, take a share of the wealth of the traders, and of the +better class of all sorts; in fact they would turn everything +topsy-turvy, render the poor all powerful, and tread all that is +good and noble under their feet. The consequence is that the king +is virtually a prisoner in the hands of the mob of Paris, the +nobles and better classes are leaving the country, thousands of +these have already been massacred, and no one can say how matters +will end. + +"Here in Nantes there is, as you see, a feeling of excitement and +unrest; and though as yet there has been no violence, no one could +venture to predict what may take place, if the moderate men in the +Assembly are outvoted by the extremists, and all power falls into +the hands of the latter. But I still hope that common sense will +prevail, in the long run. I regard the present as a temporary +madness, and trust that France will come to her senses, and that we +shall have the satisfaction of seeing the scoundrels, who are now +the leaders of the mob of Paris, receive the punishment they +deserve. + +"However, as far as we are concerned I have no uneasiness for, if +troubles break out at Nantes, we can retire to my chateau, in the +thickest and most wooded part of La Vendee, where there is no fear +that the peasants will ever rise against their masters." + + + +Chapter 2: The Beginning Of Troubles. + + +"Things are getting more and more serious, Patsey," said Jean one +evening. "I don't know what will come of it. The excitement is +spreading here, and there can be no doubt that there will be very +serious troubles, ere long. The greater portion of the people here +are with the Assembly, and approve of all these decrees against the +priests, and the persecution of the better classes. You know what +has taken place in Paris, and I fear that it will be repeated here. + +"We are split up. My father, dear good man, thinks that he has only +to attend to his business, and to express no opinion whatever about +public affairs, and that the storm will pass quietly over his head. +My brother has thrown himself heart and soul--that is to say, as +far as he has a heart to throw--into what he calls the cause of the +people; and which I consider to be the cause of revolution, of +confiscation, of irreligion, and abomination generally. + +"I am told that my name has freely been mentioned, in his club, as +that of a dangerous man, with opinions contrary to the public good. +I hear, too, that that brother of mine was there, at the time; and +that he got up and said that in a case like this his voice must be +silent, that true patriots place their country before all things; +and then affected to speak mildly in my favour, but at the same +time doing me as much harm as he could. I believe the fellow is +capable of denouncing his own father. + +"From the Bocage I hear that the whole country is in confusion. The +people, of course, side with their priests. The nobles and land +owners are naturally royalists, and are furious that the king +should be held in what is practically subjection; by men of low +degree, and who, although they may have some virtuous men among +them, have also sanguinary scoundrels who gradually gain in power, +and will soon be supreme. + +"They, however, can do nothing at present. The peasants know +nothing about the king, to them he is a mere name; but this +persecution of their priests angers them greatly; and if, as is +said, orders have been given to raise an army, and to drag men away +from their homes whether they like to go or not, you may be sure +that, ere long, there will be trouble there. + +"Now you see, dear, I am a sort of double character. At sea I am +Captain Jean Martin, a peaceful trader with, as you know, but +little regard for the revenue laws of your country. On the other +hand, in La Vendee I am Monsieur Jean Martin, a landed proprietor, +and on friendly terms with all the nobles and gentry in my +neighbourhood. It is evident that I cannot continue to play this +double part. Already great numbers of arrests have been made here, +and the prisons are half full. I hear that a commissioner from the +Assembly is expected here shortly, to try these suspects, as they +are called; and from what we know already, we may be sure that +there will be little mercy shown. + +"They are almost all people of substance; and the people, as they +call themselves, are on principle opposed to men of substance. Now, +if I remain here, I have no doubt that I shall be denounced in a +very short time; and to be denounced is to be thrown into prison, +and to be thrown into prison is equivalent to being murdered. I +have no doubt, Patsey, that you would share my fate. The fact that +you are an Englishwoman was among the accusations brought against +me, in the club; and although, so far as I can see, the majority of +these scoundrels have no religion whatever, they venture to make it +a matter of complaint that you are a Protestant. + +"I have seen this coming on for some time, and must now make my +choice; either I must take you and the child over to England, and +leave you there with your father until these troubles are over, +while I must myself go down and look after my tenantry, and bear my +share in whatever comes; or you must go down there with me." + +"Certainly I will go down with you, Jean. It is your home, and +whatever dangers may come I will share them with you. It would be +agony to be in England, and to know nothing of what is passing +here, and what danger might be threatening you. We took each other +for better or worse, Jean, and the greater danger you may be in, +the more it will be my duty to be by your side. + +"I should be very happy down at the chateau. More happy than I have +been here with you, for some time past; for one cannot but be very +anxious, when one sees one's friends thrown into prison, and knows +that you are opposed to all these things, and that it may be your +turn next. Nothing would persuade me to leave you." + +"Very well, wife, so be it. I am sure that there, at least, we +shall be safe. It is only in the towns that these rascals are +dangerous, and in a country like ours there is little fear that the +knaves will venture to interfere, when they see that they are +stirring up a nest of hornets. They have plenty of work to satisfy +even their taste for confiscation and murder, in the large towns. +There is an army gathering, on the frontier, and they will have +their hands full, ere long. + +"And now, about Leigh. My brother has always shown a dislike for +him and, as it is certain that he cannot remain here, he must +either return to England or go with us." + +"I am sure that he would choose to go with us, Jean. You say +yourself that he talks French like a native now, and although he +has often told me that he would never settle in France--for +naturally he is as horrified as I am with the doings in Paris, and +the other great towns--still I am sure that he would choose to +remain with us, now. You see, he is strong and active, and has made +so many trips with you, that he is almost a sailor. He is within a +few months of sixteen, and of late he has several times said to me +that he would like to go some long voyages, and have some +adventures, before settling down in business, in England, as an +agent of your house." + +"I should like to have him with us," Jean said heartily. "In the +first place, he is a lad after my own heart, full of life and go, +and already strong enough to take his own part; in the next place, +although I hope for the best, a man can never say exactly what will +take place. I may be away at times, and should be glad to know that +you had a protector; and if he is willing to go, I shall be more +than willing to have him. + +"Then, too, it would be useful to have someone whom one could trust +to carry messages. My idea is that I shall not leave the lugger +here for, if I am denounced, it would certainly be seized. Pierre +Lefaux, my mate, is a shrewd as well as a faithful fellow. I shall +appoint him captain. I shall tell him to leave here, at once, and +employ the lugger in coasting voyages; making Bordeaux his +headquarters, and taking what freights he can get between that town +and Rochelle, Brest, or other ports on this coast. So long as he +does not return here, he might even take wines across to England, +or brandy from Charente. He knows his business well and, as long as +we are at peace with England, trade will still go on. + +"The best thing would be for him to be at Bordeaux once every +fortnight, or three weeks, so that we shall know where to find him. +I have a great friend at Bordeaux, and shall get him to have the +lugger registered in his name, and give him a receipt for her +purchase money; so that in case the people here learn that she is +trading at Bordeaux, he will be able to prove that she is his own +property. Then, if the very worst should come, which I cannot bring +myself to believe, there will be a means of escape for us all to +England. + +"She will be sailing there in two or three days. I have fifty +thousand francs lying in my father's hands. I shall send that over +by Lefaux, and instruct him to ask your father to go with him to +the bank, at Poole, and pay the money in to my account. Then, if we +should have to leave France, we shall have that to fall back upon, +and the lugger. I should, of course, transfer her to the English +flag, and have no doubt that we should be able to get on very +fairly. So you see, I am preparing for all contingencies, Patsey." + +"It seems very dreadful that the country should be in such a state, +Jean." + +"It is dreadful, and I am afraid that things have by no means got +to the worst, yet. + +"Ah, here comes Leigh! After supper I shall go in and have a talk +with my father. I have very little hope of having much success with +him; but at least, when he sees the steps that I am taking, it +cannot but make him think seriously of his own position, and that +of my mother and sisters." + +Leigh was delighted when he heard Jean's proposal. His own position +had been unpleasant, of late. He had long since ceased to go to +Jacques Martin, for the dislike between them was mutual and, do +what he would, he failed to give satisfaction. And of late, even in +Monsieur Martin's cellars and storehouses, he had met with a good +deal of unpleasantness; and would have met with more, had it not +been that he had, on one occasion, knocked down one of the chief +clerks, who had sworn at him for some trifling act of carelessness. +As the clerk knew that the merchant would have been very angry at +the insult he had offered to Leigh, he had not ventured to make a +complaint; but in many ways he had been able to cause numberless +petty annoyances. Many of the others were inclined to follow his +lead, and would have done so more openly, were it not that they +held in respect Leigh's strength, and readiness in the science they +called le boxe. + +The talk that there might be troubles in La Vendee heightened his +satisfaction at leaving Nantes, and going down to stay in the +country. The thought of a life spent at Poole, or Weymouth, as a +wine merchant and agent of the house of Martin had, for some time +past, been unpleasant to him. The feeling of general unrest that +prevailed in France had communicated itself to him, and he thought +possibly that something might occur which would change the current +of his life, and lead to one more suited to his natural activity +and energy. + +"You had better pack up quietly, tomorrow," Jean said to his wife, +after his return from his father's. "If there were any suspicion +that I was thinking of going away, it might bring matters to a +head. I will get the lugger's boat down to the wharf, and four +sailors shall come up here and take the boxes down, in one of the +hand carts, with a tarpaulin thrown over them. I will arrange for a +cart and a carriage to be waiting for us, on the other side of the +river. + +"There is no moving my father. He cannot persuade himself that a +man who takes no part in politics, and goes about his business +quietly, can be in any danger. He has, however, at my mother's +entreaty, agreed for the present to cease buying; and to diminish +his stock as far as possible, and send the money, as fast as he +realizes it, across to England. He says, too, that he will, if +things get worse, send her and my sister to England. I promised him +that your father would find them a house, and see that they were +settled comfortably there, for a time. He would not believe that +Jacques could have been at the club when I was denounced, without +defending me; for although himself greatly opposed to the doings in +Paris, and annoyed at the line Jacques has taken up, he thought +that there was at least this advantage in it--that in case of +troubles coming here, he would have sufficient influence to prevent +our being in any way molested. However, there can be no question +that I have, to some extent, alarmed him; and he agreed not only to +draw, tomorrow, my fifty thousand francs from his caisse, but to +send over with it a hundred thousand francs of his own. Fortunately +he can do this without Jacques knowing anything about it, for +although Jacques and I have both a share in the business, he has +always kept the management of the money matters in his own hands. + +"So that is settled, as far as it can be settled. Fortunately the +club does not meet this evening, so there is no fear of a demand +being made, by it, for my arrest tomorrow. I have a friend who +belongs to it--not, I think, because he at all agrees with its +views; but because, like many others, he deems it prudent to appear +to do so. It was from him that I heard what had passed there, and +he promised to give me warning of anything that might be said, or +done, against me. I shall go down to the lugger early, and remain +on board all day, seeing to the stowage of the cargo we are taking +on board, so that no suspicion can arise that I am thinking of +leaving for the country." + +The next evening the party started by unfrequented streets for the +quay, the nurse carrying the child, now three months old. The boxes +had gone half an hour before. It was nearly ten o'clock, and the +quays were deserted. Monsieur Martin had himself gone down, in the +afternoon, with the money to the lugger, and handed it over to +Jean, and had a long talk with him and Pierre Lefaux, to whom Jean +had also intrusted letters from himself and Patsey, to the squire. + +As soon as the party had taken their seats in the boat, it was +rowed two miles up the river, to a point where there was a ferry +across to a road, leading into the heart of La Vendee. Here a light +waggon and a carriage were waiting. The luggage was transferred to +the former and, after a hearty farewell to Pierre Lefaux, who had +himself come in charge of the boat, they started on their journey; +and arrived at the chateau at nine o'clock in the morning, to the +surprise of the man and woman in charge of it. + +"Here we are safe," Jean said, as they alighted from the carriage. +"It would take nothing short of an army to fight its way through +these woods and lanes and, if the Assembly try to interfere with +us, they will find it a much easier thing to pull down the throne +of France, than to subdue La Vendee." + +The news that the master had come down, and that he was going for a +time to live among them, spread rapidly; and in the course of the +day some fifteen of the tenants came in to pay their respects, few +of them arriving without some little offering in the way of game, +poultry, butter, or other produce. + +"Our larder is full enough for us to stand a siege," Patsey said, +laughing, "and I know that we have a good stock of wine in the +cellar, Jean." + +"Yes, and of cider, too. When the tenants are in any difficulty +about paying their rents, I am always willing to take it out in +wine or cider; for my father deals in both, and therefore it is as +good as money. But I have not sent any to Nantes for the past two +or three years and, as you say, the cellars are as full as they can +hold. + +"Tomorrow, Leigh, we will ride over and call upon some of our +neighbours to hear the last news, for the Bocage is as far away +from Nantes as if it were on the other side of France, and we hear +only vague rumours of what is going on here." + +The ride was a delightful one to Leigh. He had only once visited +the chateau before, and then only for a day or two. The wild +country, with its deep lanes, its thick high hedges, its woods and +copses, was all new to him; for the country round his English home +was, for the most part, bare and open. Some of the peasants carried +guns over their shoulders, and looked as if accustomed to use them. + +"Very few of them possess guns," Jean Martin remarked, "and that +they should carry them shows how disturbed a state of mind all +these people are in. They know that their priests may be arrested +and carried off, at any moment; and no doubt the report that an +order has been issued to raise thirty thousand men throughout +France, and that every town and village has to furnish its quota, +has stirred them up even more effectually. I don't suppose that +many of them think that the authorities will really try to drag men +off, against their will; but the possibility is quite enough to +inflame their minds." + +At the very first house they visited they received, from the owner, +ample confirmation of Jean's views. + +"There have been continual fracases between the peasants and the +military," he said, "over the attempts of the latter to arrest the +priests. They can scarcely be called fights, for it has not come to +that; but as soon as the peasants hear that the gendarmes are +coming, they send the priest into the wood, and gather in such +force that the gendarmes are glad enough to ride away, unharmed. Of +course, until we see that the peasants are really in earnest, and +intend to fight to the last, it would be madness for any of us to +take any part in the matter; for we should be risking not only life +but the fortunes of our families, and maybe their lives, too. You +must remember, moreover, that already a great number of the landed +proprietors have either been murdered or imprisoned in Paris, or +are fugitives beyond the frontier." + +"If the peasants would fight," Jean Martin said, "it might not be a +bad thing that there are so few whom they could regard as their +natural leaders. If there are only a few leaders they may act +together harmoniously, or each operate in his own district; but +with a number of men of the same rank, or nearly of the same rank, +each would have his own ideas as to what should be done, and there +would be jealousy and discord." + +"That is true," the other replied. "Of course, if this were an open +country it would be necessary, to give us a chance of success, that +some sort of discipline should be established; and none could +persuade the peasants to submit to discipline, except their own +lords. But in a country like this, discipline is of comparatively +little importance; and it is well that it is so, for though I +believe that the peasants would fight to the death, rather than +submit to be dragged away by force from their homes, they will +never keep together for any time." + +"I am afraid that that will be the case. We must hope that it will +not come to fighting but, if it does, it will take a large force to +conquer La Vendee." + +"What has brought you down here, Monsieur Martin?" + +"It was not safe for me to stay longer in Nantes. If I think a +thing I say it, and as I don't think well of what is being done in +Paris, I have not been in the habit of saying flattering things +about the men there. In fact I have been denounced and, as there is +still room for a few more in the prisons, I should have had a cell +placed at my disposal, if I had remained there many more hours; so +I thought that I should be safer, down here, till there was some +change in the state of affairs." + +"And you brought madame down with you?" + +"Assuredly. I had only the choice open to me of sending her across +to England, and of making my home there, or of coming here. If +there had been no prospect of trouble here, I might have joined the +army of our countrymen who are in exile; but as, from all I heard, +La Vendee was ready to take up arms, I determined to come here; +partly because, had I left the country, my estates here would have +been confiscated; partly because I should like to strike a blow, +myself, at these tyrants of Paris, who seem bent on destroying the +whole of the aristocracy of France, of wiping out the middle +classes, and dividing the land and all else among the scum of the +towns." + +Three or four months passed quietly. There were occasional +skirmishes between the peasants, and parties of troops in search of +priests who refused to obey the orders of the Assembly. At Nantes, +the work of carrying out mock trials, and executing those of the +better classes who had been swept into the prisons, went on +steadily. From time to time a message came to Jean, from his +father, saying that he had carried out his determination to lessen +his stocks, and that he had sent considerable sums of money across +the Channel. So far he had not been molested, but he saw that the +public madness was increasing, and the passion for blood ever +growing. + +Then came the news of the execution of the king, which sent a +thrill of horror through the loyal province. Shortly afterwards it +was known that the decree for the raising of men was to be +enforced; and that commissioners had already arrived at Saumur with +a considerable force, that would be employed, if necessary; but +that the process of drawing the names of those who were to go was +to be carried out by the local authorities, assisted by the +national guards of the towns. + +During the winter things had gone on quietly, at the chateau. There +had been but little visiting, for the terrible events passing in +Paris, and in all the large towns, and the uncertainty about the +future, had cast so deep a gloom over the country that none thought +of pleasure, or even of cheerful intercourse with their neighbours. +Many of the gentry, too, had given up all hope; and had made their +way down to the coast, and succeeded in obtaining a passage in +smuggling craft, or even in fishing boats, to England. + +Jean Martin and Leigh had spent much of their time in shooting. +Game was abundant and, as so many of the chateaux were shut up, +they had a wide range of country open to them for sport. Once or +twice they succeeded in bringing home a wild boar. Wolves had +multiplied in the forests for, during the last three years, the +regular hunts in which all the gentry took part had been abandoned, +and the animals had grown fearless. + +One day, soon after the news of the king's death had been received, +Jean, who had ridden over to Saumur on business, brought back the +news that war had been declared with England. + +"It would have made a good deal of difference to me," he said, "if +I had still been on board the lugger; for of course there would be +an end to all legitimate trade. However, no doubt I should have +managed to run a cargo, sometimes; for they will want brandy and +tobacco all the more, when regular trade is at an end; and prices, +you may be sure, will go up. I have no doubt, too, that there will +be a brisk business in carrying emigrants over. Still, of course +the danger would be very much greater. Hitherto we have only had +the revenue cutters and the coast guards to be afraid of, now every +vessel of war would be an enemy." + +As during their expeditions they were generally accompanied by half +a dozen peasants, who acted as beaters, Leigh had come to +understand the patois, and to some extent to speak it; and he often +paid visits to the houses of the principal tenants of the estate, +who not only welcomed him as the brother of their mistress, but +soon came to like him for himself, and were amused by his high +spirits, his readiness to be pleased with everything, and his talk +to them of the little known country across the water. + +It was evident, from the manner in which the drawing for the +conscription was spoken of, that it would not be carried out +without a strong resistance. Sunday, the tenth of March, had been +fixed for the drawing and, as the day approached, the peasants +became more and more determined that they would not permit +themselves to be dragged away from their homes. + +Three days before, a party of the tenants, together with some from +adjoining estates, had come up to the chateau. Jean Martin at once +came out to them. + +"We have come, monsieur, to ask if you will lead us. We are +determined that we will not be carried off like sheep." + +"There you are right," Jean said; "but although I shall be ready to +do my share of fighting, I do not wish to be a leader. In the first +place, there are many gentlemen of far larger possessions and of +higher rank than myself, who would naturally be your leaders. There +is the Marquis de Lescure at Clisson, and with him are several +other noble gentlemen, among them Henri de la Rochejaquelein--he is +a cavalry officer. His family have emigrated, but he has remained +here on his estates. Then, too, you have many other military +officers who have served. There is Monsieur de Bonchamp, Monsieur +d'Elbee, and Monsieur Dommaigne, all of whom have served in the +army. If the insurrection becomes general, I shall head my own +tenants, and join the force under some chosen commander; but I +shall not appear as a leader. Not only am I altogether ignorant of +military affairs but, were it known in Nantes that I was prominent +in the rising, they would undoubtedly avenge themselves upon my +relations there." + +It was known that artillery and gendarmes had been gathered in all +the towns of La Vendee. Two days before that appointed for the +drawing, Jean said to Leigh: + +"I shall ride tomorrow to the castle of Clisson. I know Monsieur de +Lescure. He has wide influence, and is known to be a devoted +royalist, and to have several royalist refugees now at his house. I +shall be able to learn, from him, whether his intention is to take +part in the insurrection. It is a long ride, and I shall not return +until tomorrow. + +"If you like, you can ride north to Saint Florent. If there should +be any tumult, I charge you not to take any part in it. You had +better leave your horse at some cabaret on this side of the town, +and go in on foot. It is possible that there will be no trouble +there, for they are sure to have made preparations against it; and +it is more likely that there will be disturbances at smaller +places. Still, it will be interesting to mark the attitude of the +peasants. + +"You see, if there is to be a war, it is their war. The gentlemen +here would have fought for the king, had there been a shadow of a +prospect of success, and had he given the smallest encouragement to +his friends to rally to his support. They might even have fought +against the disturbance of the clergy. But they would have had no +followers. The peasants cared but little for the king and, though +they did care enough for the priests to aid them to escape, they +did not care enough to give battle for them. They are now going to +fight for their own cause, and for their own liberty. They have to +show us that they are in earnest about it, before we join them. If +they are in earnest, we ought to be successful. We ought to be able +to put a hundred thousand men in arms and, in such a country as +this, we should be able to defy any force that the Convention can +send against us; and to maintain the right of La Vendee to hold +itself aloof from the doings of the rest of France. + +"But, as I said, until we know that they are really in earnest, we +cannot afford to throw in our lot with them; so if you go to Saint +Florent, keep well away from the point where the drawing is to take +place. Watch affairs from a distance. I have little doubt that +those who go will go with the determination of defending +themselves, but whether they will do so will depend upon whether +there is one among them energetic enough to take the lead. That is +always the difficulty in such matters. If there is a fight we must, +as I say, simply watch it. It is, at present, no affair of ours. If +it begins, we shall all have our work before us, plenty of it, and +plenty of danger and excitement, but for the present we have to act +as spectators." + +It was a ride of fifteen miles to Saint Florent and, although Leigh +had twice during the winter ridden there with Jean, he had some +difficulty in finding his way through the winding roads and +numerous lanes along which he had to pass. During the early part of +the ride he met with but few people on the way. The church bells +were ringing, as usual, and there was nothing to show that any +trouble was impending; but when he arrived within two or three +miles of the town, he overtook little groups of peasants walking in +that direction. Some of them, he saw, carried pitchforks. The rest +had stout cudgels. + +Saint Florent stood on the Loire and, in an open space in the +centre of the town, the authorities were gathered. Behind them was +a force of gendarmes, and in the middle of their line stood a +cannon. + +Leigh had, as Jean had told him, left his horse outside the town; +and now took up his place, with a number of townspeople, on one +side of the square. As the peasants arrived, they clustered +together at the end of the street, waiting for the hour to strike +at which the drawing was to begin. A few minutes before the clock +struck, some of the gendarmes left the group in the centre of the +square, and advanced to the peasants. They were headed by an +officer who, as he came up, exclaimed: + +"What do you mean by coming here with pitchforks? Lay them down, at +once!" + +There was a low murmur among the peasants. + +"Follow me!" he said to his men and, walking up to one of the men +carrying a pitchfork, he said: + +"I arrest you, in the name of the Republic." + +In an instant a young man standing next to the one he had seized +sprang forward, and struck the officer to the ground with his +cudgel. + +[Illustration: 'Follow Me!' he shouted. 'Make for the gun!'] + +"Follow me!" he shouted. "Make for the gun!" + +With a cheer the peasants rushed forward, overthrowing the +gendarmes as they went. The municipal authorities, after hesitating +for a moment, took to their heels in the most undignified manner. +The gun had not been loaded. The gendarmes round it, seeing that +they were greatly outnumbered, followed their example; and the +peasants, with exultant shouts, seized the cannon and then, +scattering, chased the gendarmes out of the town. + +Never was a more speedy and bloodless victory. Headed by their +leader, whose name was Rene Foret, the peasants went to the +municipality, broke open the doors, took possession of the arms +stored there, collected all the papers they could find, and made a +great bonfire with them in the centre of the square. Then without +harming anyone, or doing the slightest mischief, they left the town +and scattered to their homes in the Bocage. + +Leigh waited until all was over, returned to the cabaret where he +had left his horse, and rode on. Passing through the little town of +Pin a powerful-looking man, some thirty-five years old, with a +quiet manner, broad forehead, and intelligent face, stepped up to +him. + +"Pardon, monsieur," he said; "but you have come from Saint +Florent?" + +"Yes," he replied. + +"Has aught happened there?" + +"Yes, the peasants attacked the gendarmes, who fled, leaving their +cannon behind them. The peasants took what arms there were in the +municipality, and made a bonfire of the papers. They then, without +doing any damage, dispersed to their homes." + +"They have done well," the man said. "They have made a beginning. +My name, monsieur, is Cathelineau; my business, so far, has been +that of a hawker. I am well known in this part of the country. +Maybe, sir, you will hear my name again, for henceforth I am an +insurgent. We have borne this tyranny of the butchers in Paris too +long, and the time has come when we must either free ourselves of +it, or die. You belong to another class, but methinks that when you +see that we are in earnest, you will join." + +"I doubt not that we shall," Leigh said. "I am but a lad yet; but I +hope that, when the time comes, I shall do my part." + +The man lifted his hat and moved off, and Leigh rode forward again. +He was struck with the earnest manner of the man. He had spoken +calmly and without excitement, expressed himself well, and had the +air of a man who, having determined upon a thing, would carry it +through. + +"I expect I shall hear of him again," he said to himself. "A man +like that, travelling round the country, no doubt has a deal of +influence. He is just the sort of man the peasants would follow; +indeed, as it seems to me, that anyone might follow." + +It was late in the afternoon when he arrived home, and told his +sister what he had witnessed. + +"I am not surprised, Leigh," she said. "If I were a man I would +take up arms, too. There must be an end to what is going on. +Thousands have been murdered in Paris, men and women; and at least +as many more in the other great towns. If this goes on, not only +the nobles and gentry, but the middle class of France will all +disappear; and these bloodstained monsters will, I suppose, set to +to kill each other. I feel half French now, Leigh, and it is almost +too awful to think of. + +"It seems to me that the only hope is that the peasants, not only +of the Bocage, but of all Poitou, Anjou, and Brittany, may rise, be +joined by those of other parts, and march upon the towns; destroy +them altogether, and kill all who have been concerned in these +doings." + +"That would be pretty sweeping, Patsey," Leigh laughed. "But you +know I hate them as much as you do and, though I don't feel a bit +French, I would certainly do all that I could against them, just as +one would kill wild beasts who go about tearing people to pieces. +It is no odds to me whether the men, women, and children they kill +are French, or English. One wants to put a stop to their killing." + +"I wish, now, that I had not brought you out with me, Leigh." + +"In the first place, Patsey, I deny altogether that you did bring +me out--Jean brought me out; and in the next place, I don't see why +you should be sorry. I would not miss all this excitement, for +anything. Besides, I have learned to talk French well, and +something of the business of a wine merchant. I can't be taken in +by having common spirit, a year or two old, passed off on me as the +finest from Charente; or a common claret for a choice brand. All +that is useful, even if I do not become a wine merchant. At any +rate, it is more useful than stopping at Netherstock, where I +should have learned nothing except a little more Latin and Greek." + +"Yes, but you may be killed, Leigh." + +"Well, I suppose if I had stayed at home, and got a commission in +the army or a midshipman's berth in the navy, I might have been +killed and, if I had my choice, I would much rather be killed in +fighting against people who murder women and children, who have +committed no crime whatever, than in fighting soldiers or sailors +of another nation, who may be just as honest fellows as we are.'' + +"I cannot argue with you, Leigh; but if anything happens to you I +shall blame myself, all my life." + +"That would be foolish," Leigh said. "It is funny what foolish +ideas women have. You could not have foreseen what was coming, when +you came over here; and you thought that it would be a good thing +for me to accompany you, for a time. You did what you thought was +best, and which I think was best. Well, if it doesn't turn out just +what we expected, you cannot blame yourself for that. Why, if you +were to ask me to come for a walk, and a tree fell on me as we were +going along and killed me, you would hardly blame yourself because +you asked me to come; and this is just the same. + +"At any rate, if I do get killed, which I don't mean to be if I can +help it, there is no one else who will take it very much to heart, +except yourself. There are plenty of them at home and, now that I +have been away nearly two years, they must almost have forgotten my +existence." + +"I consider you a very foolish boy," Patsey said, gravely. "You +talk a great deal too much nonsense." + +"Very well, Patsey; abuse is not argument, and almost every word +that you have said applies equally well to your folly, in leaving a +comfortable home in a quiet country to come to such a dangerous +place as this. + +"Now, I hope that supper is ready, for I am as hungry as a hunter." + + + +Chapter 3: The First Successes. + + +The next morning, at twelve o'clock, Jean Martin reached home. + +"The war has begun," he said, as he leaped from his horse. "Henri +de la Rochejaquelein has accepted the leadership of the peasants, +at Clisson. Lescure would have joined also, but Henri pointed out +to him that it would be better not to compromise his family, until +it was certain that the insurrection would become general. The +young count was starting, just as I got to the chateau. He is a +splendid young fellow, full of enthusiasm, and burning to avenge +the misfortunes that have fallen upon his family. A peasant had +arrived the evening before, with a message from his aunt, who lives +farther to the south. He brought news that the chevalier de +Charette--formerly a lieutenant in the navy and a strong Royalist, +who had escaped the massacres at Paris, and was living quietly on +his estate near Machecoul--had been asked several times, by the +peasants in his neighbourhood, to take the command, and had +accepted it; and that the rising was so formidable, there, that it +was certain the authorities in that part of Poitou would not +succeed in enforcing the conscription. + +"I have told Lescure that I shall be prepared to join, as soon as +there is a general movement here; but that I should attach myself +to whoever took the direction of affairs in this part, for that in +the first place I knew nothing of war, and in the second place I +have resided here so small a portion of my time that I am scarcely +known, save to my own tenants. + +"After our meal, we will ride round and see how they are off for +arms and powder. That is our great weakness. I am afraid, taking +the whole country round, that not one man in twenty possesses a +gun." + +This indeed was found to be the case, as far as those on the estate +were concerned. The men themselves, however, seemed to think little +of this. + +"We will take them from the Blues," several of them said +confidently. "It does not matter a bit. They will only have time to +fire one volley, in these lanes of ours, and then we shall be among +them; and a pike or pitchfork are just as good, at close quarters, +as a bayonet." + +That the whole country was astir was evident, from the fact that +the sound of the church bells rose from the woods, in all +directions. All work was suspended, and the peasants flocked into +the little villages to hear the news that was brought in, from +several directions. + +Cathelineau had, in the course of the night, gathered a party of +twenty-seven men who, at daybreak, had started out from Pin, +setting the church bells ringing in the villages through which they +passed; until a hundred men, armed for the most part with +pitchforks and stakes, had gathered round him. Then he boldly +attacked the chateau of Tallais, garrisoned by a hundred and fifty +soldiers, having with them a cannon. This was fired, but the shot +passed over the peasants' heads, and with a shout they dashed +forward, and the soldiers of the republic threw away their arms and +fled. Thus Cathelineau's followers became possessed of firearms, +some horses and, to their great delight, a cannon. + +Their leader did not waste a moment, but marched at once against +Chemille, his force increasing at every moment, as the men flocked +in from the villages. There were, at Chemille, two hundred soldiers +with three guns; but some of the fugitives from Tallais had already +arrived there, bringing news of the desperate fury with which the +peasants had attacked them and, at the sight of the throng +approaching, with their captured cannon, the garrison lost heart +altogether and bolted, leaving their three cannon, their +ammunition, and the greater portion of their muskets behind them. + +The news spread with incredible rapidity. From each village they +passed through, boys were despatched as messengers, and their +tidings were taken on by fresh relays. By the afternoon all the +country, for thirty miles round, knew that Cathelineau had captured +Tallais and Chemille, and was in possession of a quantity of arms, +and four cannon. + +From Saint Florent came the news that, early in the morning, a +party of Republican soldiers had endeavoured to arrest Foret, who +led the rising on the previous day; but that he had obtained word +of their approach and, setting the church bells ringing, had +collected a force and had beaten back those who came in search of +him. + +Close by, a detachment of National Guards from Chollett had visited +the chateau of Maulevrier. The proprietor was absent, but they +carried off twelve cannon, which had been kept as family relics. +The gamekeeper, Nicholas Stofflet, who was in charge of the estate, +had served sixteen years in the army. He was a man of great +strength, courage, and sagacity and, furious at the theft of his +master's cannon, had gathered the peasantry round, and was already +at the head of two hundred men. + +"Things go on apace, Patsey," Jean Martin said, as they sat by the +fire that evening. "We only know what is happening within some +twenty or thirty miles of us, but if the spirit shown here exists +throughout Poitou and Anjou, there can be no doubt that, in a very +short time, the insurrection will be general. This Cathelineau, by +their description, must be a man of no ordinary ability; and he has +lost no time in showing his energy. For myself, I care not in the +least what is the rank of my leader. Here in La Vendee there is no +broad line between the seigneurs, the tenants, and the peasantry; +at all rustic fetes they mix on equal terms. The seigneurs set the +example, by dancing with the peasant girls; and their wives and +daughters do not disdain to do the same with tenants, or peasantry. +They attend the marriages, and all holiday festivities, are +foremost in giving aid, and in showing kindness in cases of +distress or illness; and I feel sure that, if they found in a man +like Cathelineau a genius for command, they would follow him as +readily as one of their own rank." + +On the fourteenth the news came that the bands of Stofflet and +Foret had, with others, joined that of Cathelineau. Jean Martin +hesitated no longer. + +"The war has fairly begun," he said. "I shall be off tomorrow +morning. If Cathelineau is defeated, we shall have the Republicans +devastating the whole country, and massacring women and children; +as they did, last August, after a rising for the protection of the +priests. Therefore I shall be fighting, now, in defence of our +lives and home, wife." + +"I would not keep you at home, Jean. I think it is the duty of +every man to join in the defence against these wretches. I know +that no mercy will be shown by them, if they conquer us. But you +will not take Leigh with you, surely?" + +Leigh uttered an exclamation. + +"Leigh must choose for himself," Jean said quietly. "He is not +French, and would have no concern in the matter, beyond that of +humanity, were it not that you are here; but at present our home is +his. Your life and his, also, are involved, if we are beaten. He is +young to fight, but there will doubtless be many others no older, +and probably much less strong than he is. Moreover, if I should be +killed, it is he who must bear you the news, and must arrange with +you your plans, and act as your protector. + +"I do not say that I should advise your leaving the chateau +directly, but if the Republicans come this way, it will be no place +for you; and I should say that it would be vastly better that you +should, at once, endeavour to cross to England. There are five +thousand francs in gold in my bureau, which are worth three or four +times their value in assignats; and should, if you can gain the +coast, be amply sufficient to procure a passage for you to England. + +"Do not weep, dear. It is necessary to leave you, on an undertaking +of this kind, prepared for whatever may happen. At present the risk +is very small. As we have heard, the fury of the peasants has +struck such consternation into the National Guards, and +newly-raised soldiers, that they will not await their onslaught; +and it will not be until the Convention becomes aware of the really +serious nature of the storm they have raised, that there will be +any hard fighting. Still, even in a petty skirmish men fall; and it +is right that, before I go, we should arrange as to what course you +had best pursue, in case of my death. + +"From the first, when we came here we did so with our eyes open. If +we had merely sought safety, we should have gone to England. We +came here partly because it is my home, and therefore my proper +place; and partly because, in case La Vendee rose against these +executioners of Paris, every man of honour and loyalty should aid +in the good cause." + +"I know, Jean, and I would not keep you back." + +"The struggle has begun and, if the Republicans conquer La Vendee, +we know how awful will be the persecutions, what thousands of +victims will be slaughtered. Our only hope is in victory and, at +any rate, those who die on the battlefield will be happy, in +comparison with those who fall into the hands of the Blues." + +"You wish to go, Leigh?" + +"Certainly I do," the lad said. "I think that everyone strong +enough to carry arms, in La Vendee, ought to join and do his best. +I can shoot better than most of the peasantry, not one in twenty of +whom has ever had a gun in his hands; and I am sure that I am as +strong as most of them. Besides, if I had been at home I should, +now the war has begun, have tried to get a commission and to fight +the French--I mean the people who govern France at present--and in +fighting them, here, I am only doing what thousands of Englishmen +will be doing elsewhere." + +"Very well, Leigh, then you shall go with Jean. I shall certainly +be glad to know you are together, so that if one is wounded or ill, +the other can look after him and bring him here. I shall do the +best I can, while you are away." + +"I think that we shall soon be back again, and that we shall be +constantly seeing you," Jean said. "You may be sure that the +peasants will not keep the field. They will gather and fight and, +win or lose, they will then scatter to their homes again, until the +church bells call them out to repel a fresh attack of the enemy. +That is our real weakness. There will never be any discipline, +never any common aim. + +"If all the peasants in the west would join in a great effort, and +march on Paris, I believe that the peasantry of the departments +through which they pass would join us. It would only be the +National Guards of the towns, and the new levies, that we should +have to meet; and I believe that we might take Paris, crush the +scum of the faubourgs, and hang every member of the Convention. But +they will never do it. It will be a war of defence, only; and a war +so carried out must, in the long run, be an unsuccessful one. + +"However, the result will be that we shall never be very far away +from home, and shall often return for a few days. You must always +keep a change of clothes, and your trinkets and so on, packed up; +so that at an hour's notice you and Marthe can start with the +child, either on receiving a note from me telling you where to join +us, or if you get news that a force from Nantes is marching rapidly +in this direction. Two horses will always remain in the stables, in +readiness to put into the light cart. Henri will be your driver. +Francois you must send off to find us, and tell us the road that +you have taken. However, of course we shall make all these +arrangements later on, when affairs become more serious. I don't +think there is any chance, whatever, of the enemy making their way +into the country for weeks, perhaps for months, to come." + +The next morning, Jean Martin and Leigh started early. Each carried +a rifle slung behind him, a brace of pistols in his holsters, and a +sword in his belt. Patsey had recovered from her depression of the +previous evening, and her natural good spirits enabled her to +maintain a cheerful face at parting; especially as her husband's +assurances, that there would be no serious fighting for some time, +had somewhat calmed her fears for their safety. + +"The horses are useful to us, for carrying us about, Leigh," Jean +Martin said, as they rode along; "but unless there are enough +mounted men to act as cavalry, we shall have to do any fighting +that has to be done on foot. The peasants would not follow a +mounted officer as they would one who placed himself in front of +them, and fought as they fought. + +"I hope that, later on, we may manage to get them to adopt some +sort of discipline; but I have great doubts about it. The peasantry +of La Vendee are an independent race. They are respectful to their +seigneurs, and are always ready to listen to their advice; but it +is respect, and not obedience. I fancy, from what I have read of +your Scottish Highlanders, that the feeling here closely resembles +that among the clans. They regard their seigneurs as their natural +heads, and would probably die for them in the field; but in other +matters each goes his own way, and the chiefs know better than to +strain their power beyond a certain point. + +"As you see, they have already their own leaders--Stofflet the +gamekeeper, Foret the woodcutter, and Cathelineau, a small peddling +wool merchant. Doubtless many men of rank and family will join +them, and will naturally, from their superior knowledge, take their +place as officers; but I doubt whether they will displace the men +who have, from the beginning, taken the matter in hand. I am glad +that it should be so. The peasants understand men of their own +class, and will, I believe, follow them better than they would men +above them in rank. They will, at least, have no suspicion of them; +and the strength of the insurrection lies in the fact that it is a +peasant rising, and not an insurrection stirred up by men of +family." + +At ten o'clock they arrived at Cathelineau's camp. Just as they +reached the spot, they encountered Monsieur Sapinaud de la Verrie. +He was riding at the head of about a hundred peasants, all of whom +were armed with muskets. They had, early that morning, attacked the +little town of Herbiers. It was defended by two companies of +soldiers, with four or five cannon; and the Republicans of the town +had ranged themselves with the Blues. Nevertheless the peasants, +led by their commander and his nephew, had fearlessly attacked them +and, with a loss of only two or three wounded, defeated the enemy +and captured the place, obtaining a sufficient supply of muskets to +arm themselves. + +As Jean Martin was known to Monsieur Sapinaud, they saluted each +other cordially. + +"So you are coming willingly, Monsieur Martin. There you have the +advantage of me, for these good fellows made me and my nephew come +with them, as their leaders, and would take no refusal. However, +they but drew us into the matter a few days earlier than we had +intended; for we had already made up our minds to join the +movement." + +"I come willingly enough, Monsieur Sapinaud. If I had remained in +Nantes, I should have been guillotined by this time; and I made up +my mind when I left there that I would, on the first opportunity, +do a little fighting before I was put an end to. + +"This is my brother-in-law. He has been out here now nearly two +years, and has seen enough of the doings of the murderers at Nantes +to hate them as much as I do." + +The streets of the little village, which Cathelineau had made his +headquarters, were thronged with men. Through these the four +mounted gentlemen made their way slowly until, when they came to +the church, they saw three men standing apart from the others. + +"That is Cathelineau, the one standing in the middle," Leigh said. + +"We have come to place ourselves under your orders," Monsieur +Sapinaud said, as they rode up to him; and he named himself and his +companions. + +"I am glad indeed to see you, sirs," Cathelineau said. "You are the +first gentlemen who have joined us here; though I hear that, +farther south, some have already declared themselves. We want you +badly. + +"One of you I have seen already," and he smiled at Leigh. "I told +you that you would hear of me, young sir; and you see I have kept +my word. + +"These with me are Stofflet who, as you may have heard, recaptured +the cannon the Blues took at Clisson; and Foret, who had the honour +of striking the first blow, at Saint Florent." + +"Your names are all widely known in this part," Monsieur Sapinaud +said, courteously. "Well, sirs, we have come to fight under your +orders. I have brought a hundred men with me, and we have already +done something on our own account; for we last night captured +Herbiers, which was defended by two companies, with four cannon. We +have gained a sufficient number of muskets to arm all our party." + +"If I do not offer to give up the leadership to you, Monsieur de la +Verrie," Cathelineau said gravely, "it is from no desire on my part +to be a commander; but I am widely known to the peasantry of many +parishes round Pin and, perhaps because I understand them better +than most, they have confidence in me; and would, I think, follow +me rather than a gentleman like yourself, of whom they know but +little." + +"They are quite right," Monsieur Sapinaud said. "The peasantry +commenced this war. It is right that they should choose their own +leaders. You and your two companions have already their confidence, +and it is far better that you should be their leaders. I believe +all other gentlemen who join you will be as ready as we are to +follow you, and I am sure that the only rivalry will be as to who +shall most bravely expose himself, when he faces the enemy." + +"I thank you, sir," Cathelineau said. "I believe earnestly that, in +many respects, it is best that the peasants should have their own +leaders. We can associate ourselves with their feelings, better +than the gentry could do. We shall have more patience with their +failings. + +"You would want to make an army of them. We know that this cannot +be done. They will fight and die as bravely as men could do, but I +know that they will never submit to discipline. After a battle, +they will want to hurry off to their homes. They will obey the +order to fight, but that is the only order one can rely upon their +obeying. + +"We are on the point of starting for Chollet. It is a town where +the people are devoted to the cause of the Convention. At the last +drawing for the militia they killed, without any pretext, a number +of young men who had come, unarmed, into the town. Many inhabitants +of adjoining parishes have been seized and thrown in prison, +charged only with being hostile to the Convention, and expressing +horror at the murder of the king. + +"The capture will produce an impression throughout the country. +They have three or four hundred dragoons there, and yesterday, we +hear, they called in the National Guard from the villages round, +though scarce believing that we should venture to attack them. Your +reinforcement of a hundred men, all armed with muskets, will be a +very welcome one; for they will hardly suspect that many of us have +firearms. However we had, before your arrival, three hundred who +have so armed themselves, through captures at Saint Florent and +Chemille." + +He now ordered the bell to be rung and, as soon as its notes pealed +out, started; followed at once by the crowd in the village, without +any sort of order or regularity. Jean and Leigh continued to ride +with Monsieur de la Verrie and his nephew. + +After some hours' marching, at two o'clock in the afternoon they +approached Chollet. On the way they received considerable +reinforcements, from the villages they passed through. As soon as +they approached the town they saw the dragoons pouring out, +followed by three or four hundred National Guards. + +The Vendeans now fell into some sort of order. A short council of +war was held. It was arranged that Monsieur de la Verrie with his +hundred musketeers, and Foret with as many more, should advance +against the dragoons; while Cathelineau and Stofflet, with a +hundred musketeers and the main body of peasants with their +pitchforks, should attack the National Guards. + +[Illustration: At the first volley, the colonel of the dragoons and +many of his men fell.] + +The dragoons had expected that the mere sight of them would be +sufficient to send the peasants flying, and they were amazed that +they should continue to advance. As soon as they were within easy +range, the peasants opened fire. At the first volley the colonel of +the dragoons and many of his men fell. Reloading, the peasants +advanced at a run, poured in a volley at close quarters; and then, +with loud cheers, charged the dragoons. + +These, being but newly raised troops, were seized with a panic, +turned, and galloped off at full speed. Astounded at the defeat of +the cavalry, in whom they had confidently trusted, the National +Guard at once lost heart and as, with loud shouts, Cathelineau with +his peasants flung themselves upon them, they, too, broke, and fled +in all directions. + +The peasants pursued them for a league, and then returned, +exultant, to Chollet. Here the leading revolutionists were thrown +in prison but, with the exception of the National Guards who +attempted resistance after reaching the town, no lives were taken. +A large quantity of arms, money, and ammunition fell into the hands +of the victors. + +Scarcely had the peasants gathered in Chollet, than the news +arrived that the National Guard of Saumur were marching against +them; and Cathelineau requested Monsieur de la Verrie and Foret, +with their following, to go out to meet them. They marched away at +once, and met the enemy at Vihiers. + +Unprepared for an attack, the National Guard at once broke and +fled, throwing away their arms and abandoning their cannon. Among +these was one taken from the Chateau de Richelieu. It had been +given by Louis the Thirteenth to the cardinal. On the engraving, +with which it was nearly covered, the peasants thought that they +could make out an image of the Virgin, and so called it by her +name. With these trophies the party returned to Chollet. + +The next day being Saturday the little army dispersed, the peasants +making their way to their homes, in order to spend Easter there; +while Cathelineau, with only a small body, remained at Chollet. +From here messengers were sent to Messieurs Bonchamp, d'Elbee, and +Dommaigne--all officers who had served in the army, but had retired +when the revolution broke out. Cathelineau offered to share the +command with them, and entreated them to give their military +knowledge and experience to the cause. + +All assented. Thus the force had the advantage, from this time +forward, of being commanded by men who knew the business of war. + +Leigh had started for home as soon as the National Guards of Saumur +were defeated; Jean Martin, at Cathelineau's request, remaining +with him in order to join some other gentlemen, who had that day +arrived, in calling upon the three officers, and inviting them to +join Cathelineau in the command. + +Leigh's sister ran out, as he rode up to the house. The news of the +capture of Chollet, almost without loss, had already spread and, +although surprised, she felt no alarm at seeing Leigh alone. + +"I hear that you have taken Chollet, and defeated the dragoons and +National Guards." + +"Yes; and this morning we put to flight the guards of Saumur, +without the loss of a single man. I don't know what it may come to, +presently; but just now it can hardly be called fighting. The sight +of peasants rushing on seems to strike these heroes with a panic, +at once; and they are off helter skelter, throwing away their guns +and ammunition." + +"Have you come home only to tell me the news, Leigh?" + +"I have come home because, at present, our army has evaporated into +thin air. Tomorrow being Easter Sunday, the peasants have all +scattered to their homes; so that it was of no use my staying at +Chollet. Cathelineau is there, and the other leaders; among them +Monsieur de la Verrie, a nephew of his, Jean, and several other +gentlemen, who have just arrived there. They are going as a sort of +deputation, tomorrow, to Bonchamp, d'Elbee, and another officer +whose name I forget, to ask them to join Cathelineau in the +command. I think that he will still remain as leader, and that they +will act as his councillors, and in command of columns." + +"Then your impression of this man is confirmed?" + +"More than confirmed. Jean said, this morning, that he was a born +leader of men. While all round him there is excitement and +confusion, he is as calm and serene as if he were alone. He is +evidently a man who has read a good deal, and thought a good deal; +and I can quite understand the influence he has gained over the +peasantry in his neighbourhood, and that it has long been their +custom to refer all disputes to him. + +"Stofflet is a different sort of man. He is tall and powerful in +frame, stern and almost morose in manner. He has been sixteen years +a soldier; and was, I hear, distinguished for his bravery." + +"And Foret?" + +"He is an active young woodman, evidently a determined fellow and, +as he was the first to lead the peasants against the Blues, he is +sure to have a following. They are three very different characters, +but all of them well fitted to act as peasant leaders." + +"And will Jean be a leader?" + +"Not a leader, Patsey; that is to say, certainly not a general. He +does not want it, himself. But he will no doubt lead the peasants +on the estate, and perhaps those in the neighbourhood. You know +that he would not have the church bell rung, when he started, +because he did not wish the tenants to join until he had seen the +result of the first fight; but when he comes home he will summon +those who like to go with him." + +"Yes, I have had to explain that, over and over again. Yesterday +and today almost all the men have been up here, to ask why Jean did +not take them. I told them that that was one reason; and another +was that, had they started on foot when you did, they would not +have arrived in time to take part in the fight at Chollet." + +The conversation, begun as Leigh dismounted, had been continued in +the house, the groom having taken the horse round to the stable. + +"So the peasants fought well, Leigh?" + +"They would have fought well, if the Blues had given them a chance; +but these would not stop till they came up to them. If they had +done so, I am convinced that the peasants would have beaten them. +There was no mistaking the way they rushed forward and, upon my +word, I am not surprised that the enemy gave way; although well +armed, and not far inferior in numbers, they would have had no +chance with them." + +"And did you rush forward, Leigh?" + +"We were with the party that attacked the cavalry. Jean and I fired +our rifles twice, and after that we only saw the backs of the +cavalry. If they had been well-drilled troops they ought to have +scattered us like sheep; for everything must have gone down before +them, had they charged. There was no sort of order among us. The +men were not formed into companies. There was no attempt to direct +them. Each simply joined the leader he fancied and, when the word +was given, charged forward at the top of his speed. It is all very +well against the National Guards, and these young troops; but as +Jean said, it would be a different affair, altogether, if we were +to meet trained soldiers. + +"But the peasants seem to be quick, and I expect they will adopt +tactics better suited to the country, when they come to fighting in +these lanes and woods. You see, so far a very small proportion have +been armed with guns, and their only chance was to rush at once to +close quarters; but we have captured so many muskets, at Chollet +and Vihiers, that in future a considerable proportion of the +peasants will have guns and, when they once learn to use the +hedges, they will be just as good as trained troops." + +"Then I suppose Jean is more hopeful about the future than he was?" + +"I don't say that, Patsey. He thinks that we shall make a hard +fight of it, but that the end must depend upon whether the people +in Paris, rather than keep fifty thousand men engaged in a +desperate conflict, here, when they are badly wanted on the +frontier, decide to suspend the conscription in La Vendee, and to +leave us to ourselves. There can be no doubt that that would be +their best plan. But as they care nothing for human life, even if +it cost them a hundred thousand men to crush us; they are likely to +raise any number of troops, and send them against us, rather than +allow their authority to be set at defiance. + +"Do you know, Patsey, when I used to read about Guy Fawkes wanting +to blow up the Houses of Parliament, I thought that he must be a +villain, indeed, to try to destroy so many lives; but I have +changed my opinion now for, if I had a chance, I would certainly +blow up the place where the Convention meets, and destroy every +soul within its walls; including the spectators, who fill the +galleries and howl for blood." + +"Well you see, Leigh, as Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators +failed in their attempt, I am afraid there is very small chance of +your being able to carry out the plan more successfully." + +"I am afraid there is not," Leigh said regretfully. "I should never +be able to dig a way into the vaults, and certainly I should not be +able to get enough powder to blow a big building up, if I could. +No; I was only saying that, if Guy Fawkes hated the Parliament as +much as I hate the Convention, there is some excuse to be made for +him. + +"Now, Patsey, I am as hungry as a hunter." + +"I have a good supper ready for you," she said. "I thought it was +quite possible that you and Jean would both come home, this +evening; for I felt sure that most of the peasants would be coming +back, if possible, for Easter Sunday; and I had no doubt that, if +you did come, you would both be hungry." + +"Have you any news from other districts?" he asked, after he had +finished his supper. + +"There is a report that Captain Charette has gathered nearly twenty +thousand peasants, in lower Poitou; and that he has already gained +a success over the Blues. There are reports, too, of risings in +Brittany." + +"There is no doubt that things are going on well, at present, +Patsey. You see, we are fighting on our own ground, and fifty +thousand men can be called to arms in the course of a few hours, by +the ringing of the church bells. We have no baggage, no waggons, no +train of provisions; we are ready to fight at once. + +"On the other hand, the Blues have been taken completely by +surprise. They have no large force nearer than the frontier, or at +any rate nearer than Paris; and it will be weeks before they can +gather an army such as even they must see will be required for the +conquest of La Vendee. Up to that time it can be only a war of +skirmishes, unless our leaders can persuade the peasants to march +against Paris; and that, I fear, they will never be able to do. + +"When the enemy are really ready, the fighting will be desperate. +'Tis true that the Vendeans have a good cause--they fight for their +religion and their freedom, while the enemy will fight only because +they are ordered to do so. There is another thing--every victory we +win will give us more arms, ammunition, and cannon; while a defeat +will mean simply that the peasants will scatter to their homes, and +be ready to answer the next call for their services. On the other +hand, if the Blues are defeated they will lose so heavily, both in +arms and stores; and will suffer such loss of life, from their +ignorance of our roads and lanes, that it will be a long time +before they will again be able to advance against us." + +The next morning, after the service at the church was over, the +peasants came down in numbers to the chateau, to hear from Leigh a +full account of the fighting at Chollet and Vihiers, a report of +the latter event having arrived that morning. There were +exclamations of lively pleasure at the recital, mingled with regret +that they had not borne their share in the fighting. + +"You will have plenty of opportunities," Leigh said. "Monsieur +Martin has told me that, when he next leaves home, all who are +willing to do so can go with him. But it may be some little time +before anything of importance takes place; and as, at present, what +fighting there is is a considerable distance away, he thinks it +best that you should reserve yourselves for some great occasion; +unless, indeed, the Blues endeavour to penetrate the Bocage, when, +I have no doubt, you will know how to deal with them, when they are +entangled in your lanes and woods." + +"We will go, every man of us!" one of the peasants shouted, and the +cry was re-echoed, with enthusiasm, by the whole of the men. + +It was nearly an hour before Leigh and his sister were able to +withdraw from the crowd, and make their way homeward. + +"It is difficult to believe that men so ready and eager to fight +can be beaten," she said. "Did you notice, too, that their wives +all looked on approvingly? I believe that, even if any of the men +wished to stay away, they would be hounded to the front by the +women. I think that, with them, it would be regarded as a war for +their religion; while with the men it is the conscription that has +chiefly driven them to take up arms." + + + +Chapter 4: Cathelineau's Scouts. + + +For some days nothing happened. The insurrection spread like +wildfire, in Poitou and Anjou; and everywhere the peasants were +successful, the authorities, soldiers, and gendarmes for the most +part flying without waiting for an attack. + +The news that all La Vendee was in insurrection astonished and +infuriated the Convention, which at once took steps to suppress it. +On the second of April a military commission was appointed, with +power to execute all peasants taken with arms in their hands, and +all who should be denounced as suspicious persons. General Berruyer +was sent down to take the command. The large army that had been +raised, principally from the mob of Paris for the defence of that +city, marched down; and Berruyer, at the head of this force, +entered the Bocage on the tenth of April. + +The time had passed quietly at the chateau. The peasants had +dispersed at once and, except that the principal leaders and a +small body of men remained together, watching the course of events, +all was as quiet as if profound peace reigned. + +Jean Martin had returned home. Two days after arriving, he had +called all the tenants on the estate together, and had endeavoured +to rouse them to the necessity of acquiring a certain amount of +discipline. He had brought with him a waggon load of muskets and +ammunition, which had been discovered at Chollet after the main +bulk of the peasants had departed; and Cathelineau had allowed him +to carry them off, in order that the peasantry in the neighbourhood +of the chateau should be provided with a proportion of guns, when +the day of action arrived. The peasants gladly received the +firearms, but could not be persuaded to endeavour to fight in any +sort of order. + +"They did not do it at Chollet, or elsewhere," they exclaimed, "and +yet they beat the Blues easily. What good did discipline do to the +enemy? None. Why, then, should we bother ourselves about it? When +the enemy comes, we will rush upon them when they are tangled in +our thickets." + +Leigh was somewhat more successful. The fact that he had fought at +Chollet, and was their seigneur's brother-in-law, had established a +position for him in the eyes of peasants of his own age; and as he +went from house to house, talking with them, he succeeded in +getting some twenty boys to agree to follow him. He had been +nominated an officer by the three generals, who had picked out, +without reference to rank or age, those who they thought would, +either from position, energy, or determination, fill the posts +well. Thus one company was commanded by a noble, the next by a +peasant; and each would, on the day of battle, fight equally well. + +Leigh's arguments were such as were suited to the lads he +addressed. + +"You see, if you go with the bands of men, you will be lost in the +crowd. The men will rush forward in front, you will all be in the +rear. You want to serve your country. Well, you can serve it much +better by watching the movements of the enemy, and carrying word of +it to the commander. Then, sometimes, we can have a little +enterprise of our own--cut off a post of the enemy, or manage to +decoy them into lanes where we know their guns will stick fast. + +"It is not size and strength that are most necessary in war; but +quickness, alertness, and watchfulness. You know that, already, the +leaders have found that nothing can persuade the men to keep guard, +or to carry out outpost duty. If we do this, even if we do nothing +else, we shall be serving the cause much better than if we were to +join in a general rush upon the enemy." + +"But we shall have no muskets with us," one of the boys objected. + +"Nor would you want them. You would have to move about quickly, and +guns would be terribly inconvenient, if you had to push your way +through a hedge or a close thicket. And besides, if you had guns +they would not be of much use to you, for none of you are +accustomed to their use, and it needs a great deal of training to +learn to shoot straight. + +"I am quite sure that if I were to march with twenty of you to +Cathelineau's headquarters, and were to say to him, 'We have come +here, sir, to act as scouts for you, to bring you in news of the +movements of the enemy, and to do anything in our power to prevent +you from being surprised,' he would be more pleased than if I had +brought him a hundred men armed with muskets." + +When twenty had expressed their willingness to go, Leigh asked +Jean, who had warmly entered into the plan, to speak to the fathers +of the lads and get them to consent to their going with him. He +accordingly called them together for that purpose. + +"But do you mean that they will be away altogether, master?" + +"Yes, while this goes on." + +"But we shall lose their labour in the fields?" + +"There will not be much labour in the fields, till this is over; +and by having scouts watching the enemy you will get early news of +their coming, and have time to drive off your beasts before they +arrive." + +"But how will they live?" + +"When they are in this neighbourhood, one or two can come back and +fetch bread. If they are too far off for that, my brother will buy +bread for them. In cases where they cannot well be spared, I will +remit a portion of your dues, as long as they are away; but this +will not be for long, for I can see that, ere many weeks are past, +the Blues will be swarming round in such numbers that there will be +little time for work on your land, and you will all have to make +great sacrifices. + +"You must remember that the less there is in your barns, the more +difficult it will be for an enemy to invade you; for if they can +find nothing here, they will have to bring everything with them, +and every waggon will add to their difficulties. My brother tells +me that one of the things he means to do is to break up the roads, +when he finds out by which line the Blues are advancing; and for +that purpose I shall serve out, from my store, either a pick or an +axe to each of the band." + +At last all difficulties were got over, and twenty lads were +enrolled. Another three weeks passed. The peasants of Poitou and +Anjou thought but little of the storm that was gathering round +them. + +General Berruyer had arrived from Paris, with his army. A portion +of the army from Brest moved down to Nantes; and were in concert, +with the army of La Rochelle, to sweep that part of La Vendee +bordering on the coast. General Canclaus was at Nantes, with two +thousand troops. General Dayat was sent to Niort, with six thousand +men; and was to defend the line between Sables and Saint Gilles. +Bressuire was occupied by General Quetineau, with three thousand +men. Leigonyer, with from four to five thousand men, occupied +Vihiers; while Saint Lambert was held by Ladouce, with two thousand +five hundred. The right bank of the Loire, between Nantes and +Angers, was held by fifteen hundred men of the National Guard. + +Thus that part of upper Poitou where the rising had been most +successful was surrounded by a cordon of troops; which the +Convention hoped, and believed, would easily stamp out the +insurrection, and take a terrible vengeance for what had passed. + +When the storm would burst, none knew; but Jean one day said to +Leigh that it was certain that it must come soon; and that, if he +was still resolved to carry out his plan, it was time that he set +out. + +"I am quite ready to carry out my plans, Jean, as you know; but +dangers seem to threaten from so many quarters that I don't like +going away from home. While my company are scattered near Chollet, +for instance, the Blues may be burning down your chateau." + +"I don't think there is much danger of that, Leigh. It is quite +certain that, as soon as these divisions begin to move, they will +have their hands full. We may hope that in some cases they will be +defeated. In others they may drive off the peasants, and march to +the town that they intend to occupy, but they will only hold the +ground they stand upon. They will not be able to send out detached +parties to attack chateaux or destroy villages. + +"For the present, I have no fear whatever of their coming here. We +are well away from any of the roads that they are likely to march +by. I don't say that any of the roads are good, but they will +assuredly keep on the principal lines, and not venture to entangle +themselves in our country lanes. There are no villages of any size +within miles of us, and this is one of the most thickly wooded parts +of the Bocage--which, as you know, means the thicket--therefore I +shall, when the time comes, leave your sister without uneasiness. +We may be quite sure that if, contrary to my anticipation, any +column should try to make its way through this neighbourhood, it +would be hotly opposed, and she will have ample time to take to the +woods, where she and the child will find shelter in any of the +foresters' cottages. + +"She is going to have peasant dresses made for her and Marthe. She +will of course drive, as we intended; and the two men will take the +horse and vehicle to some place in the woods, at a considerable +distance from here, and keep it there until we join her and carry +out our original plan of making for the coast. Directly you are +gone, I shall make it my business to find out the most out of the +way spot among the woods; and ride over and make an arrangement, +with some woodman with a wife and family living there, to receive +her, if necessary; and I will let you know the spot fixed on, and +give you directions how to find it." + +In order to add to Leigh's influence and authority, Martin +persuaded the village cure--who was a man of much intelligence, and +perceived that real good might be done by this party of lads--to +have a farewell service in the church. Accordingly, on the morning +on which they were to start, all attended the church, which was +filled by their friends; and here he addressed the boys, telling +them that the service in which they were about to engage was one +that would be of great importance to their country, and that it +would demand all their energy and strength. He then asked them to +take an oath to carry out all orders they might receive from their +leader, the seigneur's brother; who would himself share in their +work, and the many hardships they might have to undergo. + +"Here," he said, "is a gentleman who is by birth a foreigner, but +who has come to love the land that his sister adopted as her own; +and to hate its enemies--these godless murderers of women and +children, these executioners of their king, these enemies of the +church--so much that he is ready to leave his home, and all his +comforts, and to risk his life in its cause. Remember that you have +voluntarily joined him, and accepted him as your leader. The work +once begun, there must be no drawing back. There is not a man in La +Vendee who is not prepared to give his life, if need be, to the +cause; and you, in your way, can do as much or more." + +He then administered an oath to each lad and, as had been arranged, +Leigh also took an oath to care for them in every respect, and to +share their risks and dangers. Then the cure pronounced his +blessing upon them, and the service ended. + +Very greatly impressed with what had taken place, the little band +marched out from the church, surrounded by their friends. Jean +Martin then presented hatchets or light picks to each, and a waist +belt in which the tools should be carried. As a rule, the peasants +carried leathern belts over the shoulders, in which a sword, +hatchet, or other weapon was slung; but Jean thought the waist belt +would be much more convenient for getting rapidly through hedges or +thickets, and it had also the advantage that a long knife, +constituting in itself a formidable weapon, could also be carried +in it. + +Patsey presented them each with a hat, of which a supply had been +obtained from Saint Florent. These were of the kind ordinarily worn +by the peasants, in shape like the modern broad-brimmed wide-awake, +but made of much stiffer material. She had bought these to give a +certain uniformity to the band, of whom some already wore hats of +this kind, others long knitted stocking caps, while others again +were bare headed. + +She added a piece of green ribbon round each hat. Leigh objected to +this, on the ground that they might sometimes have to enter towns, +and that any badge of this sort would be speedily noticed; but as +she said, they would only have to take them off, when engaged in +such service. + +A quarter of an hour after leaving the church they marched away, +amid the acclamations of their friends; each boy feeling a +sensation of pride in the work that he had undertaken, and in the +ceremony of which he had been the centre. + +"Now, lads," Leigh said, as soon as they were fairly away from the +village, "instead of walking along as a loose body, you had better +form four abreast, and endeavour to keep step. It is no more +difficult to walk that way than in a clump; and indeed, by keeping +step it makes the walking easy, and it has the advantage that you +can act much more quickly. If we heard an enemy approaching, and I +gave the order, 'Ten go to the right and ten go to the left!' you +would not know which were to go. + +"Now each four of you will form a section, and the order into which +you fall now, you will always observe. Then if I say, 'First two +sections to the right, the other three sections to the left!' every +one of you knows what to do, instead of having to wait until I +mention all your names. + +"This is nearly all the drill you will have to learn. You can +choose your places now, but afterwards you will have to keep to +them, so those of you who are brothers and special friends will, +naturally, fall in next to each other." + +In a minute or two the arrangements were made, and the party +proceeded four abreast, with Leigh marching at their head. For the +first hour or so, he had some difficulty in getting them to keep +step; but they presently fell into it, time being kept by breaking +into one of the canticles of the church. + +After a long day's march, they arrived at the village which +Cathelineau now occupied as his headquarters; as it had been +necessary, in view of the threatening circle of the various columns +of the enemy, to remove the headquarters from Chollet to a central +point, from which he could advance, at once, against whichever of +these columns might first move forward into the heart of the +country. The lads all straightened themselves up as they marched +through the streets, the unwonted spectacle of twenty peasant lads, +marching in order, exciting considerable surprise. Cathelineau was +standing at the door of the house he occupied, conversing with +Messieurs Bonchamp and d'Elbee. + +"Ah, Monsieur Stansfield," he said, "is it you?" as Leigh halted +his party, and raised his hat. "You are the most military-looking +party I have yet seen. They are young, but none the worse for +that." + +"There is nothing military about them, except that they march four +abreast," he said, with a smile, "but for the work we have come to +do, drill will not be necessary. I have raised this band on Jean +Martin's estate, sir, and with your permission I propose to call +them 'Cathelineau's scouts.' It seemed, to my brother and myself, +that you sorely need scouts to inform you of the movements of the +enemy, the roads by which they are approaching, their force and +order. I have therefore raised this little body of lads of my own +age. They will remain with me permanently, as long as the occasion +needs. They will go on any special mission with which you may +charge them; and will, at other times, watch all the roads by which +an enemy would be likely to advance." + +"If they will do that, Monsieur Stansfield, they will be valuable, +indeed; that is just what I cannot get the peasants to do. When it +comes to fighting, they will obey orders; but at all other times +they regard themselves as their own masters, and neither entreaties +nor the offer of pay suffices to persuade them to undertake such +work as you are proposing to carry out. Consequently, it is only by +chance that we obtain any news of the enemy's movements. I wish we +had fifty such parties." + +"They would be valuable, indeed," Monsieur d'Elbee said. "The +obstinacy of the peasantry is maddening. + +"How do you propose to feed your men?" + +"When we are within reach of their homes, two will go back to fetch +bread for the whole; when we are too far away, I shall buy it in +one of the villages." + +"When you are within reach of my headquarters, wherever that may +be, you have only to send in; and they shall have the loaves served +out to them, the same as the band who remain here. We are not short +of money, thanks to the captures we have made. + +"I see that none of your band have firearms." + +"No, sir. Jean Martin would have let me have some of the muskets he +brought from here, but it seemed to me that they would be an +encumbrance. We may have to trust to our swiftness of foot to +escape and, at any rate, we shall want to carry messages to you as +quickly as possible. The weight of a gun and ammunition would make +a good deal of difference; and would, moreover, be in our way in +getting through the woods and hedges." + +"But for all that, you ought to have some defence," Cathelineau +said; "and if you came upon a patrol of cavalry, though only three +or four in number, you would be in a bad case with only those +knives to defend yourselves. + +"Do you know whether there are any pistols in the storehouse, +Monsieur Bonchamp?" + +"Yes, there are some that were picked up from the cavalrymen we +killed. They have not been given out yet." + +"Then I think we had better serve out a pistol, with a score of +cartridges, to each of these lads. + +"If you let them fire three or four rounds at the trunk of a tree, +or some mark of that sort, Monsieur Stansfield, they will get to +know something about the use of the weapons." + +"Thank you, sir. That would be excellent, and would certainly +enable us to face a small party of the enemy, if we happen to +encounter them." + +"Please form the boys up two deep," Cathelineau said. "I will say a +word or two to them." + +The manoeuvre was not executed in military style, but the boys were +presently arranged in order. + +"I congratulate you, lads," Cathelineau went on, "in having devoted +yourselves to your country, and that in a direction that will be +most useful. I trust that you will strictly obey the orders of your +commander; and will remember that you will be of far more use, in +carrying them out, than in merely helping to swell the number in a +pitched battle. I have every confidence in Monsieur Stansfield. He +has set a noble example to the youths of this country, in thus +undertaking arduous and fatiguing work, which is not without its +dangers. + +"I was glad to see that you marched in here, in order. I hope that +you will go a little further, and learn to form line quickly, and +to gather at his call. These things may seem to you to make very +little difference, but in fact will make a great deal. You saw that +you were at least a couple of minutes forming in line just now. +Supposing the enemy's cavalry had been charging down upon you, that +two minutes lost would have made all the difference between your +receiving them in order, or being in helpless confusion when they +came up. + +"I have no doubt that one of my generals here has, among his +followers, someone who served in the army, and who will teach you +within the course of an hour, if you pay attention to his +instructions, how to form into line, and back again into fours." + +"I will give them an hour myself," Monsieur Bonchamp said. "I have +nothing particular to do, and should be glad to instruct young +fellows who are so willing, and well disposed. + +"Are you too tired to drill now? You have had a long march." + +A general negative was the reply. + +"Well, then, march to the open space, just outside the town, and we +will begin at once." + +Feeling very proud of the honour of being drilled by a general, the +boys fell into their formation, and followed Monsieur Bonchamp and +Leigh. They were at a loss, at first, to comprehend the +instructions given them; but by the end of an hour, they had fairly +mastered the very simple movement. + +"That will do," Monsieur Bonchamp said. "Of course you are not +perfect, yet; but with a quarter of an hour's drill by your +commander, every day, at the end of a week you will be able to do +it quickly and neatly; and you will certainly find it a great +advantage, if you come upon the enemy." + +A large empty room was allotted to them and, as they sat down on +the floor and munched the bread that they had brought with them, +they felt quite enthusiastic over their work. It was a high honour, +indeed, to have been praised by Monsieur Cathelineau, and been +taught by one of his generals. They even felt the advantage that +the drill had given them, contrasting the quickness with which they +had finally formed into line, with their trouble in arranging +themselves before Monsieur Cathelineau. The fact, too, that they +were next morning to be furnished with pistols was a great +gratification to them and, over and over again, they said to each +other: + +"What will the people at home say, when they hear that Monsieur +Cathelineau has praised us, that Monsieur Bonchamp himself has +drilled us, and that we are to be provided with pistols?" + +In the morning, the pistols and ammunition were served out. Leigh +had, during the previous evening, seen Cathelineau and asked for +orders. + +"I cannot say exactly the line the Blues are likely to take. I +should say that you had better make Chemille your headquarters. +Berruyer, who is their new commander, has arrived at Saint Lambert. +There is a strong force at Thouars, being a portion of the army +from Saint Lambert. The enemy are also in force at Vihiers, and at +Parthenay. + +"It is from the forces at Thouars and Vihiers that danger is most +likely to come. Doubtless other columns will come from the north, +but we shall hear of their having crossed the Loire in time to +oppose them; and with so small a band as yours, you will be amply +employed in watching Thouars. There are many roads, all more or +less bad, by which they may march; as soon as you ascertain that +they are moving, and by which route, you will send a messenger to +me. + +"Any others of your band that you may have with you, send off to +all the villages round. Give them warning, set the bells ringing, +promise that aid will soon arrive, and urge them to harass the +enemy, to fell trees across the road, and to impede their advance +in every possible way. + +"I will give you half a dozen papers, for the use of yourself and +your messengers, saying that you are acting under my orders, and +are charged with raising the country, directly the enemy advance. +But above all, it is important that I should get the earliest +possible information as to the route by which they are moving; as +it will take us thirty-six hours before we can gather in anything +like our full strength. + +"It will be useful that you should spread false news as to our +whereabouts. Your boys can say, in one village, that we are +marching towards Tours; in another, that we are massed in the +neighbourhood of Saint Florent; in a third that they hear that the +order is, that all able-bodied men are to go west to oppose the +force coming from Nantes, which has already taken Clisson, and +carried Monsieur de Lescure and his family, prisoners, to +Bressuire." + +"We shall have to tell the villagers, sir, that we wish this news +to be given to the Blues, if they should come there or, if +questioned, they would tell them something else. I am sure that +even the women would suffer themselves to be killed, rather than +give any news that they thought would be useful to the enemy." + +"You are right. Yes, you must tell them that this is what we want +the Blues to believe, and that it is my wish that these are the +answers to be given to any of them who may enter the village." + +"The only thing, sir, is that they may find the villages empty, as +they come along. The women and children will, no doubt, take to the +woods. The men will, perhaps, offer some resistance; but when they +find how strong the Blues are, will probably hurry to join you." + +"There will probably be a few old people remaining in each village. +However, we must trust much to chance. The great thing is for you +to let me know, as soon as their main body is in motion. Whichever +way they come, we must meet and attack them. It is in the woods and +lanes that we must defend ourselves." + +"I will endeavour to carry out your orders, sir; and shall start +tomorrow morning, as soon as we get our pistols." + +As soon as the little band was well away from the town, the pistols +were loaded; and each of the lads, in turn, fired three shots at +the trunk of a tree, at a distance of ten yards, under Leigh's +directions. The shooting was quite as good as he had expected, and +the boys themselves were well satisfied. + +Then, the pistols being reloaded and placed in their belts, they +resumed their march. They halted at a tiny hamlet, consisting of +half a dozen houses, four miles from Thouars. The inhabitants were +greatly surprised at their appearance, and an old man, who was the +head of the little community, came out and asked Leigh who they +were. + +"We are Cathelineau's scouts," he replied. "We have orders to watch +the movements of the enemy. We wish to be of no trouble. If there +is an empty shed, we should be glad of it; still more so if there +is a truss or two of straw." + +"These you can have," the old man said. "If Cathelineau's orders +had been that we were to turn out of our houses for you, we should +have done so, willingly." + +"A shed will do excellently for us. We shall be here but little. +Half our number will always be away. If you can supply us with +bread, I will pay you for it. If you cannot do so, I shall have to +send two of my party away, every day, to fetch bread from +Cathelineau's camp." + +"I will see what can be done. It will not be for long?" + +"No, it may possibly be only two or three days, and it may be a +week." + +"Then I think that we can manage. If we have not flour enough here +to spare, I can take my horse and fetch half a sackful from some +other village." + +"Thank you very much. However, I think that we shall only +occasionally want bread; for I shall be sending messengers, every +day, to Monsieur Cathelineau, and these can always bring bread back +with them." + +The old man led them to a building which had served as a stable, +but which was then untenanted. + +"I will get some straw taken in presently, lads. + +"As for you, sir, I shall be glad if you will be my guest." + +"I thank you," Leigh said, "but I prefer to be with my followers. +They come by my persuasion, and I wish to share their lot, in all +things; besides, my being with them will keep up their spirits." + +There was half an hour's drill, and then Leigh led the party to the +shed, to which four or five bundles of straw had, by this time, +been brought. + +"Now," he said, "before we do anything else, we must choose two +sub-officers. At times we may divide into two parties, and +therefore it is necessary that one should be responsible, to me, +for what is done in my absence. + +"I will leave it to you to choose them. Remember it is not size and +strength that are of most importance, it is quickness and +intelligence. You know your comrades better than I do, and I shall +be quite content to abide by your choice. I will go outside for a +quarter of an hour, while you talk it over. I don't want to +influence you, at all." + +In ten minutes, two of the lads came out. + +"We have chosen Andre Favras and Pierre Landrin." + +"I think that you have done very wisely," Leigh said. "Those are +the two whom I, myself, should have selected." + +He had, indeed, noticed them as the two most intelligent of the +party. They had been his first recruits, and it was in no small +degree owing to their influence that the others had joined him. He +returned to the shed. + +"I approve of your choice, lads," he said. "No doubt Andre and +Pierre will make very good sub-officers. When I am not present, you +must obey their orders as readily as you do mine; and I shall be +able to trust them to carry out my directions, implicitly. + +"Now you will divide in two parties: the first two sections, and +two of the third section will form one party, and will be under +Andre's command, when acting in two parties; the other two of the +third section, and the fourth and fifth, will form the second +division, under Pierre. You will take it in turns to be on duty. We +shall not need to watch by night, for there is no chance of the +enemy venturing to enter our lanes, and thickets, after dark. The +party not out on scouting duty will remain here, and will furnish +messengers to carry news to Cathelineau, to fetch bread, or to +perform other duties." + +The next morning Leigh set out with the whole band, except two. He +had gathered, from the people of the village, the position of the +various roads and lanes by which troops, going westward from +Thouars, would be likely to travel. When within two miles of the +town, he placed two boys on each of these roads. They were not to +show themselves, but were to lie behind the hedges and, if they saw +any body of troops coming along, were at once to bring news to him, +his own point being on the principal road. + +Andre and Pierre were to leave their arms and belts behind them, to +make a long detour, and to enter the town from the other side. They +were to saunter about the place, listen to what was being said, and +gather as much news as possible. Each was provided with two francs +and, if questioned, they were to say that they had come in, from +some village near, to buy an axe. + +"I should have gone in myself, Andre; but although I can get on +fairly enough in your patois, I cannot speak it well enough to pass +as a native. However, you are not likely to be questioned. In a +town crowded with troops, two lads can move about without +attracting the smallest attention from the military. It would be +only the civilian authorities that you would have to fear; but +these will be so much occupied, in attending to the wants of the +soldiers, that they will not have any time on their hands for +asking questions. + +"Be sure, before you enter the town, that you find out the name of +some village, three or four miles on the other side; so as to have +an answer ready, if you are asked where you come from. + +"It is probable that you will find troops quartered in all the +villages beyond the town, which could hardly accommodate so large a +number as are there. Remember, you must try to look absolutely +unconcerned as you go through them, and as you walk about the +streets of the town. The great object is to find out how many men +there are in and around Thouars, whether they are looking for more +troops to join them from Saumur, and when they are expecting to +move forward." + +As soon as they had left he repeated, to the six lads who remained +with him, the orders that he had given to those posted on the other +roads. + +"You are to remain in hiding," he said, "whatever the force may be. +It is likely enough that patrols of four or five men may come +along, to see that the roads are clear, and that there are no signs +of any bodies being gathered to oppose their advance. It is quite +true that we might shoot down and overpower any such patrols, but +we must not attempt to do so. If one of them escaped, he would +carry the news to Thouars that the roads were beset. This would put +them on their guard--doubtless they imagine that, with such a force +as they have gathered, they will march through La Vendee without +opposition--and they would adopt such precautions at to render it +far more difficult, than it otherwise would be, to check their +advance when it begins in earnest. We are here only to watch. We +shall have opportunities for fighting, later on. + +"This is a good spot for watching, for we have a thick wood behind +us; and plenty of undergrowth along its edge, by the road, where we +can hide so closely that there will not be the slightest chance of +our being discovered, if we do but keep absolutely quiet." + +Three or four times during the day, indeed, cavalry parties passed +along the road. They did not appear to have any fear of an attack, +but laughed and jested at the work they had come to do, scoffed at +the idea of the peasants venturing to oppose such forces as had +gathered against them, and discussed the chances of booty. One +party, of four men and an old sergeant, pulled up and dismounted, +close to the spot where the lads where hidden. + +"It is all very well, comrades," their leader said, "but for my +part, I would rather be on the frontier fighting the Austrians. +That is work for soldiers. Here we are to fight Frenchmen, like +ourselves; poor chaps who have done no harm, except that they stick +to their clergy, and object to be dragged away from their homes. I +am no politician, and I don't care a snap for the doings of the +Assembly in Paris--I am a soldier, and have learned to obey orders, +whatever they are--but I don't like this job we have in hand; +which, mind you, is bound to be a good deal harder than most of you +expect. It is true that they say there are twenty thousand troops +round the province--but what sort of troops? There are not five +thousand soldiers among them. The others are either National +Guards, or newly-raised levies, or those blackguards from the slums +of Paris. Of the National Guards I should say half would desert, if +they only had the chance, and the new levies can't be counted on." + + + +Chapter 5: Checking The Enemy. + + +"You see," Leigh said, when the patrol had ridden on, "the real +soldiers do not like the work they are called upon to do, and they +have no belief in the National Guards, or in the new levies. It +will make all the difference, in their own fighting, when they know +that they cannot rely upon some of the troops working with them. I +have no doubt that what they say of the National Guards is true. +They have had to come out because they are summoned, but they can +have no interest in the war against us and, doubtless, many of them +hate the government in Paris just as much as we do, and would give +a great deal to be back again with their homes and families. It is +just as hard for them to be obliged to fight us, as it is for us to +be obliged to fight them." + +It was late in the afternoon before Andre and Pierre returned. By +the time they did so, the various cavalry patrols had all gone back +to Thouars. From time to time, boys had come in from the other +roads. One or two patrols, only, had gone out by each of the lanes +on which they were posted. It was evident that the main road was +considered of the most importance, and it was probable that the +greater portion of the enemy's force would move by it. + +"Well, what is your news?" Leigh asked, as his two lieutenants came +down from the wood behind. "I hope all has gone well with you." + +"Yes, captain," Andre replied; "we have had no difficulty. The +troops in the villages on the other side of the town did not even +glance at us, as we went through; supposing, no doubt, that we +belonged to the place. Thouars was crowded with soldiers, and we +heard that two thousand more are to arrive from Saumur, this +evening. We heard one of the officers say that orders were expected +for a forward movement, tomorrow; and that all the other columns +were to move at the same time, and three of them were to meet at +Chemille." + +"That is enough for the present, Andre. You have both done very +well, to pick up so much news as that. We will be off, at once." + +Messengers were at once sent off, to order in the other parties +and, as soon as these joined, they returned to the village, where +they passed the night. On arriving there, Leigh wrote a report of +the news that he had gathered; and sent off one of the band, who +had remained all day in the village, to Cathelineau, and the other +to Monsieur d'Elbee at Chollet. + +The next day's watch passed like the first. Two or three officers, +however, trotted along the main road with a squadron of cavalry, +and rode to within a few miles of Chemille, and then returned to +Thouars. + +The next morning Leigh and his band were out before daybreak and, +making their way to within a short distance of Thouars, heard drums +beating and trumpets sounding. There was no doubt that the force +there was getting into motion. The band at once dispersed, carrying +the news not only to every village along the road, warning the +women and children to take to the woods, and the men to prepare for +the passage of the enemy, but to all the villages within two or +three miles of the road, ordering the church bells to be sounded to +call the peasants to arms; while two lads started to carry the news +to Cathelineau and d'Elbee. When once the bells of the churches +near the road were set ringing, they were speedily echoed by those +of the villages beyond; until the entire district knew that the +enemy were advancing. + +On the way from Chemille, Leigh had kept a sharp lookout for points +where an enemy might be checked; and had fixed upon one, about +halfway between the two towns. A stream some four feet in depth +passed under a bridge, where the road dipped into a hollow; beyond +this the ground rose steeply, and was covered with a thick wood, of +very considerable extent. As soon as he reached this point, he set +his band to work to destroy the bridge. As groups of peasants came +flocking along, and saw what was intended, they at once joined in +the work. + +As soon at it was done, Leigh led them to the spot where the forest +began, some thirty yards up the hill, and set them to fell trees. +This was work to which all were accustomed and, as many of them +carried axes, the trees nearest to the road were felled to fall +across it; while on each side facing the stream, they were cut so +as to fall down the slope, and so form an abattis. + +Before the work was finished, to a distance of two or three hundred +yards on each side of the road, several hundred peasants had come +up. Of these, about a third were armed with muskets. Seeing the +advantage of the position; and that, in case it was forced, the +forest offered them a means of retreat, all prepared for a +desperate resistance. The men with firearms were placed in the +front rank. Those with pitchforks, and other rural weapons, were to +keep at work till the last moment, cutting underwood, and filling +the interstices between the boughs of the fallen trees, so as to +make it extremely difficult to force. They were ordered to +withdraw, when the fight began, to a distance of two or three +hundred yards; and then to lie down, in any inequalities of the +ground, so as to be safe from cannon shot Only when the defenders +of the abattis were forced back, were they to prepare to charge. + +A young fellow with a cow horn took his place by Leigh's side. When +he blew his horn, the front rank were to run back, and the reserve +to come forward to meet them; and then they were to rush down again +upon their assailants who had passed the abattis, and to hurl them +into the stream. + +The peasants all recognized the advantages of these arrangements. +Those who had come first had found Leigh in command and, by the +readiness with which he was obeyed by his own followers, saw at +once that he was in authority. As others came up, he showed them +Cathelineau's circular. These recognized its order, and informed +the later arrivals that the young officer, who was giving orders, +was specially empowered by Cathelineau to take command; and Leigh +was as promptly obeyed as if he had been their favourite leader, +himself. They saw, too, that he knew exactly what he wanted done, +and gave every order with firmness and decision; and their +confidence in him became profound. + +It was three hours after he arrived at the river when a party of +horse came down the opposite slope. Leigh had ordered that not a +shot was to be fired, until he gave the signal. He waited until the +enemy came to the severed bridge, when they halted suddenly; and as +they did so he gave the word and, from the long line of greenery, +fifty muskets flashed out. More than half the troop of horse fell; +and the rest, turning tail, galloped up the hill again, while a +shout of derision rose from the peasants. + +[Illustration: A scattered fire broke out from the defenders.] + +Half an hour passed, then the head of the column was seen +descending the road. It opened out as it came, forming into a thick +line of skirmishers, some two hundred yards wide. Moving along, +Leigh spread the musketeers to a similar length of front. At first, +the enemy were half hidden by the wood at the other side of the +slope; but as they issued from this, some twenty yards from the +stream, a scattered fire broke out from the defenders. + +The Blues replied with a general discharge at their invisible foes, +but these were crouching behind the stumps or trunks of the felled +trees, and the fire was ineffectual. Leigh's own band were lying in +a little hollow, twenty yards behind the abattis; their pistols +would have been useless, until the enemy won their way up to the +trees, and until then they were to remain as a first reserve. + +Exposed as they were to the steady fire of the peasants, the +assailants suffered heavily and, at the edge of the stream, paused +irresolutely. It was some fifteen yards wide, but they were +ignorant of the depth, and hesitated to enter it; urged, however, +by the shouts of their officers, who set the example by at once +entering the stream, and by seeing that the water did not rise +above their shoulders, the men followed. But as they gained the +opposite bank, they fell fast. At so short a distance, every shot +of the peasants told; and it was some time before a sufficient +number had crossed to make an assault against the wall of foliage +in their front. + +Fresh troops were constantly arriving from behind and, encouraged +by this, they at last rushed forward. As they did so, Leigh called +up his own band; and these, crawling forward through the tangle as +far as they could, opened fire on the enemy, as they strove to push +their way through the obstacle. + +For a quarter of an hour the fight went on. Then the assailants, +having with great loss succeeded in passing over or pulling aside +the brushwood, began to pour through. The moment they did so, +Leigh's horn sounded; and at once the defenders rushed up the hill, +pursued by the Blues, with exulting shouts. But few shots were +fired, for the assailants had emptied their muskets before striving +to pass through the obstacle. + +Leigh and his men had run but a hundred yards into the wood when +they met the main body of the peasants, rushing down at full speed. +Turning at once, his party joined them, and fell upon the advancing +enemy. Taken wholly by surprise, when they believed that victory +was won, the two or three hundred men who had passed the abattis +were swept before the crowd of peasants like chaff. The latter, +pressing close upon their heels, followed them through the gaps +that had been made. + +The panic of the fugitives spread at once to those who had crossed +the river, and were clustered round the openings, jostling in their +eagerness to get through and join, as they believed, in the +slaughter of those who had caused them such heavy loss; and all +fled together. The peasants were at their heels, making deadly use +of their pitchforks, axes, and knives, and drove the survivors +headlong into the river. The horn again sounded and, in accordance +with the strict orders that they had received, they ran back again +to their shelter; a few dropping from the scattered fire that the +troops on the other side of the stream opened against them, as soon +as the fugitives had cleared away from their front. + +Scarcely had the peasants gained the shelter when six pieces of +cannon, that had been placed on the opposite slope while the fight +was going on, opened against them. + +Leigh at once ordered the main body back to their former position, +scattering his hundred men with guns along the whole line of +abattis, whence they again opened fire on the troops on the +opposite side of the river. These replied with volleys of musketry; +but the defenders, stationed as they were five or six yards apart, +and sheltering behind the trees, suffered but little either from +the artillery or musketry fire; while men dropped fast in the ranks +of the Blues. + +The cannon were principally directed against the trees blocking the +road. Gradually these were torn to pieces and, after an hour's +firing, were so far destroyed that a passage through them was +comparatively easy. Then the enemy again began to cross the stream. + +As soon as they commenced to do so, Leigh called up the men with +muskets from each flank, and sent word to the main body to descend +the hill again, as the cannonade would cease as soon as the attack +began. Three times the assault was made and repulsed, the peasants +fighting with a fury that the Blues, already disheartened with +their heavy losses, could not withstand. As they fell back for the +third time, Leigh thought that enough had been done, and ordered +the peasants at once to make through the woods, and to proceed +by-lanes and byways to join Cathelineau; who, he doubted not, would +by this time have gathered a considerable force at Chemille. + +By the time that the Blues were ready to advance again, this time +in overwhelming force, the peasants were well away. The wounded, as +fast as they fell, had been carried off to distant villages; and +when the enemy advanced they found, to their surprise, that their +foes had disappeared, and that only some thirty dead bodies +remained on the scene of battle. + +Their own loss had exceeded three hundred, a large proportion of +whom were regular soldiers; and the National Guards, and the new +levies, were profoundly depressed at the result of the action. + +"If," they said to themselves, "what must have been but a +comparatively small number of peasants have caused this loss, what +will it be when we meet Cathelineau's main body?" + +There was no thought of pursuit. A regiment was thrown out in +skirmishing order, and advanced through the wood, the rest +following in column along the road. General Berruyer had joined +General Menou the evening before, with the force from Saumur and, +as they moved forward, the two generals rode together. + +"This is a much more serious business than I had expected," +Berruyer said. "I certainly imagined that, with such forces as we +have gathered round La Vendee, the campaign would be little more +than a military promenade. I see, however, that I was entirely +mistaken. These men have, today, shown themselves capable of taking +advantage of the wild character of their country; and as to their +courage, there can be no question, whatever. If this is a fair +sample of the resistance that we have to expect, throughout the +whole country, we shall need at least fifty thousand men to subdue +them." + +"Fully that," Menou said, shortly. "There is no doubt that we blame +the National Guards, who were so easily routed by the peasants on +the tenth of March, more severely than they deserve. I rode forward +to encourage the men, at their last attack. I never saw soldiers +fight with such fury as did these peasants. They threw themselves +on the troops like tigers, in many cases wresting their arms from +them and braining them with their own muskets. Even our best +soldiers seemed cowed, by the fierceness with which they were +attacked; and as for the men of the new levies, they were worse +than useless, and their efforts to force their way to the rear +blocked the way of the reinforcements; who were trying, though I +must own not very vigorously, to get to the front. + +"The peasants were well led, too, and acting on an excellent plan +of defence. They must have been sheltered altogether from our fire, +for among the dead I did not see one who had been killed by a +cannonball. The country must possess hundreds of points, equally +well adapted for defence; and if these are as well and obstinately +held as this has been, it will take even more than fifty thousand +men to suppress the insurrection." + +"The Convention is going to work the wrong way," Berruyer said. +"The commissioners have orders to hang every peasant found in arms, +and every suspect; that is to say, virtually every one in La +Vendee. It would have been infinitely better for them to have +issued a general amnesty; to acknowledge that they themselves have +made a mistake; that the cures of Poitou and Brittany should be +excepted from the general law, and allowed to continue their work +in their respective parishes without interruption; and that for a +year, at least, this part of France should be exempt from +conscription. Why, if this campaign goes on, a far larger force +will be employed here than the number of troops which the district +was called upon to contribute, to say nothing of the enormous +expense and loss of men. + +"It is a hideous business altogether, to my mind. I would give all +I possess to be recalled, and sent to fight on the frontier." + +Two hours after the fight, Leigh with his band, of whom none had +been killed, although several had received wounds more or less +serious, arrived at Chemille. They had been preceded by many of the +peasants, who had already carried the news of the fight, and that +the column from Thouars had been delayed for three hours, and had +suffered very heavy losses. + +"It was all owing, Monsieur Cathelineau," the head of one of the +peasant bands said, "to the officer you sent to command us. He was +splendid. It was to him that everything was due. He was cutting +down the bridge when we came up, and it was by his orders that we +felled the trees, and blocked the road, and made a sort of hedge +that took them so long to get through. We should have been greatly +damaged by the fire of their guns and muskets; but he kept us all +lying down, out of reach, till we were wanted, while the men with +the guns defended the line of fallen trees. When we were wanted, he +called us up by blowing a cow horn, and then we drove the Blues +back into the stream, and returned to our shelter until we were +wanted again. + +"We did not lose more than thirty men, altogether; while more than +ten times that number of the Blues have fallen. We thought at first +that you had chosen rather a strange leader for us; but as always +you were right, for if you had been there, yourself, things could +not have gone better." + +"But I sent no one as your commander," Cathelineau said in +surprise. + +"He had a paper that he read out, saying that he was acting on your +orders. As I cannot read, I cannot say that it was written down as +he read it; but if you did not send him, God must have done so." + +"It is strange, Bonchamp," Cathelineau said to that officer, "for I +certainly did not send anyone. I never thought of defending the +passage of that stream. However, whoever it is who has commanded +has done us great service, for that three hours which have been +gained will make all the difference. They cannot arrive, now, until +after dark, and will not attack before morning; and by that time, +our force will have doubled." + +"Here comes our officer, monsieur!" the peasant exclaimed; as +Leigh, with his party, came down the street, loudly cheered by the +peasants who had fought under him. + +"Why, it is Jean Martin's young brother-in-law!" Monsieur Bonchamp +exclaimed and, raising his voice, he called to Jean, who was +talking to a group of other officers near. + +Jean ran up. + +"Monsieur Martin, it is your young Englishman who has held Berruyer +in check, for three hours; see how the peasants are cheering him!" + +Cathelineau advanced to meet Leigh, who halted his band and saluted +the general. The latter stepped forward, and returned the salute by +lifting his hat. + +"Monsieur Stansfield," he said, "I salute you, as the saviour of +our position here. Had Berruyer arrived this afternoon, we must +have retired; for we are not yet in sufficient force to withstand +his attack. Tomorrow we shall, I hope, be strong enough to beat +him. I have been wondering who this officer could be who, with but +three or four hundred men, held the principal force of our foes, +led by their commander-in-chief, in check for three hours; and, as +I hear, killed three hundred of his best troops, with a loss of but +thirty of ours. I ought to have thought of you, when they said that +you read them an order, saying that you were acting in my name." + +"It was great presumption on my part, general," Leigh said, "and I +know that I had no right to use it for such a purpose; but I felt +how important it was that you should have time to prepare for +defence, and I thought it my duty, as there was no one else to take +the matter in hand, to do so myself." + +"You have done magnificently, sir, and the thanks of all La Vendee +are due to you. + +"I see that several of your lads are wounded," for five of them +wore bandages, and a sixth was carried on a rough litter, by four +of his companions. "Lads," he said, "I salute you. You have done +well, indeed, and there is not a boy of your age in La Vendee but +will envy you, when he hears how you, under your brave young +commander, have today played the chief part in checking the advance +of an army of five thousand men. I shall publish an order, today, +saying that my scouts have rendered an inestimable service to their +country." + +"Well, Leigh," Jean Martin said, after the little band had fallen +out, and one of the surgeons had taken charge of the wounded, "you +have indeed distinguished yourself. I certainly did not think, when +I persuaded your sister to let you go, that you were going to match +yourself against the French general, and to command a force which +should inflict a heavy check upon him. Cathelineau has asked me to +bring you round to his quarters, presently, so that you can give +him the full details of the affair; saying that a plan that had +succeeded so well might be tried again, with equal effect. I cannot +stay with you now, for I am going, with Bonchamp, to see to the +work of loopholing and fortifying the church." + +"I am going to look after my boys, Jean. They have had nothing to +eat this morning, except a mouthful or two of bread each, and they +have been up since two hours before daylight. Do you feel sure that +the Blues will not attack tonight?" + +"Yes, I think so. After the lesson you have given Berruyer of the +fighting qualities of the peasants, it is pretty certain that he +will not venture to attack us after a hard day's march, and a fight +that must have sorely discouraged his men." + +That evening, news came in from several quarters. Leigonyer had +marched from Vihiers by three roads, directing his course towards +Coron. Two of the columns had been attacked by the peasants and, +being largely composed of new levies, had at once lost heart and +retreated; the central column, in which were the regular troops, +being obliged in consequence also to fall back. Another column had +crossed the Loire and taken Saint Florent, without any very heavy +fighting; and Quetineau had advanced from Bressuire to Aubiers, +without meeting with resistance. + +The news was, on the whole, satisfactory. It had been feared that +the force at Vihiers would march north, and join that of Berruyer; +and that they would make a joint attack upon the town. The disaster +that had befallen them rendered this no longer possible. There was +disappointment that Saint Florent had been recaptured, but none +that Quetineau had advanced without opposition to Aubiers; for the +whole of the peasantry from that locality were with Cathelineau. + +In point of fact, Berruyer had not ordered the force at Vihiers to +march to join him. On the contrary, he had intended, after +capturing Chemille, which he expected to do without serious +trouble, to march south and effect a junction with Leigonyer at +Coron. He halted four miles from Chemille, harangued the new +levies, reproaching those who had shown cowardice during the day's +fighting, and exhorting them to behave with courage on the +following day. No inconsiderable portion of them belonged to the +force that had marched down from Paris, and these heroes of the +slums, who had been foremost in the massacres in the prisons, and +in their demand for the blood of all hostile to them, behaved +throughout with abject cowardice, whenever they met a foe with arms +in their hands. + +After having had an interview with Cathelineau, and relating to him +full particulars of the fight, Leigh, having nothing to do, +strolled about the town. Presently he came upon a group of three or +four peasants, who had been drinking more than was good for them. +One of them, whose bearing and appearance showed that he had served +in the army, was talking noisily to the others. + +"You will see that I, Jacques Bruno, artilleryman, will be a great +man yet," he said. "I shall soon be rich. I have had enough poverty +since I left the army, but I shall have plenty of gold yet. You +will see what you will see." + +"How can you be rich?" one of the others said, with an air of +drunken wisdom. "You are lazy, Jacques Bruno. We all know you. You +are too fond of the wine cup It is seldom that you do a day's +work." + +"Never mind how I shall get rich. I tell you that it will be so, +and the word of Jacques Bruno is not to be doubted;" and he turned +away, saying, "I shall go for a few hours' sleep, now, to be in +readiness for tomorrow." + +"Who is that man?" Leigh asked sharply, going up to the others. + +The scarf that he wore showed him to be an officer, and the +peasants removed their hats. + +"It is Jacques Bruno, monsieur. He is in charge of our guns. He is +an old artilleryman. Cathelineau has appointed him to the post, as +it needs an artilleryman to load and point the guns." + +Leigh moved away. This fellow was half drunk, but not too drunk to +know what he was saying. What did he mean by declaring that he +would soon be rich? The peasants had said that he was lazy, and +fond of the wine cup He could hardly be likely to acquire wealth by +honest labour. + +Perhaps he might be intending an act of treachery. Putting aside +other considerations, he, as an old soldier, would scarcely care to +mow down his former comrades, and his sympathies must be rather +with the army than with the peasants. He had no personal interest +in this revolt against conscription, nor was it likely that the +cause of the cures concerned him greatly. He might, however, +meditate some act of treachery, by which he would benefit his +former comrades and gain a rich reward. + +At any rate, it would be worth while watching. He returned to the +room where his band were quartered. + +"Andre," he said, "I want you and two others to keep watch with me +until midnight, then Pierre and two of his party will relieve you. +At that hour you will send one of your party, to guide Pierre to +the place where I shall be. You will bring your pistols and knives +with you, and if I come down and tell you to move forward, you will +do so as noiselessly as possible." + +"Shall we come at once, captain?" Andre asked. + +"No, you had better lie down, with the two who are to come with +you, and sleep till nine o'clock. I will come at that hour. We will +say one o'clock instead of twelve for the watch to be changed; that +will make a more even division for the night." + +Going out again, Leigh inquired where the cannon had been placed. +They were on an eminence outside the town, and commanded the road +by which Berruyer's column would advance. Strolling up there, he +saw Bruno lying asleep between two of the guns, of which there were +five. + +"It seems all right," he said to himself, "and as he cannot walk +off with them, I don't see what his plan can be--that is, if he has +a plan. However, there is no harm in keeping watch. The guns are +against the skyline and, lying down fifty yards away, we shall be +able to see if he does anything with them. Of course he might spike +them, but I don't suppose that he would risk that, for the spikes +might be noticed the first thing in the morning. I don't think that +it would do for him to try that. It seemed a stupid thing even to +doubt him but, half drunk as he was, he certainly was in earnest in +what he said, and does believe that he is going to be a rich man; +and I don't see how that can possibly come about, except by some +act of treachery. At any rate, we will keep an eye upon the fellow +tonight, and if we are not posted in any particular spot tomorrow, +I will be up here with my band when the firing begins, and keep my +eye on him." + +He spent three or four hours with Jean Martin, and then went back +to his quarters. Andre and two of the lads were in readiness. They +moved out quietly, for the street was thick with sleeping peasants. +There were no sentries to be seen. + +"If the enemy did but know," he muttered to himself, "they might +take the place without firing a shot." + +Presently, however, he came upon an officer. + +"Where are you going?" he asked sharply. + +"I am Leigh Stansfield, and am going, with three of my party, to +keep watch near the guns." + +"That is good," the officer said. "I am on duty here, and Jean +Martin has just ridden out. He is going a couple of miles along the +road, and will give the alarm if he hears any movement of the +enemy. When he gets within half a mile he is to fire off his +pistols, and I shall have time to get the men up, long before their +infantry can arrive. We have tried, in vain, to get some of the +peasants to do outpost duty. They all say that they will be ready +to fight, when the enemy comes; but they want a good sleep first, +and even Cathelineau could not move them. It is heartbreaking to +have to do with such men." + +"I do not think that it is laziness. It is that they have a fixed +objection to doing what they consider any kind of soldier work. +Their idea of war is to wait till the enemy comes, and then to make +a rush upon them; and when they have done that, they think their +duty is ended. Some day, when the Blues have a sharp commander, and +have gained a little discipline, we shall suffer some terrible +disaster from the obstinacy of the peasantry." + +With a word of adieu Leigh turned off the road, and made his way +halfway up the eminence. Here the guns could be plainly made out. +Leaving Andre and his two followers, he went quietly up the slope, +to assure himself that the artilleryman was still there. Had he +missed him, he was determined to go at once to Cathelineau, and +state his suspicions, and his belief that Bruno had gone off to +inform Berruyer that, if he advanced, he would find the place +wholly unguarded, and would have it at his mercy. He found, +however, that the artilleryman was still asleep, and returned to +Andre. + +"Now," he said, "there is no occasion for us all to watch. I, with +one of the others, will keep a lookout for the next two hours and, +at the end of that time, will rouse you and the others." + +Leigh's watch had passed off quietly. There was no movement among +the guns and, from the position in which Bruno was lying, his +figure would have been seen at once, had he risen to his feet. + +"If the man up there stands up, you are to awaken me at once, +Andre," he said. + +Overcome by the excitement and the heat of the day, Leigh dropped +off to sleep almost immediately. An hour later, he was roused by +being shaken by Andre. + +"The man has got up, sir." + +The artilleryman, after stretching himself two or three times, took +up something from the ground beside him, and then went some +distance down the side of the hill, but still in sight of the +watchers. + +"He has got something on his shoulder, sir. I think it is a shovel, +and he has either a cloak or a sack on his arm." + +"He is evidently up to something," Leigh replied, "but what it can +be, I cannot imagine." + +Presently the man stopped, and began to work. + +"He is digging," Andre said, in surprise. + +"It looks like it certainly, but what he can be digging for I have +no idea." + +Presently the man was seen to raise a heavy weight on to his +shoulders. + +"It was a sack he had with him," Andre said, "and he has filled it +with earth and stones." + +Leigh did not reply. The mystery seemed to thicken, and he was +unable to form any supposition, whatever, that would account for +the man's proceedings. The latter carried his burden up to the +cannon, then he laid it down, and took up some long tool and thrust +it into the mouth of one of the cannon. + +A light suddenly burst upon Leigh. + +"The scoundrel is going to draw the charges," he said, "and fill up +the cannon with the earth that he has brought up." + +Andre would have leapt to his feet, as he uttered an exclamation of +rage. + +"Keep quiet!" Leigh said, authoritatively. "We have no evidence +against him, yet. We must watch him a bit longer, before we +interrupt him." + +After two or three movements, the man was seen to draw something +from the gun. This he laid on the ground, and then inserted the +tool again. + +"That is the powder," Leigh whispered, as something else was +withdrawn from the gun; "there, you see, he is taking handfuls of +earth from the sack, and shoving it into the mouth." + +This was continued for some time, and then a rammer was inserted, +and pushed home several times. Then he moved to the next cannon. + +"Now follow very quietly, Andre. Busy as he is, we may get quite +close up to him, before he notices us. Mind, you are not to use +your knife. We can master him easily enough, and must then take him +down to Cathelineau, for his fate to be decided on." + +[Illustration: Leigh gave the word and, leaping up, they threw +themselves on the traitor.] + +Noiselessly they crept up the hill. When within five or six paces +of the gun at which Bruno was at work, Leigh gave the word and, +leaping up, they threw themselves on the traitor; who was taken so +completely by surprise that they were able to throw him, at once, +to the ground. Snatching up a rope that had been used for drawing +the guns, Leigh bound his arms securely to his side; and then, +putting a pistol to his head, ordered him to rise to his feet. + +"Shoot me, if you like,"' the man growled. "I will not move." + +"I will not shoot you," Leigh replied. "You must be tried and +condemned. + +"Now, Andre, we must carry him." + +The four boys had no difficulty in carrying the man down. As they +passed the officer on sentry, he said: + +"Whom have you there, Monsieur Stansfield?" + +"It is Bruno, the artilleryman. We have caught him drawing the +charges from the guns, and filling them with earth. We must take +him to the general." + +"The villain!" the officer exclaimed. "Who would have thought of a +Vendean turning traitor?" + +Cathelineau was still up, talking with some of his officers as to +the preparations for the battle. There was no sentry at his door. +Leigh entered and, tapping at the door of the room in which he saw +a light, went in. Cathelineau looked up in surprise, as the door +opened. + +"I thought you were asleep hours ago, monsieur," he said. + +"It is well that I have not been, sir." + +And he related the conversation that he had overheard, and his own +suspicions that the man Bruno meditated treachery; the steps they +had taken to watch him, and the discovery they had made. +Exclamations of indignation and fury broke from the officers. + +"Gentlemen," Cathelineau said, "we will at once proceed to try this +traitor. He shall be judged by men of his own class. + +"Monsieur Pourcet, do you go out and awaken the first twelve +peasants you come to." + +In a minute or two the officer returned with the peasants, who +looked surprised at having been thus roused from their sleep. + +"My friends, do you take your places along that side of the room. +You are a jury, and are to decide upon the guilt or innocence of a +man who is accused of being a traitor." + +The word roused them at once, and all repeated indignantly the word +"traitor!" + +"Monsieur Stansfield," he said to Leigh, "will you order your men +to bring in the prisoner?" + +The man was brought in and placed at the head of the table, +opposite to Cathelineau. + +"Now, Monsieur Stansfield, will you tell the jury the story that +you have just told me?" + +Leigh repeated his tale, interrupted occasionally by exclamations +of fury from the peasants. Andre and the other lads stepped +forward, one after the other, and confirmed Leigh's statement. + +"Before you return a verdict, my friends," Cathelineau said +quietly, "it is but right that we should go up to the battery, and +examine the cannon ourselves; not, of course, that we doubt the +statement of Monsieur Stansfield and the other witnesses, but +because it is well that each of you should be able to see for +himself, and report to others that you have been eyewitnesses of +the traitor's plot." + +Accordingly the whole party ascended to the battery. There lay the +spade and the sack of earth. The tool with which the work had been +done was still in the mouth of the second cannon and, on pulling it +out, the powder cartridge came with it. Then Leigh led them to the +next gun, and a man who had a bayonet thrust it in, and soon +brought some earth and stones to the mouth of the gun. + +"We have now had the evidence of Monsieur Stansfield, and those +with him, tested by ourselves examining the guns. What do you say, +my friends--has this man been proved a traitor, or not?" + +"He has!" the peasants exclaimed, in chorus. + +"And what is your sentence?" + +"Death!" was the unanimous reply. + +"I approve of that sentence. March him down to the side of the +river, and shoot him." + +Three minutes later, four musket shots rang out. + +"Thus die all traitors!" Cathelineau said. + +Bruno, however, was the sole Vendean who, during the course of the +war, turned traitor to his comrades and his country. + + + +Chapter 6: The Assault Of Chemille. + + +Few words were spoken, as the group of officers returned to the +town. When they reached Cathelineau's quarters Leigh would have +gone on, but the general said, "Come in, if you please, Monsieur +Stansfield," and he followed the party in. + +"This has been a trial, gentlemen, a heavy trial," the general +said. "When I entered upon this work, I knew that that there were +many things that I should have to endure. I knew the trouble of +forming soldiers from men who, like ours, prize their freedom and +independence above all other things; that we might have to suffer +defeat; that we must meet with hardships, and probably death; and +that, in the long run, all our efforts might be futile. + +"But I had not reckoned on having to deal with treachery. I had +never dreamed that one of my first acts would have been to try and +to sentence a Vendean to death, for an act of the grossest +treachery. However, let us put that aside; it was, perhaps, in the +nature of things. In every community there must be a few scoundrels +and, if this turns out to be a solitary instance, we may +congratulate ourselves, especially as we have escaped without +injury. + +"That we have done so, gentlemen, is due solely to Monsieur +Stansfield; who thus twice, in the course of a single day, has +performed an inestimable service to the cause. There are few indeed +who, on hearing the braggadocio of a drunken man, would have given +the matter a moment's thought; still less have undertaken a night +of watchfulness, after a day of the heaviest work, merely to test +the truth of a slightly-founded suspicion that might have occurred +to them. It is not too much to say that, had not this act of +treachery been discovered, our defeat tomorrow would have been +well-nigh certain. You know how much our people think of their +guns; and if, when the fight began, the cannon had been silent, +instead of pouring their contents into the ranks of the enemy, they +would have lost heart at once, and would have been beaten almost +before the fight began. + +"We have no honours to bestow on you, Monsieur Stansfield, but in +the name of La Vendee I thank you, with all my heart. I shall add, +to my order respecting your fight of yesterday, a statement of what +has taken place tonight; and I shall beg that all officers read it +aloud to the parties that follow them." + +"I agree most cordially with the general's words," Monsieur +Bonchamp said. "Your defence yesterday would have been a credit to +any military man, and this discovery has saved us from ruin +tomorrow, or rather today. I will venture to say that not one man +in five hundred would have taken the trouble to go out of his way +to ascertain whether the words of a drunken man rested on any +foundation." + +There was, then, a short conversation as to the approaching fight. +The number of men who had arrived was much smaller than had been +anticipated, owing to the fact that the simultaneous invasion, at +so many points, had the effect of retaining the peasants of the +various localities for the defence of their own homes. Leigh +learned that a mounted messenger had been despatched, shortly +before he brought the prisoner down, to beg Monsieur d'Elbee to +bring the force he commanded, at Chollet, with all speed to aid in +the defence of Chemille; for if that town fell, he would be exposed +to the attack of the united forces of Generals Berruyer and +Leigonyer. + +"Now, gentlemen, I think we had better get a few hours' sleep," +Cathelineau said. "They will not be here very early, probably not +until noon; for they may wait for a time before starting, in hopes +of being joined either by Leigonyer or one of the other columns, +and it is not likely that any news of the sharp reverse that +Leigonyer has met with has reached them." + +It was now two o'clock in the morning, and Leigh slept heavily, +till roused at eight. + +"You should have called me before, Andre," he said reproachfully, +when he learnt how late it was. + +"I thought it was better that you should have a good sleep, +captain. Of course, if there had been any message to say that you +were wanted, I should have woke you; but as no one came, and there +is still no news of the enemy, I thought that it was better to let +you sleep till now." + +Pierre had started with his party, at five, to scout on the road by +which the enemy was advancing. Leigh first hurried down to the +river and had a bath, and then felt ready for any work that he +might have to do. He then went to the house where Jean was lodged. +The latter, who had not returned from his outpost work till day +broke, was just getting up. + +"Well, Leigh," he said, "I called in at Cathelineau's quarters to +report. I found him already up. He told me the work that you had +been doing, and praised you up to the skies. It seems to me that +you are getting all the credit of the campaign. Really I feel quite +proud of you, and we shall be having you starting as a rival leader +to Cathelineau." + +Leigh laughed. + +"One does not often have two such opportunities in the course of a +day, and I don't suppose I am likely to have such luck again, if +the war goes on for a year. Where are you going to be today?" + +"I am going to act as aide-de-camp to Bonchamp." + +"And what shall we do, do you think?" + +"Well, I should say you had best keep out of it altogether, Leigh. +You and your band did much more than your share of fighting +yesterday, and your pistols will be of no use in a fight such as +this will be. Seriously, unless Cathelineau assigns you some post, +I should keep out of it. Your little corps is specially formed to +act as scouts and, as we are so extremely badly off in that +respect, it will be far better for you to keep to your proper +duties, than to risk your lives." + +"How do you think the fight is likely to go, Jean?" + +"It depends, in the first place, upon how the Blues fight; if they +do well, they ought to beat us. In the next place, it depends on +whether d'Elbee comes up in time. If he does, I think that we shall +hold the place, but it will be stiff fighting." + +It was not until noon that Berruyer's force was seen approaching. +As soon as it was in sight the Vendeans poured out, and took up +their station by the hill on which the guns were placed. In spite +of what Jean had said, Leigh would have placed his band with the +rest; had not Cathelineau sent for him, half an hour before, and +given him orders which were almost identical with the advice of +Jean. + +"I wish you and your band to keep out of this battle, Monsieur +Stansfield. Your force is so small that it can make no possible +difference in the fortunes of the day and, whether we win or lose, +your lads may be wanted as messengers, after it is over. They have +done extremely well, at present, and need no further credit than +they have gained. I beg, therefore, that you will take post with +them somewhat in rear of the village, away on the right. I shall +then know where to find you, if I have any messages to send; and +moreover, I want you at once to send off one of your most active +lads with this note to d'Elbee, urging him to come on at full +speed, for the fight is likely to go hard with us, unless he comes +in time to our assistance; and telling him I wish him to know that, +even if I have to fall back, the church will be held till the last; +and that as soon as he arrives I shall, if possible, again take the +offensive, and beg that he will attack the enemy in flank or in +rear, as he sees an opportunity. Upon the belfry of the church, +half a mile on our right, you will be able to see how the battle +goes; and can send off news to d'Elbee, from time to time." + +"Very well, sir. I will despatch your letter at once, and then +march out to the church, which I noticed yesterday." + +"Here is a telescope," Cathelineau said. "We are well provided with +them, as we took all that we could find, at Chollet and Vihiers. I +think that, with its aid, you will be able to have a good view of +what is going on." + +In twenty minutes, Leigh had taken up his post in the belfry of the +village church that Cathelineau had indicated. Andre and Pierre, +whose party had returned an hour before, were with him. The rest of +the band were in the story below them, from which a view was also +obtainable. The three most severely wounded had started for their +homes, early that morning. The others were fit for duty. + +The fight began by a discharge of the guns of the assailants. Leigh +could see that the defenders' guns had been somewhat withdrawn from +their position on the top of the rising ground, where they would +have been too much exposed to the enemy's fire; and their muzzles +now only showed over the brow. During the course of the morning an +earthwork had been thrown up, to afford protection to the men +serving them. They did not return the fire until the enemy were +within a distance of a quarter of a mile, then they commenced, with +deadly effect. + +The Blues halted, and Leigh could make out that a considerable +number of men in the rear at once turned and ran. In order to +encourage them they had been informed, just before they marched, of +the plot that had been arranged to silence the guns; and this +unexpected discharge caused the greatest consternation among the +young levies. A body of cavalry were at once sent off in pursuit, +and drove the fugitives back to their ranks, the troopers using the +flats of their swords unstintingly. + +Then the advance was resumed, covered by the fire of the guns and +by volleys of musketry. These were answered but feebly by the +firearms in the peasants' hands, and the Blues pressed on until, +just before they reached the foot of the slope, the peasants +charged them with fury. + +The regular troops and a regiment of gendarmes had been placed in +front. These stood firm, poured heavy volleys into the peasants as +they approached, and then received them with levelled bayonets. + +In vain the Vendeans strove to break through the hedge of steel. +Cathelineau and his officers on one side, and the French generals +on the other, encouraged their men, and for a quarter of an hour a +desperate conflict reigned. Then the peasants fell back, and the +Blues resumed their advance. + +Three times Cathelineau induced his followers to renew the attack, +but each time it was unsuccessful. The Blues mounted the hill, the +cannon were captured, and the Vendeans fell back into the town. +Here the ends of the streets had been barricaded and, in spite of +the artillery and the captured guns now turned against their former +owners, the assailants tried in vain to force their way into the +town. + +From every window that commanded the approaches, the men with +muskets kept up an incessant fire. The mass of the peasants lay in +shelter behind the barricades, or in the houses, until the enemy's +infantry approached to within striking distance; and then, leaping +up from these barricades, and fighting with an absolute disregard +of their lives, they again and again repulsed the attacks of the +enemy. + +Berruyer, seeing that in spite of his heavy losses he made no way, +called his troops from the assault and, forming them into two +columns, moved to the right and left, and attacked the town on both +sides. Here no barricades had been erected and, in spite of the +efforts of the peasants, an entrance was forced into the town. +Every street, lane, and house was defended with desperate energy; +but discipline gradually triumphed, and the Blues won their way +into the square in the centre of the town, where the principal +church stood. As they entered the open space, they were assailed +with a rain of bullets from the roof, tower, and windows. + +As soon as the flanking movement began, Monsieur Bonchamp, seeing +that the town was now certain to be taken, had hurried, with the +greater portion of the men armed with muskets, to the church; which +had already been prepared by him, on the previous day, for the +defence. A great number of paving stones had been got up from the +roadway and piled inside the church and, as soon as he arrived +there with his men, the doors were closed, and blocked behind with +a deep wall of stones. + +Berruyer saw that the position was a formidable one and, ignorant +of the number of the defenders, sent back for his guns, and +contented himself for the time by clearing the rest of the town of +its defenders. These, however, as they issued out, were rallied by +Cathelineau and his officers. They assured the peasants that the +day was not yet lost, that the church would hold out for hours, and +that d'Elbee would soon arrive, with his force from Chollet, to +their assistance. + +Leigh, anxiously watching the progress of the fight, had sent +messenger after messenger along the road by which d'Elbee would +come. His heart sank, as he heard the guns open in the centre of +the town, and knew that they were directed against the church. +Still, there was no abatement of the fire of the defenders. An +incessant fire of musketry was maintained, not only from the church +itself, but from every window in the houses around it. + +At last, he heard that d'Elbee's force was but a quarter of a mile +away and, running down from his lookout, he started to meet it. It +was coming at a run, the men panting and breathless, but holding on +desperately, half maddened with the sound of battle. + +"All is not lost yet, then?" d'Elbee said, as he came up. + +"No, sir. The church holds out, and I could see that the peasants +who have been driven out of the town have rallied, but a few +hundred yards away, and are evidently only waiting for your arrival +to renew the attack. I think, sir, that if you will run up to the +belfry of the church with this glass, you will be able to +understand the exact situation." + +The officer ran up the tower, and returned in two or three minutes. +Then he led his men down towards the southeastern corner of the +town. + +Leigh, on hearing that d'Elbee was close at hand, sent off two +messengers to Cathelineau to inform him of the fact; and he now +sent off another, stating the direction in which the reinforcement +was marching. + +"I am going to attack at that corner, instead of in the rear," +Monsieur d'Elbee said to him; for now that the duty assigned to him +had been performed, Leigh thought that he would be justified in +joining in the attack, with what remained of his band. "If I were +to get directly in their rear they would, on finding their retreat +cut off, fight so fiercely that I might be overpowered. Even the +most cowardly troops will fight, under those circumstances. +Therefore, while threatening their line of retreat, I still leave +it open to them. It is a maxim in war, you know, always to leave a +bridge open for a flying foe." + +In a few minutes they reached the town. None had observed their +approach, the troops being assembled round the church. These were +at once thrown into confusion, when they found themselves attacked +with fury by a large force, of whose existence they had no previous +thought. + +The Vendeans fought with desperate valour. The new levies for the +most part lost heart at once and, in spite of the efforts of +Berruyer and his officers, began to make for the line of retreat. +The movement was accelerated by an outburst of shouts from the +other side of the town, where Cathelineau's force poured in, +burning to avenge their former losses; and as they fell upon the +enemy, Bonchamp led out the defenders of the church, by a side +door, and joined in the fray. + +Berruyer saw that all was lost. By great efforts he kept together +the gendarmes and regular troops, to cover the retreat; and fell +back, fighting fiercely. Bonchamp and his musketeers pressed hotly +upon them. The peasants made charge after charge and, as soon as +the force issued from the town, many of the peasantry set off at +full speed in pursuit of the fugitives, great numbers of whom were +overtaken and killed. Berruyer continued his retreat all night, and +entered Saint Lambert before morning; having lost the whole of his +cannon, and three thousand men, in this disastrous fight. + +The joy of the Vendeans was unbounded. The stones were speedily +removed from the shattered doors of the church, mass was +celebrated, and the peasants returned thanks for their great +victory. + +The gains were, indeed, considerable. Three thousand muskets had +fallen into their hands. They had recaptured the guns that they had +lost, and taken twelve others. Their own losses had been +heavy--eighteen hundred men had been killed, and a great number +wounded. But of this, at the time, they thought but little; those +who had died had died for their country and their God, as all of +them were ready to do, and how could men do more? + +On the Republican side, General Duhaus had been very dangerously +wounded, and most of Berruyer's principal officers killed. + +A council of war was held the next morning, at Chemille. For the +moment, the victory had secured their safety; but while the +peasants believed and hoped that the war was over, their leaders +saw that the position was scarcely improved. They had, indeed, +captured guns and muskets; but these were useless without +ammunition, and their stock of powder and ball was quite exhausted. +Already the peasantry were leaving in large numbers for their +homes. Berruyer might return reinforced at any time, and effect a +junction with Leigonyer; while the column that had captured Saint +Florent would doubtless advance. It was therefore decided that +Chemille must be abandoned, and that the officers should retire to +Tiffauges until, at any rate, the peasants were ready to leave +their homes again. + +By evening that day the greater portion of the army had melted away +and, on the following morning, the leaders also left the town they +had so bravely defended. On the following day, indeed, Berruyer, +having learned the position of Leigonyer, returned to Chemille and, +two days later, was in communication with Leigonyer's force. The +latter had occupied Chollet, which had been left devoid of +defenders since the day they marched away. + +On the other hand Quetineau had, on the thirteenth, been attacked +at Aubiers, and had been forced to evacuate the place, leaving +three guns behind him, retiring to Bressuire. The capture of +Aubiers was the work of Henri de la Rochejaquelein. He had ridden +to join Cathelineau, and met him and the other leaders retiring +from Chemille. They were gloomy and depressed. They had won a +battle, but they were without an army, without ammunition. Almost +all the towns were in the possession of the Blues. It seemed to +them that the struggle could not be much longer maintained. + +The young count was too energetic and too enthusiastic to be +seriously moved, and rode back to the residence of an aunt, at +Saint Aubin. There he learned that Aubiers had been taken by the +enemy. The peasantry around were in a state of extreme excitement. +They had hoisted the white flag on their churches, and were ready +to fight, but they had no leader. + +Hearing that Rochejaquelein was at his aunt's house, they came to +him, and begged him to take the command, promising him that in +twenty-four hours ten thousand men should be ready to follow him. +He agreed to the request. The church bells were set ringing and, +before morning, almost that number were assembled. Of these, only +two hundred had guns. + +With this force he attacked Aubiers. The resistance of the enemy was +feeble, and they were chased almost to Bressuire. Rochejaquelein +was very anxious to capture this town, as his friends, the Lescures, +had been brought from Clisson and imprisoned there; but he saw that +it was of primary importance to carry assistance to Cathelineau, and +he accordingly marched to Tiffauges. The church bells again rang +out their summons; and Cathelineau, in twenty-four hours, found +himself at the head of an army of twenty thousand men. + +"I told you at Clisson that I should soon meet you again, Monsieur +Martin," La Rochejaquelein said when, as he rode into Tiffauges at +the head of his newly raised force, he met Jean in the street, "and +here I am, you see. I am only sorry that I am too late to take part +in the brave fight at Chemille." + +"Right glad are we to see you, count," Jean replied. "This is my +wife's brother, of whom I was speaking to you at Clisson. +Cathelineau will tell you that he has been distinguishing himself +rarely." + +Henri held out his hand to Leigh, and said warmly, "I am glad to +know you. It would be a shame, indeed, were any Vendeans to remain +at home, when a young Englishman is fighting for their country. I +hope that we shall be great friends." + +"I shall be glad, indeed, to be so," Leigh replied with equal +warmth, for he was greatly struck with the appearance of the young +soldier. + +Henri de la Rochejaquelein was but twenty-one years old, tall, and +remarkably handsome. He had fair hair, and a noble bearing. His +father had been a colonel in the army, and he himself was a cavalry +officer in the king's guard. He was the beau ideal of a dashing +hussar, and his appearance was far more English than French. He was +immensely popular, his manner frank and pleasant, and he was +greatly beloved by the peasantry on his family estates. + +At this moment Cathelineau with his two generals came up, and Leigh +retired from the circle. The arrival of the young count, with his +strong reinforcement, at once altered the position. The leaders who +had, since they fell back from Chemille, been depressed and almost +hopeless, beamed with satisfaction as they talked with Henri, whose +enthusiasm was infectious. + +La Rochejaquelein accompanied them to his quarters. Hitherto he had +only heard rumours of the fighting at Chemille, and Cathelineau now +gave him a full account of the affair. Jean Martin had, at his +invitation, accompanied him; and when Cathelineau had finished, +Henri turned to him and said: + +"Indeed you did not exaggerate, Monsieur Martin, when you said that +your brother-in-law had already distinguished himself. In fact, +there can be no doubt that the splendid defence he made at that +little river, where he held Berruyer's whole force in check for +upwards of three hours--and so forced him to halt for the night on +the way, instead of pushing forward and attacking Chemille at +once--saved the town, for it gave time to Monsieur d'Elbee to come +up. Scarcely less important was his detection of the treachery of +the man in charge of the artillery. I cannot but regret that so +gallant a young fellow is not my countryman, for I should have felt +proud of one so daring, and so thoughtful. + +"When you do not want him for scouting work, Monsieur Cathelineau, +I shall get you to lend him to me. I should be really glad to have +him by my side. His face pleased me much. There was something so +frank and honest about it and, after what he has done, I am sure +that I shall always respect his opinion." + +There was another consultation as to what should be their first +operation, and it was resolved that Leigonyer should be attacked at +once, before he could make a complete junction with Berruyer. The +next morning, at daybreak, the whole force moved off. They were +only just in time, for Berruyer had already ordered General +Gauvillier, who commanded the force that had captured Saint +Florent, to advance to Beaupreau. Berruyer was to march to Vezins, +and he himself to Jallais, and to join Leigonyer at May. + +On the previous evening Henri had, after the termination of the +council, requested Jean Martin to take him to the house where Leigh +and his little party were quartered. + +"I have been hearing of your doings," he said, "and feel quite +jealous that you, who are, I hear, four years younger than myself, +should have done so much; while I, with all my family influence and +connection, should as yet have done nothing but chase the enemy out +of Aubiers. How is it that you, who have had no training as a +soldier, should have conceived the idea of arresting the march of +Berruyer's army, with a force of only two or three hundred +peasants?" + +"It was a mere matter of common sense," Leigh said, with a smile. +"I knew that it was of the utmost importance that Chemille should +not be attacked, until Cathelineau received reinforcements. At +first, I had no thought of doing more than breaking down the +bridge, and of perhaps checking the advanced cavalry; but when I +found that the peasants who came along were quite willing to aid, +it seemed to me that by cutting down the trees, so as to block the +road and make a shelter for us, we might be able to cause the enemy +considerable delay. I hardly hoped to succeed in holding out so +long, or in inflicting such loss upon him as we were able to do. It +did not require any military knowledge whatever, and I should not +have attempted it had I not seen that, thanks to the forest, we +should be able to retreat when we could no longer hold the +barricade of felled trees." + +"Well, you could not have done better if you had been a general. I +have Cathelineau's permission to ask you to ride with me, when you +are not engaged in scouting." + +"I should be delighted to do so, but at present I have no horse. +However, I can send one of my lads back to the chateau, to fetch +the one that I generally ride." + +"I have brought a spare animal with me," the young count said. "I +brought it in case the other should be shot, and I shall be glad if +you will ride it tomorrow, and until yours arrives; but I would not +send for one until after tomorrow, for likely enough we may make +some captures before nightfall. + +"We are to march at three in the morning, and to attack Leigonyer. +The great thing that we need is powder. Cathelineau says that there +is scarcely a charge left among his men. Mine are not much better +off. We should have had none with which to attack Aubiers; but I +sent off during the night to a quarry, a few miles from my aunt's, +and succeeded in getting forty pounds of blasting powder. It would +not have been of much use for the muskets, but the fact of its +being powder was sufficient to encourage the peasants; and the +Blues made such a feeble resistance that its quality made no +difference to us. It enabled those who had muskets to make a noise +with them, and was just as effectual in raising their spirits in +attacking the Blues as if it had been the finest quality. We got a +few hundred cartridges when we took the place, but that will not go +very far, and I hope that, tomorrow, we shall be able to obtain a +supply from the enemy." + +Before the hour for starting, the force had swelled considerably. +The news that Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein had retaken Aubiers, +and had come with twelve thousand men to assist Cathelineau, spread +like wildfire. The peasants from all the country round flocked in +and, when they started in the morning, the united force had swollen +to over twenty thousand men. + +As soon as the young count left him, Leigh sent all his band, under +his lieutenants, with orders to proceed towards Vezins; to +ascertain the progress Leigonyer had made, and the position of his +forces, and to send back news to him. Just as the army was starting +one of the boys returned, and said that a party of twelve cavalry, +and a detachment of infantry, had just entered the chateau of +Crilloire. Leigh at once informed Cathelineau, who sent off a +hundred and fifty men to capture the place. They were ordered to +travel at the top of their speed, and Jean Martin was in command of +them. + +The expedition was crowned with success. The infantry, who had been +stationed outside the chateau, fled at once. Their commandant +Villemet, Leigonyer's best officer, charged the Vendeans with his +little body of cavalry. He was received with a volley. Two of his +men were killed, and he himself and nine of his men were wounded. +He managed, however, to burst through the Vendeans, and to overtake +his flying infantry. These he rallied and led back to the chateau, +which he found deserted; for Martin, as soon as he captured the +place and cleared it of the enemy, had gone off with his men to +join the main body. + +Berruyer had also started early, and sent five hundred men to May, +where he expected Leigonyer to arrive in a few hours; but before he +reached the town the Vendeans attacked the advanced guard of the +latter general, which consisted of two companies of grenadiers. +These old soldiers fought well, and threw themselves into the +chateau of Bois-Groleau. + +Leaving fifteen hundred men to surround and attack the chateau, the +main army pressed forward. Leigonyer, hearing of the disaster, sent +forward two thousand men to succour the besieged force; but the +Vendeans fell upon them and, after a short resistance, they broke +and fled into Vezins. + +The arrival of the fugitives caused a panic among the whole of +Leigonyer's force assembled there, and they fled precipitately; two +hundred and fifty men of the regiment of Finisterre, alone, +remaining steady; and these, maintaining good order, covered the +retreat of the guns, repulsing the attacks of the peasantry who +pursued them. Fortunately for the Vendeans, a waggon laden with +barrels of powder was left behind, in the confusion caused by their +approach, and proved of inestimable value to them. + +Had the Vendeans pursued the fugitives with vigour, the force would +have been almost annihilated; but Cathelineau, learning from +Leigh's scouts that Berruyer was already approaching Vezins, feared +to be taken in the rear by him, and therefore fell back to May and +Beaupreau. + +The garrison that defended the chateau of Bois-Groleau repulsed the +repeated attacks made upon them, but surrendered on the approach of +the main army, their ammunition and the food they had brought with +them in their haversacks being entirely exhausted. + +Berruyer, on his arrival at Jallais, heard of the defeat of +Leigonyer; and marched back in all haste to Chemille, where he had +left his magazines. On hearing however that Leigonyer, on his +arrival at Vihiers, had been deserted during the night by the whole +of his troops and, finding himself in the morning with but a +hundred and fifty men of the Finisterre regiment, had evacuated the +town and retreated to Doug, Berruyer wrote to him to endeavour to +gather his forces together again, and to return to Chemille. + +But the news of another disaster convinced him that he could not +maintain himself there. The Vendeans had marched, without delay, +against Beaupreau, and attacked Gauvillier. That general had +already heard of the defeat of Leigonyer, and the retreat of +Berruyer. His force was greatly dispirited at the news, and offered +but a feeble resistance to the fierce assault. The Blues were +driven out of the town with the loss of their five cannon, and were +hotly pursued to Saint Florent, losing a large proportion of their +numbers on the way. + +The news of this fresh disaster convinced Berruyer that he must +fall back without delay, and he accordingly retreated with his +whole force to Saint Lambert, whence he wrote to the Convention to +declare the impossibility of doing anything without large +reinforcements of regular troops, as no dependence whatever could +be placed upon the National Guards and volunteers and, if the +insurgents marched against him, he would be obliged to march to +Ponts-de-Ce in order to cover Angers, where the alarm of the +inhabitants was intense. + +Thus the invasion that was to crush the Vendeans failed altogether, +except that some advantages had been gained by the Blues along the +line of coast, the troops being assisted by the fleet. At all other +points, misfortune had attended them. Quetineau had been driven +from Aubiers and, a great proportion of his force having deserted, +he held Bressuire with so feeble a grasp that he could not maintain +himself, if attacked. Leigonyer's army had practically ceased to +exist, as had that which had advanced from Saint Florent. Berruyer +had lost three thousand men, and was back again at the point from +which he had started. Chollet and Vihiers had been recovered +without a blow. + +As the result of his failures, Berruyer was recalled to Paris, +tried for his conduct, and narrowly escaped the guillotine. + +As soon as Berruyer retired, Cathelineau advanced against +Bressuire. News of his coming at once scared the Blues from the +town, and they retreated to Thouars. They did not even wait to take +their prisoners with them and, as soon as they had gone, the +Marquis de la Lescure with his family rode off to their chateau, at +Clisson. They had scarcely arrived there when la Rochejaquelein +arrived, and acquainted them with the general facts of the +insurrection. + +"Cathelineau's army," he said, "consists of twenty thousand men +and, on any emergency, it would swell to nearly twice that number. +Twelve thousand Bretons had crossed the Loire, and were on their +way to join him. In lower Poitou, Charette had an army of twenty +thousand; and besides these, there were many scattered bands." + +Lescure at once agreed to accompany la Rochejaquelein to Bressuire; +and the Marquis of Donnissan, Madame Lescure's father, arranged to +follow them, as soon as he had seen his wife and daughter safely +placed in the chateau of de la Boulais. + + + +Chapter 7: A Short Rest. + + +Leigh Stansfield had ridden with Rochejaquelein during the march of +the army to Vezins, and from there to Bressuire. He was charmed +with his companion, who had been the first to dash, with a few +other mounted gentlemen, into the streets of Vezins; and who had +thrown himself, with reckless bravery, upon the retreating infantry +and, as the peasants came up, had led them to the attack several +times, until Cathelineau's orders, that the pursuit should be +pushed no farther, reached him. + +"That sort of order is very hard to obey," he said to Leigh. +"However, I need not regret that these brave fellows should escape +us. We have won the battle, if one can call it a battle; and I +honour the men who, when all the others have fled like sheep, still +cling together and defend their guns. At least a hundred of them +have fallen, since they left the town; and we have lost double that +number, and should lose at least as many more, before we finally +overcame their opposition. If all the armies of the Republic were +composed of such stuff as this regiment, I fear that our chance of +defending La Vendee successfully would be small, indeed." + +On rejoining Cathelineau, and hearing his reason for calling off +the pursuit, Henri at once admitted its wisdom. + +"After the defeat of Leigonyer, you will see that Berruyer will not +long be able to maintain himself at Chemille," he said; "and when +he hears the news, I fancy that he will retire at once; for he will +know, well enough, that it will be useless for him to pursue us. +Still, if he were to come down on our rear as we advanced, it would +have a bad effect upon the peasants; and it is much better to avoid +fighting, unless under circumstances that are almost sure to give +us victory. We can almost always choose our own ground, which is an +enormous advantage in a country like this. It is very fortunate +that it is so, for we certainly could not raise a body of cavalry +that could stand against those of the line; but in these lanes and +thickets they have no superiority in that respect, for no general +would be fool enough to send cavalry into places where they would +be at the mercy of an unseen foe. At the same time, I must own that +I regretted today that we had no mounted force. With but a squadron +or two of my old regiment, not a man of Leigonyer's force would +have escaped; for the country here is open enough to use them, and +I should certainly have had no compunction in cutting down the +rascals who are always shouting for blood, and yet are such arrant +cowards that they fly without firing a shot." + +The day after the capture of Bressuire the Vendeans marched against +Thouars, to which town Quetineau had retreated with his force. +Thouars was the only town in La Vendee which was still walled. The +fortifications were in a dilapidated condition, but nevertheless +offered a considerable advantage to a force determined upon a +desperate resistance. With the fugitives from Bressuire, and the +garrison already in Thouars, Quetineau was at the head of three +thousand five hundred troops; of these, however, comparatively few +could be depended upon. The successive defeats that had been +inflicted on the troops of the Republic, by the Vendeans, had +entirely destroyed their morale. They no longer felt any confidence +in their power to resist the onslaught of the peasants. + +Quetineau himself had no hope of making a successful resistance. He +had repeatedly written urgent letters to the authorities at Paris, +saying that nothing could be done without large reinforcements of +disciplined troops; and that the National Guard and volunteers were +worse than useless, as they frequently ran at the first shot, and +excited the hostility of the people, generally, by their habits of +plundering. Nevertheless, the old soldier determined to resist to +the last, however hopeless the conflict; and when the Vendeans +approached, at six o'clock in the morning, they found that the +bridge of Viennes was barricaded and guarded. + +As soon as they attacked, the general reinforced the defenders of +the bridge by his most trustworthy troops; a battalion, three +hundred and twenty-five strong, of Marseillais, and a battalion of +the National Guard of Nievre. So stoutly was the post held that the +Vendean general saw that the bridge could not be taken, without +terrible loss. He therefore contented himself with keeping up a +heavy fire all day, while preparing an attack from other quarters. + +The first step was to destroy the bridge behind the castle, and to +make a breach in the wall near the Paris gate, thereby cutting off +the garrison's means of retreat. At five o'clock a large body of +peasantry was massed for an attack on the bridge at Viennes; and +its defenders, seeing the storm that was preparing, retired into +the town. The Vendeans crossed the bridge but, as they approached +the walls, they were attacked by a battalion of the National Guard +of Deux Sevres and a body of gendarmes and, taken by surprise, were +driven back some distance. Their leaders, however, speedily rallied +them; and in the meantime other bodies forced their way into the +town, at several points. + +To avoid a massacre of his troops, Quetineau hoisted the white +flag. On this, as on all other occasions in the northern portion of +La Vendee, the prisoners were well treated. They were offered their +freedom, on condition of promising not to serve against La Vendee +again; and to ensure that this oath should be kept for some time, +at least, their heads were shaved before their release, a step that +was afterwards taken throughout the war. + +Quetineau was treated with all honour, and was given his freedom, +without conditions. Although he knew well that neither his long +services, nor the efforts that he had made, would save him from the +fury of the Convention; he returned to Paris where, after the +mockery of a trial, he was sent to the guillotine--a fate which +awaited all those who failed, in the face of impossibilities, to +carry out the plans of the mob leaders. Instead of blame, the +general deserved a high amount of praise for the manner in which he +had defended the town against a force six times as strong as his +own. + +Three thousand muskets, ten pieces of cannon, and a considerable amount +of ammunition fell into the hands of the victors. This success left it +open to the Vendeans either to march against Leigonyer--the remnant of +whose army was in a state of insubordination at Doug, and could have +offered no opposition, but must have retreated to Saumur--or to clear +the country south and west. + +The former would unquestionably have been the wiser course, for the +capture of Saumur would have been a heavy blow, indeed, to the +Republicans; but the peasants, whose villages and property were +threatened by the presence of the Blues at Fontenay, Parthenay, and +Chataigneraie, were so strongly in favour of the other alternative +that it was adopted; and the force broke into two divisions, one +moving towards Chataigneraie, and the other against Fontenay. + +Parthenay was evacuated at once by the Republicans, as soon as news +reached the authorities of the approach of the Vendeans. The +latter, however, made no stay, but continued their march towards +Chataigneraie. The town was held by General Chalbos, with three +thousand men. After two hours' fighting Chalbos, seeing that his +retreat was menaced, fell back. + +He took up a position at Fontenay, where he was joined by General +Sandoz, from Niort. The country around the town was unfavourable +for the Vendeans, being a large plain, and the result was +disastrous to them. The Republicans were strong in cavalry, and a +portion of these fell on the flank of the Vendeans, while the +remainder charged them in rear. They fell into disorder at once, +and the cavalry captured a portion of their artillery. + +The Republican infantry, seeing the success of their cavalry, +advanced stoutly and in good order. In vain the leaders of the +Vendeans strove to reanimate their men, and induce them to charge +the enemy. The panic that had begun spread rapidly and, in a few +minutes, they became a mob of fugitives scattering in all +directions, and leaving behind them sixteen cannon, and all the +munitions of war they had captured. + +La Rochejaquelein who, after he had visited Lescure at Clisson, had +rejoined the army with a party of gentlemen, covered the retreat with +desperate valour; charging the enemy's cavalry again and again and, +before falling back, allowing time for the fugitives to gain the +shelter of the woods. The loss of men was therefore small, but the fact +that the peasants, who had come to be regarded as almost irresistible +by the troops, should have been so easily defeated, raised the Blues +from the depth of depression into which they had fallen; while the blow +inflicted upon the Vendeans was correspondingly great. It was some +little time before the peasants could be aroused again. + +Small bodies, indeed, kept the field and, under their leaders, +showed so bold a face whenever reconnoitring parties of the Blues +went out from Fontenay, that the troops were not long before they +again began to lose heart; while the generals, who had thought that +the victory at Fontenay would bring the war to a conclusion, again +began to pour in letters to the authorities at Paris, calling for +reinforcements. + +On the side of the Vendeans, the priests everywhere exerted +themselves to impress upon their flocks the necessity of again +joining the army. Cathelineau himself made a tour through the +Bocage, and the peasants, persuaded that the defeat was a +punishment for having committed some excesses at the capture of +Chataigneraie, responded to the call. In nine days after the +reverse they were again in force near Fontenay, and in much greater +numbers than before; for very many of them had returned to their +homes, as soon as Thouars had been captured, and their strength in +the first battle was but little greater than that of the +Republicans. + +Burning with ardour to avenge their defeat, and rendered furious by +the pillage of all the houses of the patriots at Chataigneraie--to +which town Chalbos with seven thousand troops had marched--it was +against him that the Vendeans first moved. Chalbos, who had +occupied his time in issuing vainglorious proclamations, and in +writing assurances to the Convention that the Vendeans were so +panic stricken that the war was virtually over, only saved his army +by a long and painful night march back to Fontenay. Here the troops +lay down to sleep, feeling certain that there could be no attack +that day by the enemy. + +At one o'clock, however, the Vendeans issued from the woods on to +the plain, and the troops were hastily called to arms. + +The Royal Catholic Army, as it now called itself, advanced in three +columns. It was without cannon, but its enthusiasm more than +counterbalanced this deficiency. The Vendeans received unshaken the +discharge of the artillery of the Blues, pursuing their usual +tactics of throwing themselves to the ground when they saw the +flash of the cannon, and then leaping up again and rushing forward +with loud shouts. The cavalry were ordered to charge, but only +twenty men obeyed. The rest turned and fled. The infantry offered +but a feeble resistance and, in ten minutes after the first gun was +fired, the Republican army was a mob of fugitives. Fontenay was +taken and, what pleased the peasants even more, their beloved +cannon, Marie Jeanne, was recaptured, having been recovered by +young Foret who, with a handful of peasants, charged the cavalry +that were covering the retreat, and snatched it from their hands. +After this victory the peasants, as usual, returned for the most +part to their homes. + +As there was no probability of further fighting at the moment, Jean +Martin and Leigh started for the chateau. They had first asked +Cathelineau if they could be spared. + +"For the moment, yes. I hope that we shall be joined by the Count +de Lescure, in a day or two. He will, of course, be one of our +generals. He has great influence with the peasantry and, if he can +but persuade them to remain under arms for a time, we will attack +the enemy. Messieurs d'Elbee and Bonchamp, and I may say several of +the gentlemen with me, are of opinion that if we are to be +successful in the end, it can only be by taking the offensive, and +marching against Paris. They urge that we should get Monsieur +Charette to go with us with his army, cross the Loire, rouse all +Brittany, and then march, a hundred thousand strong, against Paris. + +"They say that although we have been most successful this time, and +repulsed the invaders everywhere except on the coast, they will +come again and again, with larger forces, till they overpower us. +Possibly, if Monsieur de Lescure and Henri de la Rochejaquelein aid +us with their influence and authority, we might persuade the +peasants that it is better to make one great effort, and then to +have done with it, than to be constantly called from their homes +whenever the Blues are in sufficient strength to invade us. We +shall tell them, too, that after the two repulses they have +suffered, the Blues will grow more and more savage, and that +already orders have been sent for all villages to be destroyed, and +all hedges and woods to be cut down--a business that, by the way, +would employ the whole French army for some years. + +"However, as soon as our plans are decided upon, I will send a +messenger to you. At present there is nothing requiring either you +or your scouts, Monsieur Stansfield, and after the good service +that they have rendered, it is but fair that they should have a +short rest." + +Patsey was delighted when her husband and Leigh arrived. She was +under no uneasiness as to their safety as, after the repulse of +Berruyer's army at Chemille, and the rout of Leigonyer, Leigh had +sent one of the boys home, with the assurance that they were +unhurt. + +"I don't quite know how much to believe," she said, as they sat +down to a meal, "of the reports that the boys have brought home. +The first came and told me that on your arrival at Cathelineau's, +he himself praised them all, and that Monsieur Bonchamp drilled +them for an hour. Then came home two wounded lads, with a story +about the great fight, in which they insisted that Leigh commanded, +and that they kept the army of the Blues at bay for three hours, +and killed hundreds of them. The next messenger told us a tale +about Leigh's having discovered some treachery, upon the part of +the man who was in charge of the artillery, and that he was in +consequence shot. He insisted that Cathelineau had declared that +Leigh had saved Chemille, because the enemy were so long delayed +that Monsieur d'Elbee, with his band, had time to come up from +Chollet and rout the Blues. + +"Of course, I did not believe anything like all they said; but I +suppose there must be something in it, for I questioned the boys +myself; and though I had no doubt they would make as much as they +could of their own doings, among their neighbours and friends, they +would hardly venture to lie, though they might exaggerate greatly +to me." + +"Strange as it may appear, Patsey," Jean said, "they told you the +simple truth and, as soon as we have finished supper, I will tell +you the whole story of what has taken place since we left; and you +will see that this brother of yours has cut a very conspicuous +figure in our affairs." + +"You are not joking, Jean?" + +"Not in the smallest degree. I can assure you that if Leigh chose +to set up as leader on his own account, a large proportion of the +peasants would follow him." + +"Ridiculous, Jean!" Leigh exclaimed hotly. + +"It may seem ridiculous, but it is a real fact. + +"The peasants, you must know, Patsey, choose their own leaders. +There is no dividing or sorting them, no getting them to keep in +regular companies; they simply follow the leader in whom they have +the most confidence, or who appears to them the most fortunate. If +he does anything that they don't like, or they do not approve of +his plan, they tell him so. Leigh's defence of the stream against +Berruyer's army created a feeling of enthusiasm among them, and I +verily believe that his discovery of the plot to render the cannon +useless was regarded, by them, as almost supernatural. Superstitious +and ignorant as they are, they are, as you know, always ready to +consider anything they can't understand, and which acts greatly in +their favour, as a special interposition of Providence. I am bound +to say that Leigh acted upon such very slender grounds that even +Cathelineau, who is enormously in advance of the peasantry in general, +was staggered by it; and told me he could not have believed it +possible that anyone should, on such a slight clue, have followed the +matter up, unless by a special inspiration." + +"The thing was as simple as A B C," Leigh broke in. + +"You will have to remain a silent listener, Leigh," his sister +said, "when Jean is telling me the story. I cannot have him +interrupted." + +"Very well," Leigh said. "Then I will put on my hat, take a fresh +horse from the stable, and ride off to see how the two wounded boys +are going on." + +"I can tell you that they are almost well; but still, if you don't +want to hear Jean's story of all your adventures, by all means go +round. I am sure that the tenants will be gratified at hearing that +you rode over to see them, the very first evening you came home." + +The Vendean leaders had for some time felt the necessity of having +a generally recognized authority, and after the battle of Fontenay +they decided to appoint a council, who were to reside permanently +at some central place and administer the affairs of the whole +district, provide supplies for the armies, and make all other civil +arrangements; so that the generals would be able to attend only to +the actual fighting. A body of eighteen men was chosen, to +administer affairs under the title of the Superior Council; and a +priest who had joined them at Thouars, and who called himself, +though without a shadow of right, the Bishop of Agra, was appointed +president. He was an eloquent man, of commanding presence, and the +leaders had not thought it worth while to inquire too minutely into +his claim to the title of bishop; for the peasants had been full of +enthusiasm at having a prelate among them, and his influence and +exhortations had been largely instrumental in gathering the army +which had won the battle of Fontenay. + +But although he was appointed president, the leading spirit of the +council was the Abbe Bernier, a man of great energy and intellect, +with a commanding person, ready pen, and a splendid voice; but who +was altogether without principle, and threw himself into the cause +for purely selfish and ambitious motives. + +It was on the sixteenth of May that Fontenay was won, and on the +third of June the church bells again called the peasantry to arms. +The disaster at Fontenay had done more than all the representations +of their generals to rouse the Convention. Seven battalions of +regular troops arrived, and Biron, who had been appointed +commander-in-chief, reached Niort and assumed the command. + +He wrote at once, to the minister of war, to say that he found the +confusion impossible to describe. There was an absence of any +organization, whatever. The town was crowded with fugitives who, +having distinguished themselves by the violence of their opinions +and the severity of their measures, before the insurrection broke +out, were forced to take refuge in the cities. The general reported +that he had caused the assembly to be sounded again and again, +without more than a tenth part of the troops paying the slightest +heed to the summons. + +The army was without cavalry, without waggons for carrying +supplies, without an ambulance train--in fact, it was nothing but a +half-armed mob. Biron himself was at heart a Royalist, and when he +in turn had to meet his fate by the guillotine, openly declared +himself to be one; and the repugnance which he felt on assuming the +command against the Vendeans--which he had only accepted after a +long delay, and after petitioning in vain to be allowed to remain +at his former post--was heightened when he discovered the state of +affairs, and the utter confusion that prevailed everywhere. + +When sending the order for the bells to ring on the first of June, +the superior council of the Vendeans issued a proclamation, which +was to be read in all the churches, to the effect that provisional +councils should be formed, in each parish, to provide for the +subsistence of the women and children of men with the army. +Receipts were to be given for all supplies of grain used for this +purpose, which were to be paid for by the superior council. Those +men who did not remain permanently with the army, as long as +necessary, would be called upon to pay the taxes to which they were +subject, prior to the rising. + +The sales of the land belonging to the churches--which had been +sequestrated on the refusal of the clergy to comply with the orders +of the Convention--were declared null and void. As these had been +bought by the upholders of the Revolution, for no devout Vendean +would have taken part in the robbery of the church, the blow was a +heavy one to those who had so long been dominant in La Vendee. +These lands were, for the time, to be administered for the good of +the cause by the parish council. + +It was hoped that this proclamation would act beneficially in +keeping the peasants in the field; as they would know that their +families were cared for, and that if they only went out at times, +they would subject themselves to taxation, and be regarded by the +families of those who remained with the army as being wanting in +zeal. + +Upon rejoining the army, Leigh and his party of scouts learned, to +their satisfaction, that it was intended to march against Saumur. +They were now double their former strength, as the story of what +they had done had roused the spirit of emulation among lads in the +surrounding parishes; and Leigh could have had a hundred, had he +chosen. He was this time mounted, in order that he might at times +ride with Rochejaquelein, while at others he went out scouting with +his party. + +"I am heartily glad to see you back again, my friend," the young +count said, shaking him warmly by the hand. "To be with you does me +good, for the generals, and even Lescure, are so serious and solemn +that I feel afraid to make a joke. You see, in the cavalry we have +little responsibility except in an actual battle. In an open +country we should scout ahead, and have affairs with the enemy's +outposts; but in this land of woods, where one can seldom see more +than twenty yards ahead, there is little use for us. Besides, with +the exception of a score or two of gentlemen, I have no troops to +command and, having health and good spirits, and enjoying life, I +cannot go about as if the cares of life were on my shoulders. Your +brother-in-law Martin is a capital fellow but, with a wife and +child, he cannot feel so lighthearted as I do; though next to +yourself he is the most ready to join me in a laugh. Sailors seem +always to be lighthearted, and he certainly is no exception." + +"He is a splendid fellow, count." + +"Yes, he is a fine fellow; but you see, he is seven or eight years +older than I am, while I feel with you that you are about my own +age. By the way, it is high time that we dropped calling each other +by our surnames, especially as mine is such a long one; so in +future let us be' Henri' and 'Leigh 'to each other. Most of the +peasants call me Henri." + +"They generally speak of you as 'our Henri,'" Leigh said, "and +would follow you through fire and water. I think the Vendeans are, +as a whole, serious people; and they admire you all the more +because you are so unlike themselves. If you do not mind my saying +so, you remind me much more of the young English officers I used to +meet, at Poole, than of Frenchmen." + +"Yes, I have often been told that I am more English than French in +appearance, and perhaps in manner; for in France most men have +forgotten, for the past four years, what it is to smile; and I +question whether a laugh would not be considered, in itself, +sufficient to ensure a man's condemnation as an enemy of the +Republic. + +"Well, so we are going to Saumur! That is an enterprise worth +undertaking. It may be considered as the headquarters of the Blues +in these parts. There is a considerable body of troops there. If we +capture it, we shall give a rare fright to Poitiers, Tours, and the +other towns, and cause a scare even in Paris." + +Leigh was requested to go forward at daybreak, with his band, to +discover the situation of the enemy, who might come out from their +situation to give battle before Doue. Leigonyer, who commanded +here, had with him four good regiments; and occupied several strong +positions on the right bank of the river Layon, and also a post +called Rochette on the left bank. + +The fact that the Vendeans were advancing against them was already +known to Leigonyer for, confident as they now felt, the Vendeans +made no secret of their destination, and the news was speedily +carried by the adherents of the Convention, who everywhere acted as +spies. Three such men were captured by Leigh's party, making their +way to Leigonyer; and, being unable to give any account of +themselves, were immediately shot. + +Leigh had no difficulty in ascertaining the position of the enemy +and, as the army was but two hours' march in the rear, he himself +rode back to carry the news. + +At ten o'clock the Vendeans arrived, and at once attacked the +Blues; their main column throwing itself upon the centre of the +position, which it speedily forced. Leigonyer's troops at Rochette +and Verches were thereby threatened in flank; and Leigonyer, who +was himself present, ordered the whole force to fall back to a +position which he had before chosen as being favourable for giving +battle behind Doue. + +But the Vendeans pressed forward with such eagerness that the +retreat speedily degenerated into a rout; and the troops, for the +most part throwing away their arms, fled precipitately, carrying +the reserve with them to Bourlan, a strong position in front of +Saumur, where General Menou was stationed, and where he succeeded +in rallying them. + +Leigonyer, having from his previous experience great doubts as to +whether he should be successful in his stand against the Vendeans, +had taken the precaution to send back the waggons with the +munitions and stores, together with the artillery. As his men had +fled too rapidly to be overtaken, the numerical loss was not great. +He himself, in his report of the fight, ascribed it to a cause that +has been frequently used by the French to excuse their defeats; +namely that it was due to treachery, for many of the men broke and +fled, directly the action began; and these, he avowed, could have +been none other than Vendeans who had disguised themselves, and +enlisted for the purpose of causing discontent among the men, and +confusion in their ranks, the first time they met the enemy. + +Since the commencement of the campaign he had several times begged +to be relieved of his command, and to return to the post that he +occupied previously. He now repeated the demand, saying that he had +lost the confidence of his men, and that a new commander would be +far more likely to succeed with them. This time the request was +granted, and General Menou was appointed to succeed him. + +Fortunately for Leigonyer, the commissioners of the Convention +reported most favourably of the activity and energy that he had +personally shown and, although he was accused of treachery in the +Assembly, this report saved him from the guillotine. + +As soon as the fight was over, Cathelineau sent for Leigh. + +"It is of the greatest importance that we should know what is +passing at Saumur. We have learned, from one of the officers who is +a prisoner in our hands, that Biron is at Tours, and is +endeavouring to persuade the Paris battalions that have arrived +there to march, at once, to Saumur. They have absolutely refused to +do so, until the arrival of the cannon that were promised to them, +before they left Paris. They may, by this time, be marching towards +Saumur, with or without their cannon. General Salomon is at +Thouars, with a considerable force, and it is possible that he also +may march to aid in the defence of Saumur; and as he has, in +addition to the new levies, a fine battalion of gendarmes, his +arrival at Saumur would greatly increase the strength of the +defence. + +"I should say that half your scouts had better go to Thouars and, +should there be any considerable movement of troops there, they +should bring me word at the greatest possible speed. We shall +tomorrow march forward and take post facing the enemy's positions, +and on the ninth shall attack. I tell you this in order that your +scouts may know where to find me. + +"To you, with the other half of your party, I give the charge of +watching Saumur. If one or two of them could cross the Loire and +watch the road between Tours and Saumur, and bring me speedy word +if they see a large body of troops coming along, we should know +what force we have to encounter, and act accordingly." + +"You shall have news, general," Leigh said and, saluting, at once +joined his band. + +Jean, who had been talking with him when the message from +Cathelineau arrived, and had waited to hear what his orders were, +said as he came up: + +"You and your regiment are off on an adventure again, Leigh?" + +"Yes, we are going to watch Thouars and Saumur, and to find out, if +possible, if the battalions from Paris are on their way from +Tours." + +"The first will be easy enough but, unless you swim the Loire, I +don't see how the second is to be managed." + +"I should think that a boat might be obtained, at one of the +villages on the river bank. Anyhow, I shall get across somehow." + +Andre was ordered to take his party to Thouars. + +"Remember," Leigh said, "there is to be no fighting; not a shot +must be fired. I want you and another to enter the town, if +possible, from the other side; to see whether there is any unusual +excitement, and especially whether there is any stir among the +troops that would seem to show that they are on the point of +marching away. You are to remain there until you see some such +movement. The lad that you are taking in with you must go out, +every hour, to the spot where you have left the rest; and one of +these must at once start with your report to the general, who will +tomorrow be on his way to Saumur, and will halt not far from its +works of defence. Having delivered his message, he is to return to +you, for you must continue to send off messengers until you hear +that there is fighting at Saumur. If the commander of the Blues at +Thouars has not moved by that time, you need remain no longer, but +return with your party and join the army." + +After Andre had left, Leigh marched with Pierre and the others to a +spot up the river, ten miles above Saumur. + +"Can any of you swim?" he asked. + +Three only of the party were able to reply in the affirmative. + +"Do you think that you could swim across the Loire?" + +All of them expressed great doubt of being able to do so. + +"Well, at any rate, I must take you with me," he said. "To be able +to swim a little is a good deal better than not to be able to swim +at all, for by making a faggot you will gain such support as will +enable you to get across. + +"Now, Pierre, you must for the present remain here. Tomorrow +morning you can go into the village, whose church tower you can see +over there, and find out whether the people there are for us or for +the Blues. If they are for us you can show them Cathelineau's +order, of which you have a copy, and they will certainly provide +you with a boat. In that case, cross the river with your party and +take post on the opposite bank, keeping the boat with you, and a +man who can row. Then, as soon as one of my messengers arrives +there, you will send on my report to the general who, tomorrow +evening, will be not far from Saumur. Do the same with each +messenger that arrives. + +"If, on reaching the bank opposite the village, they do not find +you there, they will follow the opposite bank down until they are +opposite to you. Then they will call, and you, unless anything has +happened to drive you away, will reply. The messenger will then +swim across with my report, as in the other case. You will send it +forward at once, and he will return to the spot I shall appoint. + +"I see there is another village, a mile below us. I shall go there +with my three followers, tonight. We will manage to steal a boat +and row across. I shall go to that village instead of the other, +because the loss of a boat may cause anger and, even if well +disposed to the cause, they might not receive you well. However, I +shall tie the boat up on the opposite bank when I leave it, so that +it will not drift away down the river; and when they see it in the +morning, they will only have to send another boat across to fetch +it over." + +"I understand, captain, and will do my best to carry out your +instructions. Even if I find that, at the village above, they are +divided in opinion, I shall surely be able to discover, from their +talk, some who are on our side, and who will arrange to bring a +boat down to this spot; in which case your messenger, when he does +not find us opposite the village, will follow the bank down till he +does so." + +"At any rate, Pierre, here are a couple of crowns, so that you can +arrange with a man for the hire of the boat, and his services, for +twenty-four hours, if necessary." + + + +Chapter 8: The Capture Of Saumur. + + +The arrangements being now completed, Leigh and his band lay down +in a thicket near the bank of the river, and slept for some hours. +At one o'clock in the morning Leigh rose and, with his three +followers, started for the village. It was but twenty minutes' +walk. Not a soul was stirring, not a light visible in any window. + +They found that three or four boats were lying by the bank. Leigh +chose the smallest of these and, loosening the head rope from the +post to which it was fastened, took his place in her with the +others. Accustomed as he was to rowing, from his childhood, he soon +reached the opposite bank. Here he fastened the boat up, and struck +across country until he reached the road. Then he sent one of his +followers westward. + +"You will follow the road," he said, "until within a mile of Tours; +then you will conceal yourself, and watch who passes along. If you +see a large body of troops coming, you will at once strike across +country and make your way down to the village above that at which +we crossed. You heard the instructions that I gave to Pierre. If +you find him and the others there with the boat, you will report +what you have seen. He will send another messenger on with the news +to Cathelineau, and you will remain with him until I arrive. + +"If he is not there, you will follow the bank of the river down to +the other village. You will give a shout as you pass the spot where +we halted. If no answer comes, you will probably find Pierre and +the boat somewhere below. You will not miss him, for I have ordered +him to post two of your comrades on the bank, so that you cannot +pass them unseen. As in the first case, you will remain with him +until I arrive, and your message will be carried to the general by +another of his party. + +"In case you do not find him at all, you will know that I have +returned before you, and have taken him and the others on with me. +In that case, you must make a faggot sufficiently large to support +you in the water, and swim across. The river is low, and it will +not be many yards out of your depth." + +"I could swim that without the faggot, sir." + +"Yes; but it is better to have it. I don't suppose that you have +ever swum in your clothes, and you would find it heavy work; +therefore you had better rely upon the faggot to keep you up and, +with its aid, you will have no difficulty in crossing." + +The morning now was breaking, for in June the nights are short and, +after waiting for an hour, Leigh and his two companions--all of +whom had divested themselves of their weapons and belts, which they +had left in Pierre's charge--started for Saumur. In the presence of +so large a number of troops, with scarcely any training and +discipline, and with the excitement that would have been caused by +the defeat of Leigonyer, and the prospect of an attack by the +Vendeans, Leigh felt confident that three country lads ran no risk +of being questioned. However, he took the precaution of learning +the name of the village he passed through, six miles from the town; +so that if any one should happen to ask where they came from, and +what they were doing, he could give the name of a village, and say +that they had merely come in from curiosity, hearing that there was +likely to be a battle. Assuredly many country people would be +coming for the same purpose. + +They entered the town at six o'clock. It was already astir. The +citizens, with anxious faces, were talking together in little +groups. Soldiers were loitering about in the streets, totally +regardless of the bugles and drums that were sounding in the +marketplace, and at various points outside the town. The civil +functionaries, in their scarves of office, hurried fussily about, +but for once they were unheeded. But a week before, a denunciation +by any of these men would have been sufficient to ensure the arrest +and imprisonment, and probably the death, of anyone against whom +they had a grudge. Now they were in greater danger than those who +had dreaded and hated them. + +At present there was no talk of politics among the groups of +townspeople. Men who were the chief upholders of the regime of +confiscation and murder, and others who in their heart loathed and +hated it, were discussing the probabilities of an attack by the +Vendeans, and what would happen were that attack to be successful. +Would the town be given over to sack? Would there be a massacre and +slaughter, such as Chalbos and other commanders of the Blues had +inflicted in the Vendean villages through which they had passed? +The Vendeans in arms were called, by the Blues, "the brigands." +Would they behave like brigands, or would they conduct themselves +as Royal and Catholic soldiers, as they called themselves? + +As the hours passed, the streets became more crowded. Numbers of +the country people came in to learn the news. Spies from Doue had +already brought in word that orders had been issued, by +Cathelineau, that the army should march at eight o'clock for +Saumur; and all doubt that it was their intention either to attack +the town, or to accept battle in the plain before it, was at an +end. The assembly was sounded in all quarters of the town and, +presently, parties of the mounted gendarmes rode through the +streets, and drove the soldiers to their rendezvous. + +Presently Leigh saw General Menou, and some other officers of rank, +enter a large house. + +"Who lives there?" he asked a woman who was standing near him. + +"General Duhoux. He is in command, you know, but he has not +recovered from a wound he got at Chemille, and is unable to ride." + +Leigh had no doubt that a council of war was about to be held and, +bidding his companions wait for him at the end of the street, he +sauntered across the road, and sat down on the pavement by the side +of the entrance. Leaning against the wall, he took from his pocket +a hunk of the peasants' black bread and, cutting it up with his +knife, proceeded to munch it unconcernedly. An officer and two or +three troopers were standing by their horses' heads, in the road +opposite the door, evidently awaiting orders. + +In half an hour General Menou himself came out, and said to the +officer: + +"Sir, you will ride at once to Thouars, by way of Loudun, and +deliver this despatch to General Salomon. It is most urgent. When +you hand it to him, you can say that I begged you to impress upon +him the necessity for losing not a moment of time. It is all +important that he should arrive here tonight, for tomorrow morning +we may be attacked. Take your troopers with you." + +The officer and his men mounted at once, and rode off at full +speed. Leigh remained quiet until Menou and the other officers rode +out from the courtyard and proceeded down the street, followed by +their escort. Then he got up, stretched himself, and walked slowly +to the spot where his two comrades were awaiting him. + +"I have learned what I wanted to know," he said. "Do you both make +your way back to the spot where Pierre will be awaiting us, and +tell him that I am going to swim the river, a mile above the town. +He is to wait where he is until Lucien comes back from Tours--which +will not be till twelve o'clock tonight, for his orders are to +remain within sight of the town till six in the afternoon. If by +that hour the troops there have not set out, they will not arrive +until after we have captured Saumur. + +"Saunter along quietly. There is no hurry." + +After they had set out he, too, strolled out of the town, kept +along the road for another half mile, and then struck off across +the fields towards the river. Arrived there, he took off his heavy +country shoes, tied them round his waist, and waded out into the +river. He had but some thirty yards to swim. As soon as he reached +the opposite bank, he poured the water out of his shoes, put them +on again, and set out at a run. He had to make a detour, so as to +get beyond the eminences on which the Republican troops were posted +and, after running for a couple of miles, came down on the road. + +A short distance farther he arrived at a village. A peasant, with a +horse and cart, was standing in front of a cabaret. + +"Do you want to earn two crowns?" he asked the man. + +The latter nodded. + +"Two crowns are not easily earned," he said. "I was just starting +for Montreuil but, if it pays me better to go in another direction, +I must put that journey off until tomorrow." + +"I want you to carry me to Doue," he said, "at the best speed of +which your horse is capable." + +The countryman looked at him doubtfully. His clothes were not yet +dry. Leigh saw that the man was not sure of his power to fulfil his +promise. He therefore produced two crowns, and held them up. + +"By Saint Matthew," he said, "it is the first silver I have seen +for months. I will take you." + +Leigh jumped up beside the peasant. The latter at once whipped up +his horse, and started at a brisk trot. + +"You know that the Catholic Army is there?" he asked. + +"Yes, I know. I belong to it myself. I have been with it from the +first." + +"I would have taken you for nothing, if you had said so before," +the man said. "We are all heart and soul with them, here; and if, +as they say, they will come along here to attack Saumur, every man +in the village will go with them. How is it that you are here?" + +"I am an officer," Leigh said, "and have been, in disguise, into +Saumur to see what is going on there; and am now taking the news +back to Cathelineau." + +Conversation was difficult, for the jolting of the cart was +terrible, and Leigh found it next to impossible to talk. He was +well content when the belfries of Doue came into sight. On arriving +at the town, they drew up at the house where Cathelineau and the +generals had their quarters. As he got down, he offered the peasant +the two crowns. + +"No, sir," the man said, "I will not take a sou for my service. We +in this part have had no chance of doing anything, and I should be +ashamed, indeed, to take money from those who have been fighting +for the good cause. + +"As you say they will advance tomorrow, I will wait here. It may be +that my cart will be useful and, whether or no, I shall stay if it +is only to get a sight of Cathelineau, whose name we all +reverence." + +"I will tell him of your goodwill. You had best remain here for a +few minutes." + +He was about to enter, when two armed peasants, who were guarding +the door, stopped him. + +"No one can enter. The general is in council." + +"Do you not know me? I am Captain Stansfield." + +The men drew back at once. It was not strange that they did not +recognize him. He generally wore a sort of uniform, with a red sash +round his waist, which was the distinguishing badge of the +officers; but had always adopted a peasant dress, on setting out on +an expedition. There was no one to announce him, and he entered a +room where the leaders were sitting round a table. + +They looked up in surprise. He was grimed with the dust, which had +risen in clouds as he drove along, and his clothes bore signs of +their immersion. + +"Back again, monsieur?" Cathelineau exclaimed, "and with news, no +doubt." + +"Very important news, sir. I have been in Saumur, and have learned +that an officer has started for Thouars, by way of Loudun, with +orders to General Salomon to march instantly into Saumur, and that +he is to arrive there tonight. I left the town five minutes after +the messenger. Three-quarters of an hour later I struck the road, +two miles this side of Saumur; and have been brought here in a +cart, by a peasant. It is now four o'clock, and I do not think that +the officer would arrive at Thouars before half past three." + +"That is important news, indeed," Cathelineau said. + +"Well, gentlemen, what do you think had best be done?" + +"It seems to me that nothing could be better," Monsieur de Lescure +said. "The enemy's column cannot start until five o'clock, at the +earliest. It will be dark before they can arrive at Saumur. I know +the road well. It runs in several places through woods and, where +this is not the case, there are high hedges. + +"Nothing could be more suitable for an ambuscade. I propose that +half of our force should march, at once, and take post on the other +side of Montreuil. It will be nearly sunset before Salomon can +arrive at that town and, if we engage him at dusk, he will lose +half the benefit of the discipline of the regiment of gendarmes who +will, no doubt, accompany him." + +"I quite approve of that plan, monsieur," Cathelineau said. + +"Are you all of the same opinion, gentlemen?" + +There was a general expression of assent. + +"Will you, General Bonchamp, with Monsieur de Lescure, take command +of that force? I myself will proceed, with the rest of our army, +until past the point where the road from Montreuil falls into that +from this town. In that way, if General Bonchamp fails to arrest +Salomon's march, we can fall upon him; and on the other hand, if +the firing should be heard at Saumur, and Menou leads out a force +to assist Salomon, we can oppose him. + +"General Dommaigne, your cavalry would be useless in the attack on +Salomon, while it might be of great value if Menou comes out. + +"You have rendered us another good service, Monsieur Stansfield. If +Salomon had thrown another four thousand men into Saumur, including +his regiment of gendarmes, it would have been a serious business to +take the place; whereas with the troops Menou has, half of whom are +Leigonyer's fugitives, I do not anticipate any great difficulty." + +"I shall be glad, general, if you would speak a word to the good +fellow who brought me here. I had bargained with him for two crowns +but, when he found that I was one of your officers, he refused to +receive anything; and moreover, he said that he would remain here +with his cart, until tomorrow, as perhaps he might be useful in +carrying stores. He expressed the greatest desire to see you." + +"Certainly I will speak to him," Cathelineau said, as he sent out +to give orders for the church bells to ring, and the horns to blow. + +The man was standing by his cart, a short distance off, in the hope +of catching sight of Cathelineau. The general at once walked up to +him. + +"This is General Cathelineau," Leigh said. + +The countryman took off his hat, and dropped on his knees. + +"Get up, my good fellow," Cathelineau said; "I am but a Vendean +peasant, like yourself. I thank you for the good service that you +have rendered, by bringing Monsieur Stansfield so quickly to us. +The time it has saved may make all the difference to us and, in the +future, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have +played an important part in the capture of Saumur." + +In five minutes the quiet street was crowded with men. The peasants +had encamped in the fields round the town and, at the summons, +caught up their arms and ran in hastily, feeling sure that the +occasion was important, as they had been told that they were not to +march until next morning. + +The divisions commanded by Monsieur de Lescure and General Bonchamp +speedily gathered round the distinguishing flags of those officers. +Other leaders joined them with their followers, until some ten +thousand men were gathered outside the town. + +Leigh had changed his clothes and mounted his horse, Monsieur de +Lescure having invited him to ride with him. As they were about to +start, one of Andre's messengers arrived, with the news that an +officer and three troopers had arrived at the town; and that, ten +minutes later, the trumpets were sounding the assembly. + +"It is well that we got your news first," Monsieur de Lescure said +to Leigh, "for otherwise we could hardly have got our forces +together, and been ready for a start, until it was too late to +intercept Salomon." + +The route of the column was by a byroad, between Doue and +Montreuil. It was seven o'clock before they approached the town. +Then, striking off the road, they marched through the fields until +a mile and a half to the east of it, when they halted in a thick +wood. They were now divided into three columns, of equal strength. +That under Monsieur de Lescure occupied the wood on one side of the +road, that under Monsieur Bonchamp the other side. The third column +were posted in rear of the wood, and were to thickly line the +hedges that bordered it. + +It was just dusk when the force from Thouars came along. It +consisted of three thousand six hundred men, with four pieces of +cannon. It was allowed to pass nearly through the wood, when a +heavy fire was opened upon it on both flanks. + +The regiment of gendarmes which led the column showed great +coolness and, animated by their example, the whole force remained +steady. Darkness came on, but it was not until eleven o'clock that +there was any change in the situation. Owing to the darkness in the +forest, neither side was able to distinguish its foes. The men +fired only at the flashes of the muskets. + +Lescure then sent round four or five hundred men, who suddenly fell +upon the baggage train of the enemy. The guard were completely +taken by surprise. Many of the carters cut the ropes and traces, +and galloped off, delighted to escape from a service into which +they had, for the most part, been dragged against their will. + +The alarm thus begun spread rapidly. The young troops who, +encouraged by the example of the gendarmes, had so far stood their +ground, at once lost heart. The darkness of the night, their +ignorance as to the strength of the force that had attacked the +rear, and the fear that all retreat would be cut off, would have +shaken older soldiers than these and, in spite of the efforts of +their officers, the wildest confusion soon reigned. + +The Vendeans pressed their attack more hotly, and General Salomon, +seeing that unless a retreat was made while there was yet time, a +terrible disaster might take place, ordered the gendarmes to fall +back in good order. The movement was effected without great loss. +In the darkness it was impossible for Lescure and the other leaders +to get their men together, and to press hard upon their retreating +foes; and they were well satisfied at having carried out the object +of their expedition, and prevented the force from Thouars from +entering Saumur. + +Word was sent to Cathelineau that Salomon had fallen back, and the +peasants then lay down till morning. + +Andre, with his little band, had joined the force when fighting +began. They had, as soon as Salomon started from Thouars, followed +his movements at a distance, from time to time sending off a +messenger to Doue giving an account of the progress of the enemy. +As soon as the firing broke out in the wood, Andre, with the twelve +who still remained with him, joined the combatants and, finding +that Leigh was with Monsieur de Lescure, was not long in +discovering him. + +"You have done very well, Andre," he said. "I don't think anything +will come of this fighting. It is getting dark already, and I have +no fear, now, that the Blues will break through. Neither party will +be able to see the other, in this wood, and certainly you could do +no good with your pistols. Practically, few are engaged on either +side. The Blues have made one effort and, finding that we have a +very strong force in their front, have given up the attempt to push +forward. I don't believe that the new levies have courage enough to +keep steady through a whole night's uncertainty. + +"You had best draw off some distance and rest, till you hear, by +the firing, that some change has taken place. If you hear that the +Blues are retreating, follow them at a distance. It is important +for the generals to know what course they are taking. They may halt +in Montreuil, they may return to Thouars, they may retire to Niort +or Parthenay. + +"If they remain in Montreuil, let us know at once, because in that +case we shall have to stay here, in case they should attempt to +push on again. If they go farther, we need have no more concern +about them. Still, it would be of great importance to our generals +to know whether they return to Thouars, or retire farther south." + +"Very well, captain; I will see that you are kept informed." + +"You had better instruct your first messengers to come straight +here. Cathelineau and the rest of the forces started, directly we +did, and will halt at the junction of the roads, and are likely to +remain there all day tomorrow. Therefore, if your messengers find +the wood deserted, they have simply to follow the road, and they +will either overtake us, or find us with Cathelineau." + +"How long must we follow the Blues?" + +"There is no occasion to go any great distance. I do not suppose +that we shall pursue them. They could certainly defend themselves +at Montreuil, and we should not risk suffering heavy loss, and +having the men dispirited by failure, when all are needed for the +work at Saumur. If you follow them far enough to determine whether +they are retiring on Thouars, or are marching towards Niort, that +is all that is necessary; and you will be able to rejoin us in +plenty of time to see the fight at Saumur." + +As Leigh thought would be probable, Monsieur de Lescure restrained +the peasants from following in pursuit, when the Blues retreated. +The latter had left two of their guns behind them, and a number of +carts, laden with ammunition and provisions for the march, fell +into the peasants' hands--the latter providing them with breakfast +before they started, early next morning, rejoining Cathelineau's +force two hours later. These had been apprised, some hours before, +by one of the mounted gentlemen who had accompanied the column, of +the success that had attended the operation; and they were received +with great joy by their comrades, on their arrival. + +Cathelineau, with General Bonchamp and a small escort of cavalry, +had ridden towards Saumur to examine the positions occupied by the +enemy, and to discuss the plan of attack. They now felt confident +of success; unless, indeed, Biron should come up in the course of +the day with the Paris brigade at Tours, together with its guns. +The description that Leigh had given, of the confusion and want of +discipline in the garrison, showed that it could not be relied upon +for hard fighting; and as it was certain that the failure of +Salomon to get through to its assistance would be known, in Saumur, +early in the day, it could not but add to the dismay produced by +the advance against the town. + +This was indeed the case. As artillery had not been employed on +either side, the sound of the conflict did not reach the town. +However, as the officer who had taken the order to Thouars returned +at seven o'clock; saying that Salomon was preparing to march, and +would assuredly arrive some time in the evening, the anxiety +increased hour by hour and, by midnight, the conviction that he +must have been attacked by the enemy, and had failed to get +through, became a certainty, and spread dismay through the town. + +At five in the morning a mounted messenger brought a despatch from +Salomon, saying that he had fought for four hours near Montreuil, +against a large force of the enemy; and that, another column of +these having fallen on his rear, he found it necessary to retire, +as a panic was spreading among the National Guard, and a serious +disaster would have happened, had he continued his attempts to push +on. In the evening Generals Coustard and Berthier, who had been +sent by Biron to act under Menou's orders, arrived in the town; and +Santerre, the brewer of Paris, who had been the leader of the mob +there and was now a general, arrived next morning. + +Cathelineau's army was astir early. The leaders had been gladdened +by the arrival, at five o'clock, of a messenger from Pierre, saying +that one of his messengers had come in from Tours, and that, up to +seven o'clock in the evening, no troops had left that city. It was, +therefore, certain that the garrison of Saumur could receive no +assistance from that quarter. + +Breakfast was eaten, and the army then formed up in its divisions. +Mass was celebrated, and it then set out for Saumur. + +In that town all was confusion and dismay. The newly arrived +generals were strangers alike to the town, its defences, and the +troops they were to command. In front of the works defending Saumur +ran the river Dives, which fell into the Loire, a mile or so below +the town. It was crossed by a bridge; but so great was the +confusion that, in spite of the representations of the civil +authorities, no steps were taken either to cut or guard it. + +It was not until three o'clock in the afternoon that the Vendeans +approached the town, and General Menou sent two battalions of the +line, one of volunteers, and eighty horse, under the orders of +General Berthier, to take possession of a chateau in front of the +position. Two hundred and fifty men were posted in a convent near +it. Santerre commanded the force which was to defend the +intrenchments at Nantilly, and Coustard the troops who occupied the +heights of Bourlan. + +At four o'clock the skirmishers on both sides were hotly engaged. +The Vendeans advanced in three columns--the central one against the +post occupied by Berthier, the left against Nantilly, and the right +threatened to turn the position at Beaulieu. + +Berthier allowed the force advancing against him to approach within +a short distance of the chateau, and then poured a storm of grape +into it, from a battery that he had established. Lescure, who was +in command, was badly wounded. The head of the column fell into +confusion, and Berthier at once attacked them, with his two +regiments of the line, and for a time pressed the column back. His +little body of cavalry, whom he had ordered to charge, fell back as +soon as the Vendeans opened fire upon them; and the latter then +attacked the line battalions, with such fury that Berthier was +obliged to call up his regiment of volunteers. Cathelineau sent +reinforcements to his troops, and these pressed on so hotly that +Berthier, who had had a horse shot under him, was obliged to fall +back; and the exulting Vendeans rushed forward and carried the +faubourg of Fenet. + +Dommaigne, with his cavalry, charged the cuirassiers and the German +Legion. There was a sharp fight. Dommaigne was killed, and the +colonel of the German Legion desperately wounded; but a body of the +Vendean infantry, coming up, took the cuirassiers in flank with +their fire, and they fell back into Saumur. + +General Menou had been in the thick of the fight, and had three +horses killed under him. He sent another battalion to reinforce +Berthier but, as soon as they came within shot of the Vendeans, +they broke and fled. + +The two line battalions, reinforced by four companies of gendarmes, +kept up a heavy fire. The artillery until now had zealously +supported them, but their ammunition was failing. Menou and +Berthier placed themselves at the head of the cavalry, and called +upon them to charge; but instead of doing so, they raised their +favourite cry of "Treason!" and galloped back to the town. + +The line regiments and gendarmes, pressed more and more hotly, and +finding themselves without support, withdrew in good order into +Saumur. The Vendeans had now possession of all the works in the +centre of the defenders' line. Coustard, seeing that the centre was +lost, and that the Vendeans were moving towards a bridge across the +Dives, by which alone they could enter the town, ordered two +battalions with two pieces of cannon to hold it. He was not only +disobeyed but, with shouts of "Treason!" they rushed upon him and, +with difficulty, he escaped with his life. + +The Vendeans seized the bridge, and established a battery for its +defence. Coustard saw that it must be recaptured, as the town was +now open to the enemy; and ordered a detachment of cuirassiers, +commanded by Colonel Weissen, to carry the bridge. The two +battalions of infantry now promised to follow. + +Although he saw that to charge the battery with a handful of +cavalry was to ride to almost certain death, Weissen gallantly led +his men forward. The infantry followed for a short distance but, +being taken in flank by a volley from a party of Vendeans, they +broke and fled. The cavalry were almost annihilated, and Weissen +was desperately wounded, two or three of his men alone riding back. + +The main force of Coustard's division, in the redoubts at Bourlan, +had not been attacked; and retired to Angers during the night. The +rout of the rest of the defenders was now complete, and the town +open. + +La Rochejaquelein, by whose side Leigh and a small party of +gentlemen rode, had made a succession of desperate charges into the +midst of the fugitives; and he now said to Leigh and three other +gentlemen: + +"Come along, we will see what they are doing in the town." + +Then, dashing forward at full speed, they passed through the gate, +entered the main street, and found that it contained a battalion of +infantry, retreating. So cowed were these that they opened their +ranks and allowed the five horsemen to dash through them. Then they +made a tour of the place, and returned to inform the Vendeans, who +were just entering, that all resistance had ceased. As on two +previous occasions, the flying Republicans owed their safety to the +piety of the peasants who, instead of pursuing at once, rushed into +the churches; where the cures, who had accompanied them, returned +thanks for the victory that had been gained, and thus lost the half +hour of daylight that would have been invaluable. + +Cathelineau, after a consultation with Lescure and Bonchamp, +decided that it would be useless to attempt a pursuit in the dark. +Berthier's battalion was, too, unbroken. The generals, finding that +there was no pursuit, might have rallied a considerable number of +the others; when the peasants, coming up in the dark, could in turn +have been repulsed with heavy loss. Saumur had been taken, with all +its stores of cannon, ammunition, and provisions; and it was +considered that, under the circumstances, it was best to be +contented with the signal success they had gained. + +Berthier and Menou indeed, although both severely wounded, had +covered the retreat with the line regiments and gendarmes; and +carried off with them seven cannon, which they came across as they +passed through the town; and would have given the peasants a warm +reception, had they followed them. The rest of the army were +hopelessly scattered, and continued their flight all night; some +towards Tours, others to Angers, their reports causing the wildest +dismay in both towns. + +Had Charette, who had always acted independently in lower Vendee, +been persuaded at this moment to join hands with Cathelineau, there +can be little question that they might have marched to Paris +without encountering any serious resistance, and that their arrival +there would have changed the whole course of events. Unfortunately, +however, he was himself sorely pressed, by several columns of the +enemy, and was with difficulty holding his own. The great +opportunity was therefore lost, never to return. + +The castle of Saumur was still in the hands of the Blues. Five +hundred of the National Guards of the town, and about the same +number of men of different regiments, threw themselves into it +before the Vendeans entered, carrying with them what provisions +they could lay hands upon. The wives of the National Guards soon +surrounded the chateau, crying to their friends to surrender; and +asserting that, if they did not do so, the Vendeans would give the +town over to pillage and fire. For a time the commandant resisted +their entreaties but, feeling that his position was desperate, and +that there was no hope of relief, he surrendered. + +In the morning the garrison marched out. The officers were allowed +to retain their sidearms, and the men to return to their homes. +Eighty cannon fell into the hands of the victors, many thousands of +muskets, a large quantity of ammunition, and very many prisoners. + +Here, as at other places, the peasants behaved with great +moderation. The agents of the Convention, who had tyrannized the +town so long, were thrown into prison, as were their chief +supporters; but private property was untouched. On the following +day there was a council, at which Lescure, seriously wounded as he +was, was present. It was agreed that it was indispensable that one +man should be appointed commander-in-chief. Many difficulties had +arisen from independent action, by generals and leaders of bands +more or less numerous, and it was necessary that all should act +under the orders of a recognized head. + +When this was agreed to, the question had to be decided as to who +should be appointed to this responsible post. The claims of +Lescure, la Rochejaquelein, d'Elbee, Bonchamp, Cathelineau, and +Stofflet were almost even. Each had a large band of followers. All +had been unwearied in their devotion to the cause. + +It is probable that Lescure would have been chosen. He was the +largest landed proprietor, and was of the highest rank--with the +exception of Rochejaquelein, who had, although the idol of the army, +scarcely experience and ballast enough to take so responsible a +position. Lescure himself, however, proposed that Cathelineau should +be chosen. His influence was great, his talents unquestionable, and the +simple honesty of his character, his modesty and untiring zeal in the +cause, alike recommended him. Lescure felt that if he himself, Bonchamp, +or d'Elbee were chosen, jealousies might arise and the cause suffer. + +His choice was felt by all to be a good one, and Cathelineau was +unanimously appointed to the post of commander-in-chief. No finer +tribute was ever paid, to the virtues and talent of a simple +peasant, than such a choice, made by men so greatly his superior in +rank and station. + + + +Chapter 9: Bad News. + + +Neither Leigh nor Jean Martin was at Saumur, when this decision was +arrived at. The very night that the town was taken, one of the +former's band, who was wounded and, greatly against his +inclination, had been left behind, arrived there on horseback. He +was the bearer of terrible news. + +[Illustration: He was the bearer of terrible news.] + +Early on the previous day, a troop of the enemy's cavalry had +arrived. They had apparently ridden all night, and without exciting +any alarm on the way. They had made straight for the chateau, +without going into the village. Beyond the fact that they belonged +to the force operating from Nantes, none knew the route they had +followed. They had doubtless expected to arrest Jean at the chateau +but, on finding him absent, had seized his wife, had placed her in +their midst, set fire to the chateau, and ridden off before any +force could be gathered to oppose them. Jean and Leigh were horror +stricken at the news. + +"What is to be done?" the former exclaimed. "What can be done?" + +"I should say," Leigh said, "that the first thing to do will be to +tell the generals that we must, for the present, leave them. Then +we must go to Nantes in disguise, find out where she is imprisoned, +and see what can be done to rescue her." + +"Certainly that is the best thing, Leigh. Let us start at once." + +"It will be daylight in two hours, Jean, and that will make no +difference. I will go and talk with my boys. They are asleep +together on the steps of the church of Saint Marie. They may be +useful to us, and I am sure would follow us anywhere." + +Jean made no reply. He had buried his face in his hands, and deep +sobs broke from him. Tears were streaming down Leigh's cheek as he +spoke, but he put his hand upon Jean's shoulder and said, in a +voice which he tried to keep steady: + +"It is terrible, Jean, but we must not give up hope. We have beaten +the Blues in the field, and it is hard if we cannot manage to beat +them, somehow, in this business." + +The other made no reply, and Leigh, feeling that it would be best +to leave him to himself for the present, went downstairs. + +The lad who had brought the message was seated against the wall, +holding the horse's bridle in his hand. Being a stranger in the +place, he did not know where to go. + +"Come with me, Philippe. The others are all in the great square, a +hundred yards away. They got their bread yesterday morning, and +will have plenty of it left for you and the horse. It can take a +drink at the fountain, in the centre. + +"Ah," he exclaimed stopping suddenly, "you said nothing about the +child, and we did not think to ask. Did my sister take it away with +her, or was it left?" + +"I did not hear, captain. My mother ran into the house crying, and +said: + +"'The Blues have come, and have set fire to the chateau and carried +madame away prisoner. Take the horse and ride to the army, and tell +Monsieur Martin what has happened.' + +"I ran into the stable and saddled it, took two loaves of bread, +one for him and one for myself, and started. I should have been +here in the middle of the day, but I lost my way in the lanes last +night, and had to stop till daylight and, even then, rode for a +long time in the wrong direction." + +Leaving the lad and horse in the middle of the square, Leigh went +to the steps of the church. A great number of peasants were +sleeping there. He was not long in finding his own band. He roused +Andre and Pierre with some difficulty for, having both been up all +the previous night, they slept heavily. + +"Come with me," Leigh said, as soon as they were sufficiently +roused to understand who was speaking to them. "I want to have a +talk with you. + +"I have some bad news," he went on, as they passed beyond the +sleepers; "the Blues have been at the chateau. They have burned it +down, and have carried off Madame Martin." + +Exclamations of rage broke from both the lads. Patsey had, during +the months she had spent on the estate, made herself extremely +popular among the peasantry; whose cottages she constantly visited, +and who always found her ready to listen to their tales of trouble, +and to supply dainty food for the sick. The thought, too, that the +chateau had been burned down was also a blow, for all the tenantry +considered that they had a personal interest in the affairs of +their seigneur. + +"How was it that there was no defence?" Andre asked. "I know that +most of the men were away, but surely enough might have been +gathered to keep the Blues back, until madame escaped to the +woods." + +"It seems they rode by night, and arrived there soon after day +broke. They had evidently come on purpose to seize your lord for, +as soon as they found that he was not there, they went away at +once, only stopping to set fire to the chateau. They were evidently +in a hurry to be off. + +"Here is Philippe Rehan, who has brought the news. He only knows +what I have told you, as he mounted and rode off at once." + +"I suppose they have taken our young lord, too?" + +"Philippe does not know about that. He says they came from the +direction of Nantes, and no doubt my sister has been taken there." + +"What is to be done, captain?" Andre asked, as he and Pierre looked +at each other helplessly, in face of this trouble. + +"Monsieur Martin and I are going to leave, at once. We don't know +what we are going to do yet, but we shall certainly try, by all +means, to get her out of prison. How it is to be managed we have +not even thought, but if it can be done, we shall do it. Now, I am +sure that we can rely upon your assistance." + +"We will do anything," Andre exclaimed; while Pierre said, "We will +be cut to pieces for you, captain." + +Leigh gave a hand to each. + +"I am sure of it," he said. "And the band?" + +"Every one of those we had at first we could answer for," Andre +replied. "And I believe that the others can be trusted, too. They +all esteem it a high honour to have been received into the band of +Cathelineau's scouts. They knew that there would be danger, when +they joined, and that they must be prepared to die for the cause. +All would certainly be faithful; there would be no fear about +that." + +"I have not the least idea, at present, what I shall want you to +do; but at any rate we shall go to Nantes, and it is there that you +must meet us. We shall ride off in an hour's time. Let the others +sleep till there is a general movement, then you can tell them what +has happened, and that my orders are that you shall march home, at +once. You can be there by tomorrow night, can you not?" + +"It will be two long marches, but we will be there, captain." + +"We shall not be much before you. By that time we shall have +determined how we shall set about the matter, and shall be able to +give you instructions; which will probably be that you are to meet +us, at some point we will arrange, just outside the town. Of +course, you will not go in a body, but singly or in pairs; crossing +the river at various points, and travelling by different roads. +Enter the town as if you belonged to villages round. + +"I will ask Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein to let you have another +pistol, each, before you leave. Of course, you will hide your arms +under your clothes. I don't know that it will be necessary to use +force; of course, at first we shall try bribery. + +"At any rate, you will both be most useful in obtaining +information. There are very many people who know Monsieur Martin by +sight, and a few who know me. Possibly some of your band may have +friends in Nantes; and these, if they are of our party, would be +able to ask questions, and to find out the place in which my sister +is imprisoned, much better than strangers could do. + +"We have heard nothing of what is passing in Nantes for many weeks +and, as they have sent troops to arrest Monsieur Martin, it is +possible that his father may also be arrested. If he is at liberty, +he would be sure to know where my sister is imprisoned." + +The day was breaking now, and Leigh went next to the large house +which had been set apart for the use of the generals. He knew +Rochejaquelein's room, having been chatting with him till late, the +evening before. The young count sat up in bed, as he opened the +door. + +"You have given me a start, Leigh," he said, with a smile. "I was +dreaming that the Blues had retaken the town and, when the door +opened, thought that it was a party come to make me prisoner. + +"Is there any bad news? You look grave." + +"Bad news as far as Jean Martin and I are concerned. A messenger +arrived, two hours ago, with the news that a party of Blues from +Nantes arrived at his chateau, without being observed, as they had +travelled all night and reached it at daybreak. They had no doubt +been specially sent to arrest Jean but, finding that he was away, +they burnt the chateau, and carried off my sister a prisoner. + +"We are going to start at once. I trust that you will explain, to +the other generals, the cause of our absence." + +"I am sorry, indeed, to hear your news," Rochejaquelein said +warmly. "A curse upon the Blues! Why can't they content themselves +with making war on men, without persecuting and massacring women? + +"Certainly I will explain, to Cathelineau and the others, the cause +of your absence. But what are you thinking of doing?" + +"That we have not even considered. We mean to get her out of their +hands, if possible; but until we see whether she has been really +taken to Nantes--of which I have little doubt--which prison she is +placed in, and how it is guarded, we can form no plan. If possible, +we shall bribe the jailers. If not, we will try to rescue her by +force. + +"I am taking my band with me. I can depend upon them, and there is +no one in Nantes on whom we can rely. They will, of course, enter +the town singly; and will, I am sure, give us their loyal service, +should we require it." + +"If they serve you as well as they serve the cause, you could +scarce have better assistants. I would that I could go with you. It +would be an adventure after my own heart, but private friendship +must give way to our country's needs. I hope, Leigh, that it will +not be long before we meet again, and that I may hear that you have +been successful." + +Half an hour later, Leigh and Jean Martin started. The latter's +first question, when Leigh returned, had been regarding the child. +It was now nearly fifteen months old but, in the terrible shock +caused by the news of his wife having been carried off, Jean had +not thought of it till Leigh had left the room. + +"The child is as nothing to me," he said, when Leigh had told him +that the messenger had heard nothing of it. "It would have been, +some day; but so far 'tis as nothing compared to Patsey. It slept +with the nurse, and may possibly have escaped; unless, indeed, +Patsey wished to take it with her." + +"I do not think that she would do that," Leigh said. "No doubt it +would have been a comfort, to have it with her; but she would have +known that its chances of life would be slight, indeed, and for +your sake she would have concealed it, if possible, before she was +seized." + +They reached the ruins of the chateau at noon next day, having +stopped for the night at Chemille, in order to rest their horses +and keep them in condition for another long ride, if necessary. The +outhouse had been left standing. Francois came out, on hearing the +sound of the horses' hoofs. + +"Thank God you are back, master!" he said. "It has been a terrible +time." + +"Is the child safe, or was it taken with its mother?" Jean asked. + +"He is safe, sir. Marthe saved it. When madame heard the Blues ride +up, and looked out and saw their uniforms, she ran into Marthe's +room and said: + +"'Hide the child, Marthe! Run with it downstairs, without waking +it, and put it in a cupboard in the kitchen. They will never think +of searching for it there. Then return to your bed again. Tell your +master, when he comes back again, I have left little Louis for +him.' + +"I was getting up when I heard the horsemen, and guessed that it +was the Blues and, without waiting a moment, dropped from my window +and ran past the stable, and hid myself in the shrubbery behind it. +I had scarcely done so when I heard them come round the house. + +"Then there was a great knocking at the door and, a minute later, a +pistol shot was fired. I heard afterwards that madame told Henri to +open the door. As he did so, the officer of the Blues shot him +through the head. + +"For ten minutes I heard nothing more. Then someone came to the +stable, took out the two horses, and then set fire to it. Looking +out through the bushes, I saw the smoke coming out from two or +three windows of the chateau. Then I made off as quickly as I +could, got into the church, and set the bells ringing; thinking +that it might frighten off the Blues, though I knew that the men +were all away, and there was no chance of help. + +"Soon they came riding along at full speed, and I saw madame in the +middle of them. As soon as they had gone, the women all ran out +from their houses. We tried our best to put out the flames, but the +fire had too much hold. + +"As we were doing this, I saw Marthe with the child in her arms. It +had been saved well-nigh by a miracle, she said, and she told me +how her mistress had run in to her. She caught up the child, and +then, thinking that if they saw its clothes they would search for +it, she opened the drawers, seized them all, and ran down and put +them and the child into the kitchen cupboard, as her mistress had +told her, then ran back to her bedroom and began to dress. + +"She heard her mistress call to Henri to go down and open the door. +She heard the pistol shot, and the Blues pour into the house. She +hurried on her clothes and went out. They were searching all over +the chateau. The officer came up to her, with a pistol in his hand. + +"'Where is your master?' he said. + +"'I do not know,' she replied. 'He rode away from here ten days +ago, and has not been back since.' + +"'That is the tale your mistress tells,' he said. + +"'It is true, sir. You go into the village and ask any of the women +there, they will tell you the same thing. I will swear on the cross +that it is so.' + +"He seemed very angry, but turned away from her. Presently the +mistress came down, under a guard of two soldiers and, as she +passed, she said: + +"'Goodbye, Marthe. Tell your master that I am thankful, indeed, +that he was not here.' + +"Then the officers told the men to set fire to the house, in a +dozen places. They had all got bundles, having taken everything +they thought of value. As soon as they had set fire to the curtains +everywhere, and saw that the flames had got a good hold, they +mounted and rode off. + +"They had not searched the kitchen much, as they had only opened +the closets large enough for a man to hide in and, not expecting to +find anything worth taking, had not troubled themselves to look +into the small ones; so Marthe had only to take the child out. +Fortunately it had not awoke. When we found that it was hopeless to +try and put the fire out, Marthe took the child over to the farm of +Madame Rehan who, as soon as she got the news of the mistress being +carried off, had sent her son away on horseback to tell you." + +"Thank God, the child has been spared!" Jean Martin said, +reverently. "We will go to the cure's. + +"The boys will all be back tonight. Give the horses a good feed. We +shall set out perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow morning." + +"Ah, Monsieur Martin," the cure said, as they entered his house, +"this is a sad homecoming for you. If we had known that the Blues +were coming, but a quarter of an hour before they arrived, we could +have got madame away to a place of safety. I knew nought about it +until the church bells began to ring. Just as I was about to go +out, five minutes later, to learn the cause, I saw them ride past +with Madame Martin in their midst. We did not know that there were +any of them within twenty miles of us, and thought that there was +no chance, whatever, of their coming to a little village like +ours." + +"They came, no doubt, for me," Jean said gloomily. "If they had +found Leigh and myself at home, they would not have taken the place +so easily. He and I and the two men could have made a stout +defence. I hear that there were not more than twenty of them, and I +warrant that there would not have been many of them left, when the +fight was over." + +"I am sure," the cure said, "that if you had been there, and the +place had been defended, all the women within sound of the church +bell would have come in with arms, and would have fought like men +in the defence of yourself and madame; but as it was, the whole +thing was such a surprise, with everyone in bed and asleep, that +the enemy were off before anyone could think of what had best be +done. As it was, the women from all the farms round were here, +armed with hatchets or pitchforks, half an hour after the bell +began to ring. Of course, in the village here we knew that it was +too late to do anything, but to flock to the church and pray for +the safety of our good lady." + +"Thank you, my friend. Leigh and I are going to Nantes, to see if +anything can be done to get her out of prison. Leigh's band are +coming also. Of course, they will travel singly. If of no other +use, they will be better able to ask questions than we. + +"I am going over now to Rehan's farm, to see my boy and to thank +Marthe for saving him." + +"It was well managed, indeed," the priest said. "I went over +yesterday to see the child, and the nurse told me how its escape +had been contrived. It was a happy thought on the part of its +mother, and the woman carried it out well. + +"But before you go, you must take a meal. I am sure that you must +want it." + +"I will not say no to that," Jean replied, "for we have not broken +our fast this morning." + +In half an hour, the cure's table was most abundantly furnished +for, as soon as the news spread through the village that the +seigneur had arrived, and was at the house of the priest, the women +brought in little presents--a dozen eggs, a fowl, or some trout +that had been caught by the boys in the stream, that morning. + +One or two of the women volunteered to assist the cure's servant. +Three fowls were hastily plucked, cut asunder, and grilled over the +fire. As soon as they were nearly ready, they were placed in front +of the fire to be finished, while the trout took their place. The +repast began with these, the fowls followed, and it was concluded +with an omelette. + +"I have not eaten such a meal, father," Martin said, "since I rode +away. I think, after this, I shall be able to take a more hopeful +view of matters. In that respect the meal will be thrown away upon +Leigh, for he always takes the brightest view of everything, and +has never ceased to assure me that we are sure to manage to get my +wife out of the hands of these villains, somehow; and as he has so +far always succeeded in what he has attempted, I feel a good deal +of faith in him. I should be as hopeful as he, if I knew that the +Henriette was in the river at Nantes, and that I had to my hand a +dozen stout fellows I could thoroughly rely on." + +After paying a visit to the farm, praising Marthe, and arranging +that she should continue to live there, they returned to the +village. + +"We will go over to the chateau, Leigh, before we do anything else. +I want to see how hot the ruins are." + +"I should think that they must be pretty cool by this time, Jean. +You see, it is nearly four days since it was burnt." + +"I have no doubt that the walls will be cool enough; but there was +a lot of woodwork about it. When the roof fell in it would smother +the fire for a time, but it might go on smouldering, even now." + +"But what does it matter, Jean?" + +"It matters a good deal. I have with me only a hundred francs, in +paper, which is not worth above a third of its face value. I have +here four thousand in gold, which I brought with me from Nantes, as +soon as the troubles began. I buried it one day under the +hearthstone of the kitchen, thinking it possible that the Blues +might come here. The money is of the utmost importance now, for we +may want it to bribe some of the jailers; and therefore I must get +it, even if it delays us for a day." + +They found indeed that, as they had feared, there was still fire +among the mass of debris. + +"We must quench it before we can do anything, Jean. I have no doubt +that the women will help." + +Francois was at once sent round and, in a short time, all the women +in the place were assembled with pails. Martin and Francois worked +the windlass of the well, the women carried pails of water, and +Leigh threw the contents on to the smouldering mass above where he +knew the kitchen fireplace must have stood. Clouds of steam rose +and, from time to time, some of the women with rakes pulled off the +upper layer of ashes. They worked till nightfall, by which time +steam had ceased to rise. + +"That will do for tonight," Jean said; "we will finish the job +tomorrow morning. Your band will be here by that time, and will +help us to get some of these heavy beams and timbers out of the +way. We can then rake the smaller stuff out, and get at the +fireplace." + +At eight o'clock the band arrived. Leigh went down and spoke to +them, and thanked them for the two long marches they had made. He +had, during the afternoon, obtained a supply of bread and wine and, +after they fell out, a meal was eaten before they started for their +homes, promising to be back at six in the morning, to aid in the +work of clearing away the debris. + +Jean and Leigh spent a couple of hours in talk with the cure, and +related to him the events that had passed since they had left. +Then, thoroughly tired out, they retired to the room that had been +prepared for them. The work that afternoon had been heavy; they had +had a long ride previously, and neither had slept much the night +before. + +The next morning the work was recommenced. During the night the +fire had crept in again, from the surrounding mass; but there were +plenty of hands now, and in an hour it was again extinguished. The +hearthstone was soon cleared and raised, and Martin brought out a +crock, in which he had placed the gold. + +"Now, Leigh," he said, "you had better have a talk with your boys, +and arrange where they are to meet you. I should not press any of +them who are unwilling to go. This is a private business, and I do +not think that it would be right to urge them." + +"Certainly not," Leigh agreed. "I am quite sure that all our boys +will go with us, both for Patsey's sake, and because they are +furious at the chateau being burnt down; as to the others, I shall +put it to them that they are perfectly free to do as they wish. +They can go with us, or they can rejoin the army, just as they +like. + +"If they go, I think that it would be as well that they did not +enter the town; but should take up their quarters in a copse, or in +a deserted house, a mile or two away, so that we could call them if +we wanted them. Even in a town like Nantes, forty strange boys +wandering about might be noticed." + +Martin, after seeing that the workers all had refreshment, went to +the cure's; as he never interfered in any way with the boys, +thinking that it might lessen Leigh's authority, were he to do so. + +"Now, I want to talk to you all," Leigh said, after they had drunk +their wine and eaten their bread. "In the first place, do I +understand that all who were first with me are ready to run a +considerable risk to attempt, with us, to carry off Madame Martin +from the hands of the Blues, and to save her from the fate that +falls upon every one that they once lay a hand upon?" + +"They are all willing, captain," Andre said. "We spoke to them +again, just before we came in last night, and they all said that +they were willing and anxious." + +"Good. Remember, lads, that it is not too late to draw back now." + +"We should not dare show our face in the village again," Pierre +said, "if we were to hang back when there was a chance of our being +of service to so good a lady." + +"I thank you with all my heart," Leigh said. "I tell you fairly +that I expected such an answer. Those who have shown such courage +as you have done, and have been so loyal to the promises made me +when I first enrolled you, would, I felt certain, not hang back +now. Now, do you draw aside for a minute or two, while I speak to +the others." + +There was a movement, and the two groups stood apart. + +"Your case is different from that of the others," he said. "In the +first place, you have not been with me so long; and secondly--and +this is more important--that Madame Martin is not the wife of your +seigneur, and that you owe no duty to her. The enterprise on which +we are going to start does not concern the cause for which we are +fighting. It is a private business, and there is no occasion +whatever for you to take part in it. You are free either to choose +an officer among yourselves; or to rejoin the army, find Monsieur +de la Rochejaquelein, and tell him that I sent you to him in order +that he might find a suitable leader for you, among the gentlemen +with him. I would rather that you talked the matter over among +yourselves, and came and gave me an answer, in half an hour." + +"Will you tell us what we shall have to do, captain?" one of them +said. + +"That I can hardly do, for I do not know myself. However, I think +it probable that the greater portion of the band would remain +outside the town. There are copses, down by the riverside, where +you could wait in safety until you were wanted. Possibly you might +not be wanted at all. Possibly you might be summoned to take part +in so desperate an enterprise as storming one of the prisons. Of +course it would be done at night, when we should have the advantage +of a surprise. I can tell you no more than that. + +"Now, my last word is, I shall not think any the worse of you, if +you decide not to go with me." + +It wanted five minutes of the time, when two of the boys returned +to where he was talking with Pierre and Andre. + +"We have decided, captain. You told us, when you marched away from +Saumur, that Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein had approved of your +taking us, and therefore we shall feel that we are still doing our +duty to the cause. You have been kind, good, and thoughtful while +we have been with you. All those of our own age in the army envied +us who were of Cathelineau's scouts, and regarded our position as a +great honour. Even if we were willing to go back, we could not do +so, and tell the others that we had left you and our comrades when +you were about to undertake some perilous service. + +"But we do not wish it. We all desire to remain with you, and to +follow wherever you may lead us, and to die in your service, if +need be." + +Leigh shook them warmly by the hand. + +"Bravely said, and I thank you heartily. I am proud of my scouts, +and am glad to see that my confidence in you is well founded. Call +the others up." + +After thanking these also, Leigh addressed the whole of them. + +"Now, I will give you your orders. You must make your way by +different routes to Nantes. There are many villages on the bank +where you can find a boat that will take you across. Never travel +more than two together. You must all take the green ribbons off +your hats, leave your belts behind, and hide your pistols. If +questions are asked you, reply that you are going to get work at +Nantes, where you have friends, and that you are afraid to stay in +your own villages. + +"I will give each of you assignats for five francs. It would not do +to give you silver. With this you can pay for your ferry across the +water, and buy food on the way. It were best that, both on this +side of the river and the other, you travel either by by-lanes or +through the fields. + +"When you get near Nantes, keep close to the river, and enter the +last large copse before you get there. Andre or Pierre are likely +to be there first, and will be on the lookout for you. They will +join me in the town and bring you orders when necessary, and will +send two or three of you in, daily, to buy food for the rest. + +"I can give you no orders beyond that. Now, I hope I shall meet you +all, in three days' time, at your rendezvous. + +"Pierre and Andre, you will, on the evening after you arrive, enter +Nantes, following the river bank. You will go along to a spot where +a church faces the river. Sit down on its steps and wait for us, +until the clock strikes ten. If we are not there, return and come +back the next evening. If we are still not there, you will know +that some bad luck has befallen us; and the band will then +disperse, and you will all find your way up home. + +"I should advise you all to travel by night, when you have once +crossed the Loire. In that way you will avoid any risk of being +questioned." + +The boys then dispersed, and Leigh returned to the priest's. He and +Martin had already talked over their disguises, and had agreed that +those of fishermen would be the most appropriate; but until they +could obtain the necessary clothes, they would go in the attire of +fairly well-to-do people in a country town. + +"We should only have to put on a tricolour scarf, Jean, and should +look like municipal authorities." + +"It would go against the grain to put that rag on," Martin said; +"but your idea is a good one, and I would dress up as a general of +the Blues, or as Robespierre himself, on such an errand as we are +bound on. + +"We cannot do better than go to Clisson. The place is in the hands +of our people, and the village authorities will not dare to ask us +any questions." + +After dining with the cure, they mounted and rode to Clisson, +arriving there at five o'clock in the afternoon. They went to the +leader of the force there, as he was a friend of Jean's. + +"I will send and get you the things," he said, when they told him +the object of their visit. "It is just as well, if any of the +people here are acting as spies for the Blues--which is likely +enough--that they should not be able to give any description of +you. We are all three about the same size, therefore I will go out +and buy two suits. + +"As to the scarves, I am more doubtful. I doubt if any shopkeeper +here would admit that he had even a bit of tricolour ribbon in his +possession." + +"It will not matter about that," Martin said; "and, at any rate, +when we get beyond the ground held by us, we shall find no +difficulty whatever in getting a couple of cockades of those +colours. + +"Thank you very much indeed," he went on. "Here are five louis. I +have no doubt that you will be able to lay them out well for us. +But remember, please, that although we are all three the same +height, I am some four or five inches bigger round the shoulders +than Leigh; and want more room for my arms, also." + +"I will remember," the other laughed. "Just let me pass this string +round you, and then round Monsieur Stansfield, and tie two knots in +it; and I will also measure you round the waist and leg." + +In an hour he returned with one of his men, carrying two parcels. + +"I had no difficulty in getting the clothes for your +brother-in-law," he said, "but I had to go to two or three shops +before I could get coat and breeches wide enough for you. What do +you intend to do with your horses?" + +"We shall ride into Nantes as we are, after nightfall, and shall +put them up at a small inn. I know of one near the water. It is +kept by a man who was at one time in my lugger, but he had his leg +crushed in a storm, and had to have it taken off. He was a good +sailor, so I set him up, and can rely upon him. He will get +fishermen's clothes for us and, should we have to stay there any +time, buy a boat and nets. We may want such a thing, badly." + +The clothes were tried on, and found to fit fairly well. In our +days the short-waisted coats with their long tails, and the +waistcoats extending below the waist, would be deemed laughable; +but as it was then the fashion among the middle classes, and +especially the Republicans, Jean saw nothing ridiculous in it, +while Leigh smiled at the figures they cut. Both had bright yellow +breeches and stockings, and low shoes. + +They waited till midnight at Clisson, and then mounted again, and +by morning they were within a mile or two of a ferry, a short +distance above Nantes. They stopped at a small village, and there +purchased two tricolour cockades from the one shop it boasted, +these forming conspicuous objects in the window, as a proof of the +warm adherence of its owner to the Convention. + +At the little cabaret they took breakfast, and saw that the horses +were fed, then they rode on to the ferry. The boat was on the +opposite side, and in half an hour it crossed. Then they took their +places, and were ferried over. A party of soldiers were posted at +the landing place. + +"You are going to Nantes, I suppose, citizens?" the officer in +command asked. + +"We are. We come from Vallet, and are going to consult the +commissary of the republic concerning some taxes that, as we +consider, it is impossible for the town to pay, which the +commissary there has imposed upon us." + +"I should imagine that your errand is scarcely likely to meet with +success," the officer said, with a light smile. "I hear the same +complaints at Nantes, but have not heard that any remission has +been made. Well, citizens, at any rate I can wish you luck on your +errand." + +It was still very early when they rode into Nantes, and but few +people were about the streets. Trade was almost at a standstill. +The town, which had been strongly Republican, was at once deeply +discontented with the crushing taxation imposed upon it, and +horrified at the constant executions that took place. Almost every +house had soldiers billeted on it, as it was considered necessary +to keep a large force there in order to overawe the south of +Brittany and, if necessary, to send supports to the generals +operating in the west of La Vendee. + +There was scarcely any shipping in the river, and even the +fishermen had almost given up plying their business; their best +customers had fallen under the guillotine, and there was no demand +for fish on fast days--for to practise any of the observances of +religion was considered to be, in itself, a proof of hostility to +the Convention. Therefore Jean and Leigh rode into the courtyard of +the little inn without having attracted any attention, whatever. + + + +Chapter 10: Preparations For A Rescue. + + +"I have no accommodation for you here, citizens," a voice said, as +Jean Martin and Leigh rode into the little courtyard, and a man +with a wooden leg came out from the side door of the inn. + +"I think you might be able to manage for us, Brenon," Jean said. + +"Mon Dieu! it is--" + +Jean held up his hand sharply. + +"Yes, it is I, Citizen Gallon, from Vallet. It is not often that I +stir so far from home, but I had business here." + +"Well, well, I will see what I can do for you, comrade; but as you +know, I don't profess to take in horses. My clients come from the +waterside, and generally my stable is full of their baskets and +ropes. However, I will see what I can do. I will tie them up in +that shed, for the present, and then clear out a stall for them +afterwards." + +The horses were led to a shed, encumbered with fishing gear of all +sorts. + +"What madness has seized you, mon capitaine, to put your head into +this lion's den?" + +"I will tell you presently, Brenon, when we get inside. I am glad +that you are able to take the horses in. We don't want to be stared +at, or talked about. We have come along the river bank and, so far, +we have been quite unnoticed." + +"All the better, all the better; to be noticed here means to have +one's head cut off. Now, I will take you to a little room upstairs, +where there is no chance of anyone seeing you." + +"Get us up, if you can, without our being noticed by your servants, +Brenon. We shall be differently dressed when we come down again." + +The man nodded. + +"The boy is in the front room," he said. "There are three or four +fishermen there, having their morning glass. I have no other +servants. My wife does what is needful, for I was obliged to +discharge the girl we had, everything has been so slack of late." + +He led them up to a chamber looking on to the quay. Jean was +puzzled at the man's manner, for he spoke in a confused and +hesitating way. When he closed the door behind him, he stood +rubbing his hands together nervously. + +"Have you heard lately from Nantes, Monsieur Jean?" + +"No, it is five weeks since I had any news; except, of course, what +was known about the troops that were here. What is it, old friend? +Is there bad news?" + +"There is terrible news," Brenon said, "so bad that I don't know +how to tell you." + +"Speak out, old friend. I have had one blow so heavy that I can +scarcely be hurt more than I am." + +"Well, then, monsieur, your father has been arrested and is in the +prison; and you know what that means!" + +"Father arrested!" Jean exclaimed; "on what grounds? He never +expressed an opinion as to public affairs. That at heart he hated +what has been going on, I know; but he never spoke strongly, even +to me, and when I have heard his opinion asked, he has always +replied that he was a trader, and that a man could not give his +attention to business if he worried himself over politics. He +attended to his trade, and left it to those who liked, to manage +the government of the country. + +"What of my mother and sister?" + +"They are safe, monsieur. He sent them off a fortnight before, in +disguise, to La Rochelle; at least, so I have heard from the +fishermen. And as the Henriette was lying there at the time, and +sailed two days after, there is not much doubt but that they sailed +in her for England. + +"Your father was denounced before the committee of public safety as +one who was hostile to the Convention. He was accused of having +sent large sums of money to England, and was believed to have sent +his wife and daughter there also, with the intention, of course, of +following them; and the fact that you were known to be fighting in +the ranks of the brigands, as they call the Vendeans, was also +mentioned as an additional crime on his part." + +"Then we have a double task to carry out, Leigh," Jean said grimly. + +"Now I will tell you what we came here for, Brenon. Six days ago a +small party of the Blue cavalry came, at night, to my chateau. I +was away, but they carried off my wife as a prisoner, and burnt the +house to the ground. So we have come here to see if we cannot get +her out of prison.'' + +"You have thought of such a thing as that?" the man exclaimed in +surprise. "Ah, monsieur! It is well nigh an impossibility that you +have undertaken. The villains know that there are hundreds of men, +friends of the prisoners with whom they have crowded the jails, who +would tear them down stone by stone, if they had the power; but in +addition to the prison warders--not the men that used to be there, +but men taken from the lowest class in the town--the prisons are +watched by what they call the volunteers, fifteen hundred men +belonging to the scum of the city--the men from the slaughterhouses, +the skinners', and the tan yards Some of these are ever on guard +round the prisons, night and day. + +"There have been great changes here. A year ago, almost everyone +thought that the Assembly was going to do wonderful things. No one +knew exactly what. According to what they said, everyone was to be +able to eat meat, seven days a week, to wear good clothes, and to +do just as much work as pleased him and no more. Even the fishermen +and sailors were fools enough to believe it. + +"But there is a great change now. At first they approved of cutting off +the heads of those who, they were told, were the cause of all misery +and poverty; but when, every day, fresh prisoners were brought in, and +it was not the nobles only but quiet citizens--tradesmen, manufacturers, +doctors, and advocates--and every morning a score were carried out to be +guillotined, men began to change their opinion; especially when they +found that the more heads were cut off, the less work there was and the +poorer they became. They began to talk among themselves and, when it +came to executing women and children, as well as men, they turned round +altogether. + +"More than once the fishermen and sailors have tried to rescue +prisoners on their way to execution. The commissioners of the +republic have been hooted in the streets and, if they had had arms +in their hands, our men would have turned the tables; but the town +is full of troops now and, worse than all, they have enrolled this +corps of volunteers, who are the terror of the place. They have +spies everywhere, and no one dares whisper a word against the +commissioners or the executions for, if but two or three men are +standing by, the chances are that one of them is a spy." + +"But surely my brother might have prevented my father's arrest, +Brenon? He was one of the leading men at that Jacobin Club." + +"He is still one of the leading men of the party," Brenon said +gloomily. "He is established in your father's house, now, and is on +the most intimate terms with the commissaries of the Convention." + +"Is Monsieur Desailles still here? He was a young advocate, and a +member of the Jacobin Club." + +"Yes, he is a member still: but he is not in good odour with the +extreme party. He is at the head of what they call the moderates. +They say that sometimes these try to defend accused persons, and +that is considered a terrible offence by the others. I should never +be surprised to hear that he himself, and those with him, have been +denounced as enemies of the state. This is an awful time, monsieur, +and Heaven only knows what we shall come to. + +"Now, is there anything that I can do for you, captain? You know +well that you have but to say the word and that, whatever it is, I +would do it, even if I were cut to pieces the minute afterwards." + +"Thank you, old friend. It was because I knew that you were trusty +and true that I came here. Now, the first thing that we want is +fishermen's clothes. We only disguised ourselves in those things in +order to pass safely through the Blues, and be able to cross the +ferry. For the present they have done their work, and now we want a +disguise that we can go about in, unnoticed. Of course, we don't +want new things." + +"I can get them easily enough, monsieur. My customers are all hard +up. I know pretty well which are true men, and which are not." + +"In the next place, I should like to buy or hire a boat to be at my +disposal, as long as I stay here." + +"There are boats and to spare, captain. Fishing goes on because men +must live; though it can hardly be called living, for the prices of +everything are fixed by law, now, and are fixed so low that the men +can scarce earn enough to buy bread for themselves, and their +families. Still, there are boats in plenty. Men have come down from +towns and villages higher up, for they say that the troops are +under no control and, when the boats come in after a night's +fishing, they come down and help themselves and, if a man ventures +to grumble, he gets a musket ball to pay him for his fish. The men +here, at first, were against their fishing between this place and +the sea; but the authorities stepped in, and said that the more +food, the better for the people; and as the price was fixed, the +men here saw that it made no difference to them. Still, like our +own men, they are doing badly enough, and one could buy a boat for +a mere song." + +"It would be better to buy one from those men, Brenon, because the +fact of our being strangers would not then be noticed. I want one +rowing boat, as fast a craft as you can pick out. + +"I also want to hire a boat with a cabin that will hold us both. Of +course it will be a sailing boat, say of three or four tons burden. +I intend that we shall live on board. It might be noticed if two +strange sailors were often coming in and out of your place; +whereas, if we were in a boat moored against the bank, no one would +notice us. If you can get hold of such a boat, with a couple of men +who seem to you to be honest fellows, strangers to the place, it +will be a great thing; and we could occasionally go down the river, +and do a little fishing." + +"All that can be managed easily enough, captain. I know of one +boat, just such a size; owned by two men, Rouget and Medart, who +sailed in the Henriette for years, and only left her when you did, +as they had wives and families here, and knew that she would not +put in again for a long time. You could trust them as you do me." + +"That would be the very thing. Make arrangements with them, on any +terms they like. I will take her by the week. She carries a boat, I +suppose?" + +"Of course, monsieur, they could not do without one." + +"If she is fast, well and good. If not, tell them to buy the +fastest they can find. They can sell their own boat in part +payment, or they can get her up on the quay and let her lie there, +until we have gone, when they can either sell her or the new one. + +"However, the clothes are the first thing. We cannot venture out in +these, in the first place, because we might be questioned; and +secondly, because we might be recognized; whereas in a fisherman's +dress, with a wide oilskin hat and our faces dirtied somewhat, I +don't think that anyone could know us." + +They remained quiet until evening, and then sallied out in the +disguises Brenon had obtained for them. Their first visit was to +the house of Jean's friend, Desailles. It was arranged that Leigh +should not go in, as Desailles would probably speak more freely to +Jean, if alone. Jean had written his name on a piece of paper, +folded it up, and carefully sealed it and, when he reached the +house, he handed this to the woman who opened the door. + +"This is for Citizen Desailles," he said. "I will wait. He may want +to see me." + +In a minute the servant returned, and requested him to come in. He +was shown into a room where Desailles was sitting, with some papers +before him. He did not speak until the servant closed the door. +Then he leapt up, and held out both hands to his visitor. + +"My dear Jean," he said, "what imprudence, what madness for you to +venture here!" + +"I don't think there is any fear of my being discovered. Even you, +yourself, would scarcely know me." + +"I know you, now you have taken that hat off; but I own that I did +not recognize you before, and thought for the moment that you were +but a messenger. + +"Please do not talk loud. For aught I know, my servant has been +bribed to act as a spy upon me, and may have her ear at the +keyhole. To tell you the truth, Jean, things are coming to a crisis +at the club. The violent party get more violent every day, and I am +heartily sick of this butchers' work. I feel that, at any moment, I +may be denounced." + +"Then why on earth do you stay here, Jules? Why don't you come and +throw in your lot with us?" + +"I should have laughed at the idea, a year ago," he said; "for at +that time, although I objected strongly to the doings in Paris, I +yet believed that much good would come of the changes. Now I know +that nothing has come of them but murder and misery, and the +madness increases rather than diminishes. Hopeless as I own your +struggle seems, to me, I would at least rather be killed in battle +than executed here; but I would rather still get to England, if I +could. As you know, I can play the violin well, and might be able +to support myself, by its aid, if nothing else turned up." + +"If you are thinking of going, Desailles, I will give you a letter +to my father-in-law, at Poole. I hear that my mother and sister +have escaped, and they have doubtless gone there, so you will not +find yourself friendless. + +"And now for the purpose that has brought me here. I had no idea, +until I arrived, that these wretches had imprisoned my father; who +is the last man to interfere in politics, and has, I am sure, never +uttered a word of enmity against the Convention. I came to +endeavour to rescue my wife who, as no doubt you have heard, has +been seized and carried off in my absence, and my house laid in +ashes. I suppose she has been brought here." + +"Yes, I am aware of it," Jules said. "The party of horse who did it +were specially sent from here. Of course you were the principal +object of the expedition, but the officer was ordered to bring her, +too--in the first place as your wife, in the second as an +Englishwoman and therefore, of course, an enemy of France. You were +denounced to the club; and as you were known to be one of the +gentlemen who had joined the insurrection, and were fighting with +Cathelineau and others, I knew that it would be useless to raise a +voice on your behalf; having the satisfaction of feeling sure that +you would be away from home when they got there, and hoping that +your wife would receive notice of their coming, before they entered +the house." + +"Has she been brought here yet?" + +"Yes, she arrived three days ago. She is in the old city prison, +where your father is also confined." + +"So far that is fortunate," Jean said. + +"Now, how about my father? I should have thought that Jacques' +influence would have been sufficient to protect him." + +The young advocate smiled bitterly. + +"Monsieur Jacques Martin poses as a Brutus, Jean. When your father +was denounced in the club, he rose and said that he should take no +part in the deliberations, that he was before all other things a +patriot, and that he would not permit private affection to +interfere with his duty as a citizen. In fact, my dear Jean, +painful as it must be for you to hear, my opinion is that your +brother has all along been playing a deep game, and that his object +has been to grasp the whole of your father's business and property. +It was a friend of his who denounced you at the club, when I before +gave you warning; it was members of his clique who stirred the +authorities up to send a small body of cavalry to capture you, and +it was they also who denounced your father. Your brother is by far +the most powerful of the committee of safety, as well as in the +club. He assumes an air of perfect disinterestedness, and of a +passionate love for the republic. His vote is always given for +death. I think he takes Saint Just as his model, and repeats his +assertion, that it is only by the destruction of the enemies of +France that France can be freed. + +"There is a cold bloodedness about him that sets my nerves +tingling. I believe, myself, that the discovery that your father +had largely reduced his stocks, and had sent the proceeds to +England, decided him in either agreeing to, or bringing about, this +denunciation; and that he deferred it only until he found that your +mother and sister had escaped. That freed his hands, to some +extent. Had they remained here, he would have been in a difficult +position. Even in these days, when we are sated with horrors, he +could hardly have permitted his mother and sister to be executed +when, as everyone knew, he had power to save them. On the other +hand, if they had remained they would have been obstacles to the +success of his plan. As it is now, your father's house and all +property belonging to him were declared confiscated; but the +committee of safety passed a vote that, seeing the inestimable +service rendered to the state by his eldest son, they would be +bestowed upon him as a token of gratitude for his well doing." + +"You scarcely surprise me," Jean said gloomily. "I never liked my +brother--we had not a feeling in common, and for years he has never +seemed to belong to the family; and certainly, since the troubles +began, he has not set foot in my father's house. Still, I hardly +believed that he would be such a scoundrel. I abhorred his +opinions, but believed that he was at least sincere. I did not see +what he could gain by a revolution. Now I understand his character +better, and can see how cleverly he has played his cards. I cannot +reckon myself with the scoundrel, deeply as he has wronged me and +my father; but I should welcome the news that retribution had +fallen upon him, by some other hand. + +"And now, Jules, can you give me any advice whatever as to how to +set about my scheme of getting them both out of prison?" + +Jules shook his head. + +"I fear, my poor friend, that that is impossible. The prison is, as +you know, strong. There are, I should say, some forty warders, all +ruffians and scoundrels. Any attempt to bribe even one of them +would, almost to a certainty, be denounced; and it would probably +be necessary to have at least half a dozen in the plot. As to +force, it is out of the question. The building is very strong. +There are always some twenty or thirty of the volunteers on guard +outside, and an alarm would bring up five hundred in a quarter of +an hour, to say nothing of the troops. What force could you bring +that could have even a remote chance of success?" + +"I have Leigh with me. You know him well, Jules. I rely much more +upon him than I do on myself. He is full of plans and contrivances, +and has rendered extraordinary services during the war. He has with +him, or rather will have in the course of a day or so, a band of +forty lads, of whom he is the captain, who have acted as scouts to +Cathelineau. They will be in hiding, a mile or two out of the +town." + +Jules lifted his eyebrows. + +"I am afraid that such a force as that would be of very little use +to you, Jean--in fact, of no use whatever. If you had five hundred +men, and could gather them for a sudden attack on the jail, and had +a couple of cannon to blow in the gate, I should say it might be +possible; and even then the chance of its being all done, and the +fugitives got safely away, before the arrival of some three +thousand troops would be very doubtful." + +At this moment the servant brought in a note. + +"Who brought this?" Monsieur Desailles asked. + +"It was a woman, monsieur. She did not wait for an answer." + +The advocate opened it. It was written in pencil. + +"Dear Jules, Martin is on his feet denouncing you. Hostile vote +certain. Escape at once." + +After reading it, he handed it to Jean. + +"That settles it," he said. "I am with you. Where are you staying?" + +Martin told him, and said: + +"It will never do for you to stay there. But I have arranged for a +boat, with a cabin. We shall go on board at once. You can come with +us. I had better go out first." + +"It is better that we should not go together for, if the woman +reports that I went off with a fisherman, a search might be made in +all the boats. I will join you on the quay opposite the inn you +speak of. I shall need a quarter of an hour to burn some papers. I +have already a valise packed, with a couple of thousand francs, +which is all the money I could obtain without creating suspicion. I +have seen this coming for some time, and had no intention of making +a martyr of myself, when my doing so would be of no advantage." + +"Don't delay too long, Jules. I shall be in a fever until you join +me." + +"I know their way, Jean. There will be a half a dozen speeches, +each vying with the other in abusing me. My friends will see the +uselessness of trying to defend me, when the terrorists are three +to one against them. If my friend slipped out, as is probable, +directly your brother rose, I can calculate on a good hour. +Actually, the club have no power whatever to order arrests, but +they are so closely allied now with the committee of safety that +they do not stand upon legalities, except in cases likely to +attract a great deal of public attention." + +Jules went to the door and let his visitor out. Jean joined Leigh. + +"Desailles is going to join us. He has just been denounced, and +will be with us in a quarter of an hour, on the wharf. It is very +lucky that Brenon completed the arrangements today for the boat, +and that Rouget and Medart will be expecting us this evening. I +told them that I might not come until tomorrow morning, but this +settles it. There will be a sharp search for Desailles, as soon as +it is found that he is gone; and it is just as well that we should +be off, too. I am very glad that I had the boat taken from her +usual berth to a spot half a mile higher up, because there are sure +to be inquiries whether any fishing boats put out during the +night." + +They walked fast back to the inn. Brenon, on being told what had +happened, agreed that it would certainly be safest for them to go +on board. + +"I have two friends living here," he said, "both of whom are +carriers, and keep eight or ten horses. Tomorrow morning, early, I +will take one of your horses to one and the second to the other. No +one will notice them there, whereas if a search is made--and I have +no doubt a search will be made of the houses near the river--they +will light upon them in my shed, and they would not believe my +story that I had two citizens from Vallet living here--in the first +place because it is an unlikely place to put them up, and in the +second because no such citizens would be forthcoming. It is lucky +that you told the men to get a cask of wine and a store of +provisions on board, before starting. + +"Well, you know, captain, that whenever you choose to land again, +my house is at your disposal; and I will carry out what we +arranged, that I should get together a score of men I can trust, +and to each of whom I can promise a hundred francs, for a night's +work in a good cause." + +They packed up their former disguises, which might come in useful +again. Their pistols they had already about them. They then went +out on to the wharf again and, a few minutes later, were joined by +Jules Desailles. + +"I have been nervous ever since I left you," Jean Martin said, as +his friend shook hands with Leigh. "I was afraid that a quarter of +an hour's delay might be fatal." + +"I lost no time. But I feel sure that it will be an hour before +anyone is down after me; they are all too fond of listening to +their own voices to close any discussion, in less than an hour +after the proposer has sat down. I hope the boat is not far off, +for this portmanteau of mine is heavy, I can assure you." + +Martin took it up and swung it on to his shoulder. + +"No, my dear Jean, I won't have it." + +"Nonsense, Jules. The weight is nothing to me though, no doubt, to +a man who never takes any exercise it would feel heavy." + +"To say the truth, it is heavier than I expected. I went on packing +up everything that I did not like to leave behind, until the thing +was crammed full; and after I had locked it, and went to lift it, I +was thunderstruck with the weight." + +"Did your servant see you go out?" + +"No; I rang for her, and told her that I was going out, and did not +suppose that I should be back till late, and that she could go to +bed when she liked--which I knew would be a few minutes after she +got permission. She is a sort of human dormouse and, nineteen times +out of twenty, I have had to wait for my breakfast. I was in a +fright as I walked down here, lest some one who knew me might run +against me, but happily I saw no one." + +"They would not recognize you, if they had seen you," Jean laughed. +"The idea of Monsieur Desailles, advocate, a gentleman somewhat +particular as to his attire, dragging a portmanteau weighing a +hundred pounds through the streets, would seem an impossibility." + +"I have left that phase of my existence behind me," Jules laughed; +"henceforth I am a man of war, a rebel, a brigand, as they call +you, prepared for any desperate adventure, ready to rush up to a +cannon's mouth." + +"That is right, Desailles. I am glad to see that you take things so +cheerfully." + +"My dear Jean, I feel as if I walk on air since you have taken my +portmanteau. I have been living in a state of suspense for months, +hating these wretches and their ways; and knowing that I was +gradually falling into bad odour with them, and that the blow would +certainly fall, ere long. Over and over again I have thought of +making my escape from it all; but you see, I am not a man of +action, as you are. I did not see how the matter was to be +effected--where to go or what to do. I was like a boy shivering at +the edge of the bank, and afraid to plunge in; then another comes +behind him and pushes him into the water, and he strikes out, and +finds that it is not as cold as he expected, and forthwith enjoys +it. I have cut loose from the past. I have become a rover and a +waif, and I feel as lighthearted as a boy. + +"Now, let me get hold of one end of that trunk, again." + +"I have got it all right and, as you see, I have not yet changed +shoulders. And if I want help, it is to Leigh I should turn, and +not to you. After three months' campaigning, it may be that you +will be able to hold up an end as well as he can, but you certainly +cannot do so now. In another hundred yards we shall be at the boat, +and they must be on the lookout for us." + +In a short time they saw a fishing craft, with a boat astern of +her. A man was standing on the deck. + +"It is a dark night, my friends," he said. + +"It will be lighter in the morning," Jean replied. + +The man leapt ashore. + +"Ah, captain, I am glad, indeed, to see you. Brenon did not tell +us, until after he had made a bargain with us, who wanted our boat, +or we should not have talked about payment. Not likely, after +having sailed with you since you were a boy of fourteen." + +"No, indeed," said another man, who had just raised his head out of +the cabin hatch; "and we are not going to take it, either." + +"We will talk about that afterwards," Jean said, as he stepped on +board. + +"I doubted whether it was you, captain, for Brenon had only spoken +to us of two; and when I saw three of you, I thought that you must +belong to one of the boats higher up. There are two or three of +them, a bit farther on." + +"I did not know, myself, until half an hour ago. This is my friend +Monsieur Desailles, who is in the same danger from these butchers +of the Convention as I am. First pass this box down, and then we +will follow it." + +They gathered in the little cabin. It was but some seven feet long. + +"It will be close work, captain," Rouget said. + +"It will do very well," Jean said cheerfully. "There is room for +two of us to sleep on the lockers, and one on the floor. You have +got the small boat behind you, I see." + +"She is there," the man said, "and a good boat she is. We bought +her from two fishermen, who had come down from Saint Florent. She +is very well for up there, but she is scarce fit for fishing far +below Nantes." + +"I am glad that she did not belong to this place," Martin said. +"The fishermen might have been surprised to see two strange men in +a boat they knew; but so many have come down here, from the towns +above, that we shall excite no attention. Now, the first thing to +do is to get up sail, and drop down two miles past the town; then +you can go about your fishing as usual. Only one of us will show +upon deck at a time. + +"Now, as to the matter on which we are here. Brenon told you that +it was a dangerous business for which you would be required?" + +"He told us that it was to hide two gentlemen whom the committee of +public safety would be glad to get hold of; and I knew, of course, +that to do such a thing was dangerous, but we did not like it any +the worse for that. All honest men are horrified at the way these +commissioners from Paris are carrying things on, and would be glad +enough to aid in getting anyone out of their hands." + +"But the danger is greater, in our case, than ordinary," Jean went +on. "You heard that my father had been imprisoned?" + +"We heard it, captain, and savage it made us, as you may guess. +Everyone spoke well of him and, being your father, of course we +felt it all the more." + +"But that is not all, lads. A party of their cavalry went to my +chateau in my absence, burnt it down, and brought my wife here a +prisoner. Now, it is absolutely certain that they will both of them +be condemned, for they have a personal enemy on the committee of +public safety, and they will be murdered, unless we can get them +out; and I and my brother Leigh, whom you all know, have come for +that purpose." + +"Well, captain, you can count upon both of us, heart and soul. But +I don't see how it is going to be done. The prison is a strong +place, and well guarded. I have no doubt that we could count on +getting twenty stout men, along the wharf, but that would not be +much use. They have more than that on guard and, before we could +get into the prison, they would come swarming down, any number of +them." + +"We have forty young fellows from my neighbourhood, who will by +tomorrow be hidden away in the wood, a mile and a half higher up +the river." + +"That will be a help, sir; but even with two hundred we should not +be able to do much." + +"We shall have plenty of time to talk it over, afterwards. Get the +sail up and drop down the river. Keep close to the opposite bank. +It is important that we should not be noticed, as we pass the +town." + +"Well, sir, there is hardly air enough to fill the sails. I should +say that we had best tow her across to the other side, in the small +boat; and then drift till we are fairly beyond the town. We are +safe not to be seen then." + +"Perhaps that will be the best plan, Rouget." + +The men went out and, in two or three minutes, the sound of the +oars could be heard. + +"I can't say that the lookout is very hopeful, Leigh." + +"I did not think that anyone would think it so, Jean; but it seems +to me that it is just because everyone seems so confident that the +prison is safe from attack, that we shall have a chance. The thing +that is troubling me most is where we can get a barrel of +gunpowder. We must have powder to blow open the gate. I expect that +any of the doors we may find locked, inside, will give way if a +pistol is fired through the keyhole; but to blow in the main gate +of the prison we must get powder, and a good deal of it. That, +however, is a matter in which we shall find that money will be of +use. + +"There are too many officials in the prison for us to hope to get +any one out, without eight or ten being in the plot; and as these, +we hear, are all fellows who are heart and soul with the +Convention, it is not possible to attempt it in that way. But when, +as you know, the Blues succeeded in bribing a Vendean to tamper +with our guns, it ought not to be such a difficult thing to bribe +one of these fellows, who is in charge of ammunition, to let us +have a barrel or two of powder." + +"That certainly seems to hold out a prospect of success, so far, +Leigh. I have never been able to understand your confidence in +success, but certainly the first indication of your plan seems to +promise well. Now, let us hear some more of it." + +"Well, this is my idea, Jean. I will choose a windy night, and send +Andre and Pierre, with twenty of the boys, into the worst part of +the town. Each shall carry a ball of yarn dipped in turpentine, +mixed with sulphur and other inflammable things. They shall also +carry another ball, having but a thin coating of the yarn, and +powder inside so as to explode. When the clock strikes two, we will +say, each of them will smash the window of some store, light both +balls, and put them in. I want the explosion of one ball to scare +anyone who may be sleeping there half out of their senses, and make +them rush out of the house; which will leave plenty of time for the +other ball to set on fire anything that it may light upon. Twenty +fires, starting at once at different spots, will create a fearful +scare. Many of the guards outside the prison--all of whom are drawn +from the slums--will have come from that quarter and, as they have +no idea of discipline, will, when they see the flames mounting up, +leave their posts and rush off to see to the safety of their homes. + +"Choosing a windy night, you may be sure that the fires would burn +fast, and that the rest of the volunteers, and the National Guard, +would soon be so busy that they would not trouble themselves about +the prison, one way or the other. Thus I calculate that, of the +fifty men on guard round the prison, there would not be twenty left +at the outside; and they would be so busy staring at and talking of +the fire that, with a sudden surprise, they could all be disposed +of without difficulty. Then the gates of the prison would be blown +in, and we should rush in, shoot down all the warders we +meet--keeping one only as a guide--make straight for the rooms +where your father and Patsey are confined, release them and as many +others as the time will allow, telling them to rush down to the +wharf and seize boats, or to escape in whichever way they like; +while you, with your father and Patsey, would make straight down to +our boat; while I, with the boys, would follow you and cover your +retreat, if any of the Blues came up to pursue you." + +"Leigh, you are a genius!" Martin exclaimed, bringing his hand down +on the lad's shoulder with a force that almost knocked him from his +seat. + +"What do you think of that, Desailles, for a plan? I told you that +I relied upon Leigh's head more than my own, and you see I had good +reason for doing so. I doubt whether it could be done with his +forty boys, but if we can get the powder, it seems to me that, with +half as many sailors to help us, there is no reason why it should +not succeed." + +"But you might burn half the town down," Desailles said, gravely. + +"If I was sure that it would burn the whole of it down, I should +not mind," Leigh exclaimed. "But there is not much fear of that. If +it cleared out the whole of the slums, where the supporters of the +gang of murderers they call the committee of public safety live, I +should rejoice most heartily. As there are several wide streets +between them and the business quarters, and as they will have all +the soldiers of the town to assist in fighting the flames, I do not +think that there will be any fear of the fire spreading very far." + +"Well, at any rate, Leigh, you have hit on a plan that offers a +good chance of success. We shall find out, in a day or two, how +many of the boatmen we can get to aid us, and how far they will be +disposed to go. We must learn, in some way, how long it is likely +to be before it is absolutely necessary to act. If we find that +there is time, we can send some of the boys off to the army, to +bring their fathers and brothers back with them. The sixty might +not be enough, but with a hundred of our men, I think we should be +pretty sure of success." + + + +Chapter 11: The Attack On Nantes. + + +When three or four miles down the river the boat was anchored, and +the two men were called into the cabin, and Leigh's scheme +explained to them. + +"It is a big affair, sir," Medart said thoughtfully, when Jean had +concluded. "Now, there is no love lost between us and the ruffians +who carry out the committee's orders. They call us river rats, we +call them sewer rats, and there has been many fights between the +fishermen and these fellows, as far back as I can remember, and +lately these have been much more frequent. If the plan was only to +burn down their quarters, there are a good many who would lend a +hand; because it could be done quietly, and they would have no +particular reason for suspecting that it was the work of the +fishermen. But as for going into the jail, that would be different. +We should not have time, by what you say, to hunt up and kill all +the warders; and it would therefore be known, at once, that we were +concerned. Five or six of our fellows have already had their heads +chopped off, on suspicion of having aided Royalists to escape. They +don't mind whom they lay hands on, and they don't trouble +themselves to search, but just seize the first they come to who, +perhaps in a cabaret, has said a word against their doings. + +"As to the trials, they are no trials at all. One of their fellows +comes in and says, 'I heard this man abusing the authorities, and I +accuse him also of being concerned in the escape of so and so.' It +is no odds what the prisoner says. The fellow who acts as judge +looks at the jury, who are all their creatures; they say 'Guilty +'and he says' Death!' and the accused are marched off again to the +prison, to wait until their turn comes for the guillotine. Well you +see, if this prison was broken into as you propose, and it was +known that the sailors had a hand in it, the chances are that they +would march a couple of hundred of us into the great square, which +would be choke full of the National Guard and volunteers, and just +shoot us down." + +Jean was silent. The probability that things would go as the man +said was so evident that he had no answer. + +"I think the way to get over that difficulty," Leigh said, when he +saw that Jean was puzzled, "would be for you all quietly to buy +other clothes or, better still, for them to be bought for you by +your wives. They should be such clothes as the peasants buy, when +they come into the town. It would then be supposed that the attack +was made by a party of Breton peasantry. As a good many other +prisoners would escape, in addition to Monsieur Martin and your +captain's wife, there would be no reason to suppose that the plot +was specially arranged to aid their escape, or that any of the +people of this town were concerned in the matter." + +"That is so, Master Leigh," Rouget said. "It might be managed in +that way. But I think that most of our chaps had better be told off +for firing the town. I think that a good many might be willing to +undertake that job, for I have heard it said, many and many a time, +that they would like to burn the sewer rats out. There are other +men who would, I am sure, rather join in the attack on the jail, if +they could do so without putting the lives of all of us in danger. + +"As to getting hold of an artilleryman, I don't know that that +would be difficult. The men employed on that sort of work are all +old soldiers, and many of these, though they dare not say so, hate +what is going on just as much as we do. I have met one of them with +Emile Moufflet, who served with you, captain, for two or three +years. When we have been chatting together, he has said things +about the committee that would have cost him his head, if he had +been overheard. I know that his chum is in charge of some stores, +but whether they are powder or not, I cannot say. But at any rate, +Emile will be able to find out for me the name of several of them +who have charge of powder; and he would be likely to know which of +them had sentiments like his own, and how far they could be +trusted. + +"That would not take long, but to get hold of forty hands for the +other work would take some time. One dare go only to men one is +very intimate with, and get them to approach men whom they know +well; for even among us, there are fellows who take the committee's +money to spy over the others, and to find out whether any trouble +is likely to come, or Royalists to be shipped off. One generally +knows who they are, because they overdo their parts, and rail at +the Convention more roundly and openly than an honest man would +dare to do. Some of them one finds out that way; others, again, one +spots by their always having money to spend. If they are too shrewd +to betray themselves in that way, our wives find them out for us, +by telling us that their women and children have new clothes, and +we know well enough that there is no buying new clothes out of +fish, at their present price. Besides, most of these fellows give +up fishing altogether, and lounge about the wharves talking and +smoking, and one knows that a man and his family cannot live on +air. Still, there may be others who are too sly to let out their +secret in either way, and therefore one must be very careful whom +one speaks to. One would not think of telling anyone about what is +intended until, just as it comes off, one could simply say that one +has heard that there is something in the air, and that report says +that every man who will lend a hand will earn--how much, captain?" + +"Two hundred francs." + +"When one sees how a man takes that, one can go a step or two +further. + +"Well, I should not think of letting out to a soul what the nature +of the work would be, simply saying that every precaution will be +taken to prevent its being known that any fishermen are engaged in +it. All that will take time. I should say that it might be nigh a +couple of weeks before one could get the whole thing arranged." + +"What do you think, Desailles?" Jean said. "Shall we have a +fortnight?" + +Desailles shook his head. + +"I could not say; you might have more than that, if the prisoners +were taken in the regular order in which they were condemned. The +jails are crowded and, as fresh captures are effected, room must be +made for them. Of course the committee have a list, and they make a +mark against the names of those who are to be executed, each day. +It might be three weeks before your friends' turn comes, it might +be only a few days." + +"I tell you what, Rouget; you and your comrade had better land +tomorrow morning, and set to work. You might say that three +fishermen from Saint Florent, finding their boat too small, hired +yours for a week to try their luck. If they succeed they will give +you a fair price for her, if not they will simply pay the hire. You +can say that the price is not much, but as it is as much as you can +make at fishing, you thought that you might as well have an idle +week on shore. + +"Leigh and I can work her. As soon as day breaks you shall shoot +your nets, so that we can see exactly how you work, and be able to +catch an average amount of fish each day. I am sure that no one +will know us in these disguises and, at any rate, we sha'n't be +clumsy either with the sails or oars. You can say that, as we are +strangers, you have agreed to sell our fish for us; which will be +an excuse for your coming down to us, with the news of how you are +getting on, each time that we come in." + +"That will do very well, captain; but in that case, as a good deal +of the fishing must be done at night, we had better get out the +nets at once, and show you how they are managed." + +For the next three days the work was carried on. Desailles had +undertaken to obtain, from a friend of his on the committee of +public safety, news of what was going on, and an early copy of the +names of the prisoners told off for execution on the following day. + +On the third day after their arrival, Martin and Leigh rowed up to +the wood where they had directed the band to assemble and found +that, with two or three exceptions, all had arrived. Four or five +of them were at once told to return, to the estate and to the army, +with a message from Jean begging all his tenants to leave, and join +the party in hiding. Many of them would, no doubt, have returned to +their homes within a day or two of the capture of Saumur. Letters +had already been written to Bonchamp and Rochejaquelein to say that +they were intending to attack the jail, and deliver a number of +captives besides Jean's father and wife; and to beg that they would +pick out some fifty or a hundred determined men, and send them on. +On the morning of the sixth day, when the two sailors joined them, +they were in a state of high excitement. + +"There is great news, captain," Rouget said; "the whole city is in +a state of tumult. It is reported that Cathelineau, with his army, +is marching upon Nantes; and it is also reported--but this is not +so certain--that Charette is marching to join them, with all his +force." + +"That is grand news, if true!" Jean exclaimed. "That would indeed +favour our scheme! I doubt whether they will capture Nantes, for +there is a big force here, and enough of them are seasoned troops +to encourage the volunteers and National Guard to make a good fight +of it. However we can, at any rate, take advantage of the attack to +carry out our own plans. When the fighting is at the hottest, you +may be sure that every armed man will be wanted at the work, and +that there will not be many guards left behind at the prison. Our +band here can dispose of them; and half a dozen men each, with +fireballs, can add to the confusion by setting fire to warehouses +and factories. The great thing now will be the powder." + +"That we have managed already, captain," Medart replied. "As I told +you, I spoke to Emile Moufflet the first morning I went ashore, and +he said that it was at the magazines that his chum was employed. +Yesterday evening he came to us, and said that if I gave him the +two thousand francs that you had given me for the purpose, he would +hand us over two barrels of powder, at eleven o'clock last night. +We got them; and carried them, as you told us, to Brenon's; and +helped him to bury them in his shed. We also got, as you ordered, a +couple of yards of fuse." + +"Bravo, Medart! everything seems going well for us." + +The news of Cathelineau's advance was confirmed, on the following +day, by the return of the lads who had been sent to fetch +assistance. They brought with them eight or ten men from the +estate; and reported that la Rochejaquelein had remained at Saumur, +with a portion of his army, to defend that town against a large +force that Biron was assembling at Tours; while Cathelineau, having +with him Bonchamp and Stofflet, was marching with the main force +along the north bank of the river. They said, however, that his +force was greatly diminished, for that large numbers of his men, +objecting to fight outside their own country, had scattered to +their villages. They, however, confirmed the news that Charette was +reported to be marching north to join Cathelineau. + +"That is the worst part of the whole business," Jean said, +bitterly. "Our generals have no control over their men. They will +fight when they want to fight, and return home when they choose. If +Cathelineau had come along with a big force, he would have been +joined by numbers of Bretons on the way and, if he had captured +Nantes, by the greater part of Southern Brittany. Now that so many +of his men have left him, it is quite possible that his attack may +fail; and in that case the result will be disastrous. His army +would disperse, the Blues would turn their whole force against la +Rochejaquelein, and the cause that a fortnight since seemed half +won would be lost. + +"It shows, at any rate, that the idea of marching on Paris could +not be carried out; for if men refuse to march, when they would be +separated from their own country only by the river, to take Nantes, +by which La Vendee is constantly threatened; certainly a greater +portion still would have gone off to their homes, rather than join +in what would seem to them so terrible an affair as a march on +Paris. The peasants are good enough at fighting but, though they +may win a victory by their bravery, they are certain to lose a +campaign by their independent habits." + +Feeling convinced that the approach of the Vendean army would +enable their enterprise to be carried out by a much smaller body +than had at first appeared necessary, Jean Martin told the two +sailors that they had better abstain from broaching the matter to +any more of their acquaintances. They had already obtained the +adhesion of those of whose fidelity they felt absolutely assured +and, should one of the others whom they intended to approach turn +traitor, it would overthrow all chances of success, and might cause +such alarm to the authorities that the executions would go on more +rapidly than before, and the fate of their friends be precipitated. + +Day by day the excitement in the city increased. Generals Beysser +and Canclaux had, under their command, some ten thousand men. There +was no chance of further reinforcements reaching them, but they +felt confident that they could successfully defend the town with +this force. + +Had Charette marched to Ponts-de-Ce and, crossing there, joined +Cathelineau, the danger would have been much more formidable; but +instead of so doing he was advancing directly towards Nantes, on +the south side of the river, the few places remaining in the hands +of the Republicans being hastily evacuated on his approach. Here, +however, he could give but slight aid to Cathelineau, for the +bridge crossing the Loire could be defended by a comparatively +small force, provided with cannon to sweep the approaches. + +In order to reassure the townspeople and encourage the troops, the +French generals, as the enemy approached, moved out with a large +proportion of their force and threw up some intrenchments a mile +and a half outside the town; feeling confident that they could +withstand any attack in the open country. + +As many of the peasants fled into Nantes, especially those who, in +the villages, had rendered themselves obnoxious by their +persecutions of those suspected of Royalist leanings, or who were +personally obnoxious to them, Leigh was able to gather the whole of +his party in the town. They were, like other peasants, to sleep in +the open squares or down near the walls. They were always to go +about in pairs, and to meet Pierre or Andre at places and hours +arranged by them. They were supplied with money sufficient to buy +bread, and were warned on no account to make themselves conspicuous +in any way. With them were the men from Martin's estates who had +answered to his summons. + +Clothes had been bought for the twelve sailors engaged by Medart +and Rouget. The fireballs had been prepared in the cabin of the +fishing boat. Each of the fourteen fishermen was to carry two of +these. Their leaders had carefully gone round the quarter, and had +picked out the stores or warehouses into which the fireballs were +to be flung. Among these were several wood yards No private houses +were to be fired. That the flames would spread to these was likely +enough, but at least there would be time for the women and children +to escape. + +Having decided upon the places to be fired, the sailors were one by +one taken round, and the two buildings assigned to each pointed +out, so that there would be no confusion or loss of time when the +signal was given. Only two stores near the water had been marked +down for destruction, namely, those belonging to the Martins. This +was Leigh's work. As a firm the business was extinct. It was now +the sole property of Jacques Martin, and there was no probability +that Martin senior or Jean would ever recover a share in it. As in +each of the stores a considerable quantity of spirits in addition +to the wine was housed, not only would the loss be very heavy, but +the interest excited in the vicinity would increase the confusion +and alarm that would prevail. + +Desailles was in daily communication with his friend. He learned +that the list of prisoners was being taken, now, more in the order +in which they stood. The farce of a trial had been gone through, in +the case of Jean's wife, and she had of course been condemned. She +stood a good deal lower on the list than his father. There was not +much chance of the day of her execution being settled before the +arrival of the Vendean forces. The number of names, however, above +that of Monsieur Martin was rapidly decreasing, and there was +imminent danger that he might be included in the fatal list before +their arrival. + +On the twenty-sixth of June the Vendeans arrived within a few miles +of the town, and a formal summons was sent in to the generals. It +was briefly refused. General Canclaux believed that he had so +strengthened his advanced position, which was occupied by his best +troops, that he would be able to repulse Cathelineau's force there. +The Vendeans, however, being informed by the peasantry of the +formidable nature of the intrenchments, decided that it would be +dangerous to attack them; and consequently moved round so as to +threaten the town from the north. Charette, on his side, moved his +force up within cannon shot of the bridge. + +At eight o'clock on the evening of the twenty-seventh, the sound of +heavy firing was heard in Nantes. A column of the Vendeans had +attacked Nort, a place lying to the north of the town. It was +defended by six hundred troops of the line, and a body of the +National Guard. They maintained themselves there during the night +but, at daybreak, fell back upon the town, leaving their cannon +behind them. A considerable body of troops moved out to cover their +retreat. + +Confident that the attack would begin that evening, every +preparation for action was made by Jean and Leigh. The powder +barrels were dug up, and holes bored for the fuses. The boys were +all informed that the hour for action was at hand; and were ordered +to lie down, at nightfall, in the open space facing the front of +the prison, scattering themselves among others who would be +sleeping there or, in expectation of the attack on the town +beginning, would be standing in groups listening for it. Leigh +would be among them. + +As the hour neared twelve they were to gather in a body. The +sailors were not to begin their work until the attack on the town +commenced in earnest. Jean, with his twelve tenants, was to come up +at twelve. The exact moment for the attack was to be decided upon +by the progress made by the fires. When these had had their effect, +Leigh was to fall upon the guard round the prison; and Jean, with +his band, to run forward to the gate, plant the powder barrels +against it, light the fuse and run back. + +As soon as they had killed or driven away the guard, Leigh's party +were to return to the front. There Andre, with half the band, were +to station themselves, and to hold the gate against any armed body +that might arrive; while Leigh, with the others, entered the prison +and aided, if necessary, to overpower the warders and blow open the +doors of the cells. The prisoners were all to be told that +Charette's army was on the other side of the Loire, and that their +best plan was to make their way down to the river, seize boats, and +get across. + +At five o'clock in the afternoon Charette's guns opened against the +barricades that had been thrown up at the bridge. Canclaux, seeing +that the attack upon the north had rendered it useless for him to +retain the advanced post, ordered the troops there to fall back +into the town, at ten o'clock in the evening; and at eleven the +whole garrison were concentrated in Nantes. + +Finding that, with the exception of the cannonade on both sides +across the river, all remained quiet, Leigh passed the word round +among his followers to remain as they were, until further orders. +Jean and his men came up by twos and threes before twelve; and +these, too, lay down as if to sleep, or seated themselves on the +steps of the houses. Few of the inhabitants had retired to rest. +They knew that at any moment the storm might break, and some +awaited the attack with hope that the time of their release from +the tyranny under which they had, for months, groaned, had come; +while others trembled at the thought of the vengeance that, if the +town were taken, would fall upon those who had been concerned in +what had passed. + +Martin and Desailles presently joined Leigh. As the time went on +they began to fear that, for some reason or other, the Vendeans had +determined to delay their attack until the next day. At half past +two Charette's cannonade redoubled in vigour, and the rattle of +musketry showed that his troops were advancing. The batteries of +the defenders opened with equal violence, and their musketry +answered that of the assailants on the opposite bank. + +"I think that that must be the signal for Cathelineau to begin," +Martin said. + +And, ten minutes later, the attack commenced with fury upon the +gates of Vannes, Rennes, and that by the river. + +Every window was opened, and anxious faces looked out. The night +was dark, and the few oil lamps alone threw a feeble light on the +square. Suddenly a broad glare rose to the west, and the murmur, +"There is a house on fire!" passed from mouth to mouth. In another +few minutes flames were seen rising at a dozen points, and a cry of +consternation arose. + +"The brigands have entered the town! They are going to burn it to +the ground." + +Man after man of the little group of National Guards, who had been +gathered talking in front of the door of the prison, was seen to +detach himself from it and to move quietly away. Then those at the +windows noticed four or five parties of men move forward, from +among those who were standing talking; when within a short distance +of the guard there was a sharp command, and these groups all rushed +towards the gates together. There were shouts and cries, and then +there was silence. Taken wholly by surprise, the guard had fallen +under the knives of the Vendeans without having had time to fire a +shot. + +Then the majority of their assailants ran off, half one way, half +the other, following the wall of the prison. Two pistol shots were +fired, a moment later. The men who had remained at the gate drew +back for some distance. There was a short pause, and then a +tremendous explosion. All the people gathered in the place, save +those who had carried out the affair, fled with cries of terror. +Then Jean and his party dashed forward towards the shattered gates +and entered the prison, and shot or cut down the frightened warders +as these came running out, dazed and bewildered at the sound of the +explosion. Jean seized one of them by the throat. + +[Illustration: Jean seized one of them by the throat.] + +"Where are the keys kept? Answer, or I will blow out your brains!" + +The frightened ruffian at once led the way to the chief warder's +room. He had already fallen, being one of the first to run down. +There were two bunches of keys. + +"These are of the doors of the corridors," the man said, taking +down one bunch. "The others are of the cells." + +"Now, go before us and open them all--every one, mind." + +They were soon joined by Leigh with his party, who had made short +work of the few guards who remained at their post outside the +prison. + +"Set your men to blow in the doors," Jean said; "It would take half +an hour to unlock them all, at this rate." + +Pistols were at once applied to the keyholes, and the locks +destroyed. There were a few separate cells, but the prisoners were +for the most part crowded, twenty or thirty together, in the larger +rooms. As he entered each room, Leigh shouted the directions agreed +on to the prisoners. In a short time he came upon Jean who, as had +been arranged, had first gone to the rooms where his father and +Patsey were confined. Jean started with these at once, with six of +his men, leaving Leigh and Desailles to see to the release of the +rest of the prisoners. + +As soon as all rooms had been burst open or unlocked, he and his +party, with that at the gate, hurried away. The streets were light, +as a sheet of flame rose from the stores of Jacques Martin. The +musketry fire on the wharves showed that there were troops +stationed there. As they hurried along, the shouts of alarm which +rose in the town showed that the news of the attack upon the prison +had spread rapidly. As soon as the released prisoners knew that +they were well above the bridge, and the silence on the wharves +showed that none of the troops were stationed there, shouts of +delight arose. There were a good many boats moored to the bank, and +the fugitives threw themselves into these. + +"Get out your oars and row straight across," Leigh shouted. "If you +drift down the stream, you will come under the fire of the troops +there." + +Then, having done their work, he and his band went up a hundred +yards farther, where they knew that three large boats were lying. +In these they took their places and started to row across the river +and, in five minutes, reached the opposite bank. They sprang out, +with a shout of joy at finding themselves again in their own +country. Most of the fugitives also gained the opposite bank; but +some boats, in which there were but few capable of handling the +oars, drifted down the river, and lost most of their number from +the fire of the troops on the bank, before they could land among +the men of Charette's army. + +Leigh with his boys soon joined the other party, who had landed a +hundred yards higher up. It was a joyful meeting, indeed, between +him and Patsey. + +"Jean tells me it is all your doing that we have been got out," she +said. "I felt sure you would manage it, somehow." + +They had already arranged their plans. Jean, with his wife and +father and his twelve men, was to start at once for Parthenay, +where Lescure was in command. Leigh had determined to join +Cathelineau, with as many of his band as chose to accompany him. +Desailles would go with Jean. + +The boys, on the choice being given them, almost all decided to +accompany Leigh. They were excited at the success that had attended +them, and the tremendous roll of fire round the town showed how +fiercely their countrymen were fighting, and they longed to join in +the conflict. + +Saying goodbye to those who were going, Leigh and his party towed +one of the boats a mile up the river, and then crossing, soon +joined the party engaged. The Vendeans had already advanced some +distance, but every house and garden was fiercely contested. Hour +after hour passed, and the troops were beginning to be discouraged. +It was broad daylight now, and the Vendeans pressed forward at all +points, more hotly than ever. + +The troops were falling into disorder, and would soon have become a +disorganized mass; when a musket ball, fired from a window, struck +Cathelineau in the breast as, with his officers, who had been +considerably increased in number owing to the many gentlemen who +had joined him at Saumur, he was leading on his troops. + +A cry of dismay rose from those who saw him fall, and the news +spread like wildfire among the peasants, who regarded him with an +almost superstitious reverence, and had a firm belief that he was +protected by Heaven from the balls of his enemies. His loss seemed +to them an irretrievable misfortune. The fierceness of their attack +diminished. Their ardour was gone, and the Blues, gaining courage +as their assailants ceased to press them, took the offensive. + +They met with but little opposition. The Vendean army, lately on +the point of being victorious, was already breaking up and, ere +long, was scattered over the country, its retreat being undisturbed +by the enemy, who could scarcely believe their own good fortune at +having succeeded, when all had seemed lost. + +Cathelineau was carried off; but died, a fortnight later, from the +effects of the wound. His death was a terrible blow to the cause. +The failure to take Nantes had, in itself, been a great misfortune; +but the Vendeans had suffered no more heavily than the enemy and, +had Cathelineau been but spared, matters might still have gone well +with them. The effect of his death, however, was for the time to +dishearten the peasantry utterly; and had at this time terms of +peace, which would have permitted them to enjoy the exercise of +their religion, and to be free from conscription, been offered to +them, they would gladly have been accepted. + +Charette, after he saw that the attack upon Nantes from the north +side of the river had failed, fell back with his force, as before, +into Lower Poitou. The Vendeans, now under Bonchamp, who had also +been wounded, retired along the north bank of the Loire, crossing +the river at various points as they could find boats. + +Before joining in the fight, Leigh had told his band that, in the +event of failure, he should recross the river in the boat that had +brought them over. They had all kept near him during the struggle. +Eight of them had fallen, several others were wounded, and he +himself had received a musket ball in the shoulder. As soon as he +saw that the battle was lost, he withdrew from it and made his way +with the boys to the river bank; recrossed the stream, and struck +across the country. After proceeding some six miles they entered a +wood, and lay down and slept for some hours, and then marched to +Parthenay. + +Here the band broke up and proceeded to their homes; while Leigh +made his way to Lescure's headquarters, learned where his friends +were lodged, and joined them. + +Patsey gave a cry of alarm as he entered. Fugitives had arrived +before him, and it was already known that the attack on Nantes had +failed, and that Cathelineau was mortally wounded. + +"What is it, Leigh?" + +"I am wounded in the shoulder. It is nothing very serious, I think; +though I suppose I sha'n't be able to hold a sword for some time." + +A surgeon was soon fetched, the ball extracted, and the wound +bandaged; and they then sat down to talk over the events that had +occurred. Since they had been separated, Monsieur Martin had become +a broken man. The fact that his son, who assuredly had it in his +power to protect him, had given him over to the terrible tribunal, +had been a harder blow to him than the prospect of death; and even +the devotion that had been shown by Jean scarcely sufficed to +comfort him. + +Patsey was pale and thin. Her imprisonment had told upon her and, +still more, the thought of what Jean must be suffering on her +account, and her uncertainty as to the fate of her child. But even +the twenty-four hours that had elapsed since she had left her +prison had done much for her. The news that the child was safe and +well had taken a load off her mind; and she felt proud, indeed, +that her release, and that of so many others of her fellow +prisoners, had been brought about by the devotion of her husband +and her brother. Before the day was out, she was laughing and +chatting as if nothing had happened. + +On the following morning they started early, and reached home in +the afternoon. They were received with delight by their people, +although many of these had lost relations in the recent battles. A +house in the village was placed at their disposal, Patsey riding +straight on to see her child; with which, and its faithful nurse, +she soon returned. + +"And now, Jean," Patsey said when, with the cure and Jules +Desailles, they sat down for a quiet talk that evening, "what is to +be the next thing?" + +"You should ask the Blues that," he replied. "So far as I can see, +it will be a repetition of what has taken place. They will invade +us again, and probably we shall beat them back. Each time they will +come with larger forces and, at last, I suppose we shall have to +endeavour to make our way to England. I am afraid there can be no +question that that will be the end of it. Fight as we may, we +cannot withstand the whole strength of France." + +"Why can we not fly at once?" Monsieur Martin asked. + +"The difficulty in reaching the coast, and of getting a passage, +would be immense. Besides, so long as La Vendee resists, so long is +it my duty to fight; and I am sure that Patsey would not wish me to +do otherwise. I have been in it from the first, and must stay until +the end, if I am not killed before that comes. If it were possible +to send you and Patsey and Leigh away to England, I would gladly do +so; but I am sure that she would not go, and I think I may say the +same for Leigh." + +"Certainly, Jean; as long as you stay, I stay. My life is far less +important than yours, for I have no one dependent upon me. I quite +agree with you that the war can end in only one way; but till that +comes, all those who have been the leaders of these poor peasants +ought to hold by them." + +"I agree entirely with you both," Patsey added, and there was no +more to be said. + + + +Chapter 12: A Series Of Victories. + + +More formidable foes than the peasants had yet met were approaching +La Vendee. Mayence had surrendered to the allies, and the garrison +there, which was a large one, composed of veteran troops, was +allowed to march away, on each man taking an oath that he would not +again serve on the frontier. + +Outside France there was no idea of the desperate struggle that was +going on in La Vendee. Had it been known, in England, that it +needed but little aid for Brittany and La Vendee to successfully +oppose the efforts of the Republic, men, money, arms, and +ammunition would no doubt have been sent; but unfortunately the +leaders of the insurrection, occupied as they were with the efforts +they were making, had taken no steps to send a statement of the +real facts of the case to the English government. The ports were +all in the hands of the Republicans and, although in Paris public +attention was concentrated on the struggle, the British government +was very badly informed as to what was passing there. Had the +allies been aware of it, the terms granted to the garrison at +Mayence would have been very different; and they would either have +been held as prisoners, or been compelled to take the oath that +they would, in future, not serve the Republic in any way, in arms. + +As it was, they were free to act in France, and were already on the +march towards La Vendee. As before, arrangements were made for the +district to be attacked simultaneously on all sides. La +Rochejaquelein was so much weakened by the return of the peasants +to their homes that he was obliged to evacuate Saumur, and this +town was taken possession of by the division from Tours, consisting +of twelve thousand five hundred infantry, sixteen hundred cavalry, +and four hundred artillerymen, under General Menou. + +The division of Niort comprised fifteen thousand six hundred +infantry, and thirteen hundred and eighty cavalry. It was commanded +by Chalbos, having Westermann with him. At Sables were four +thousand three hundred infantry, two hundred and fifty cavalry, and +three hundred artillery. They were commanded by General Boulard. + +There was but small breathing time for the Vendeans. Westermann had +moved towards Parthenay with a strong force and, but a few hours +after the Martins had left it, Lescure was forced to fall back from +the town. This was occupied by the Blues. They pillaged and burned +a village near, although no opposition had been offered, and then +sent off a force which burned Lescure's chateau at Clisson. + +The Martins were engaged in conversation when a messenger ran in. + +"I have an order from Monsieur Lescure," he said. "The church bells +are to be rung throughout the district." + +All started to their feet. + +"Already?" Jean exclaimed. "Why, what has happened?" + +"We have fallen back from Parthenay. The Blues under Westermann, +eight thousand strong, have already occupied the town. The +general's orders are that all are to join him at Moulin, in two +days' time. Messengers have been despatched all over the country, +and Monsieur de la Rochejaquelein has been sent for, to join +General Lescure at Moulin." + +"That gives us twenty-four hours, then," Jean said, with a sigh of +content. "I will see that your message is carried on to all the +villages near. There are plenty of boys of twelve or fourteen about +the place." + +But the bells rang that night to deaf ears. Many of the peasants +were still absent, others had returned but a few hours before, worn +out and dispirited. But when on the following day the news came +that Westermann's troops were burning villages, and slaying all who +fell into their hands, and that Monsieur de Lescure's chateau had +been burnt, fury and indignation again fired them and, that night, +the greater part of them set out for Moulin. + +"I wonder what has become of our horses," Jean said, as he prepared +to start. "We shall never hear any more of those we left at Nantes. +We must go on foot this time, and trust to getting hold of a couple +of horses, the first time we defeat the Blues." + +He had that day been over with Patsey, her child, his father, the +nurse, and Francois to the peasant's house, deep in the forest, to +which he had before arranged that she should go, in case of need. +All the party were dressed as peasants. The man and woman from whom +the house was hired removed to another hut, a quarter of a mile +away. Francois was to go down every day in the cart to the village, +to get news and letters and buy provisions. The cure had arranged +to send off one of the village boys, the moment that he heard that +any party of the Blues were approaching; when the whole of the +occupants of the village and the farms around it would be obliged +to take to the woods, for it was evident that neither age nor sex +was respected by Westermann's troops. + +It was morning when Jean, Leigh, and Desailles arrived at Moulin. +They were warmly received by Rochejaquelein and Bonchamp, to whom +Jean introduced Desailles as a new comrade. + +"I know nothing of fighting," the latter said; "but, gentlemen, I +shall do my best." + +"That is all that anyone can do," Rochejaquelein said heartily. "We +may say that none of us, with the exception of Monsieur Bonchamp +and a few others, had any experience in fighting when we began; but +we have done pretty well, on the whole." + +"Do you think that we have much chance of holding this place?" Jean +asked. "They told us, as we came in, that at present there are not +much more than eight thousand men here; and Westermann, they say, +has about as many." + +"That is so," Bonchamp said, "and I do not expect that we shall +beat them; but we must fight, or they will march through the +country, wasting and destroying as they go. It is only by showing +them that we are still formidable, and that they must keep together +and be prudent and cautious, that we can maintain ourselves. A +succession of blows, even of light ones, will break a rock." + +At two o'clock the enemy's forces approached, and the engagement +soon became hot. Every hedge was lined by the peasants, every +position strongly defended, and only evacuated when the horns gave +the signal. At the end of two hours Westermann, after losing a +considerable number of men, approached ground where his cavalry +could come into play; and the leaders of all the bands had been +warned that, when they fell back to this point, the horn was to be +sounded three times, and that resistance was to cease at once and +the bands disperse, to meet at a given point, two hours later. +Seven of the ten cannon they had with them were safely carried off; +and although compelled to retire from their position, the peasants +were well satisfied with having withstood, so long, the attack of +an equal number of troops, supported by an artillery much superior +to their own. + +Leigh had taken no part in the actual fighting. His right arm was +tightly strapped, and bandaged across his chest; and he therefore +acted only as the general's aide-de-camp. + +"I'll tell you what it is, Jules," Jean said to Desailles, as they +retired from the field; "if you are going to expose yourself in the +way you have done today, your fighting will be over before long. +When it comes to leading the peasants to an attack, one must +necessarily set the men an example; but when on the defence, you +see, the peasants all lie down behind the hedges and bushes, and +show themselves as little as possible. + +"And there were you, walking about as if you were in the principal +street in Nantes! I do not say that we must not expose ourselves a +good deal more than the peasants, in order to encourage them; but +there is a limit to all things, and one must remember that we are +very short of officers, and that the peasants, brave as they are, +would be useless without someone to direct them." + +"I have no doubt but you are right, Jean," Desailles said with a +laugh; "but in fact, I don't remember giving a thought to the +matter. I was almost bewildered by the roar of the battle and the +whistling of the bullets. I felt like a man who had taken too much +wine; which, in my student days, happened to me more than once. My +blood seemed to rush through my veins, and I would have given +anything for the order to come for us to throw ourselves upon the +enemy." + +"You will get over that," Jean laughed, "but the same feeling is +strong among the men. One can see how eager they are for the order +to charge. They use their muskets, but it is to use their bayonets +that they are panting. They would make grand soldiers, if they were +but well drilled and disciplined. + +"Unless I am mistaken, you will see them at their favourite work, +before many days are over. Westermann will get to Chatillon +tonight. When he gets there, he will find no provisions for his +troops, and will begin to wonder whether he is wise in thus +penetrating so far into a nest of hornets. + +"Bonchamp will give him two or three days to forget the mauling +that we have given him. By that time our force will have increased, +and it will be well for Westermann if he manages to carry half his +force back with him." + +The news of the burning of la Rochejaquelein's chateau, on the +following day, excited the liveliest indignation. The young count +himself received the news with greater indifference than did those +around him. + +"When a man carries his life in his hand, every day," he said, "he +does not fret over the loss of a house. I do not suppose that I +should ever have sat down quietly in possession of it, and the +cousin who is my heir may have to wait a number of years before, if +ever, he comes to take possession of the estate. Had circumstances +been different, the loss of the old chateau, where my family have +lived for so many years, would have been very grievous to me; but +at present it affects me comparatively little. + +"It is lucky that I sent off four men, directly the fight was over, +with a letter to my steward, charging him to hand over to them the +four horses that still remained in my stables. They arrived here an +hour ago. I guessed that the Blues would be paying a visit there in +my absence. + +"One of them is for you, Monsieur Martin, and one for Leigh; the +others I shall keep as spare chargers. I have had two shot under me +already, and am likely to have more. In the meantime, if your +friend Monsieur Desailles likes to ride one, it is at his service." + +"I thank you very much, marquis," Jules said; "but I would prefer +trusting to my own legs. My profession has been a peaceful one, and +I have never yet mounted a horse, and certainly should feel utterly +out of my element, in the saddle, with an animal under me excited +almost to madness by the sounds of battle. Of the two, I think that +I should prefer being on a ship, during a storm." + +Rochejaquelein laughed. + +"It is all a matter of training," he said. "As for me I feel twice +the man, on horseback, that I do on foot. I have never tried +fighting on foot, yet; and I should certainly feel altogether out +of my element, the first time that I attempted it. + +"However, I will not press the animal on you. I shall send it and +the other to some cottage, in the heart of the woods, whence I can +have them fetched when needed." + +"I am sure that we are greatly obliged to you," Jean said. "As I +told you, when relating our adventure in Nantes, we had to leave +our horses behind us there though, had we captured the town, we +should have recovered them. As it is, the Blues carried off the two +I had left behind at the chateau, and I could only buy one other, +as we came through. That I detailed for the use of my wife. I +certainly had not expected to obtain another, until we captured +some from the enemy. We are heartily obliged to you, not only for +your generous gift, but for your thoughtful kindness in sending for +them for us." + +"Say not another word," Rochejaquelein said. "You are a sailor and +I am a soldier, and between us there is no occasion for thanks or +compliments. You would have done the same for me, and I am glad to +be able to set you both on horseback again. And indeed, I am not +sure that I was not a little selfish in the matter; for yesterday I +missed the company of your brother-in-law greatly, and felt that I +would give a good deal to hear his cheery laugh, and confident +tone." + +As usual, the army dispersed after its victory; but there were but +a few days' quiet, for on the fourteenth it gathered to oppose the +advance of a strong French column, from Brissac; and on the morning +of the fifteenth, early, just as the troops were getting into +movement, the Vendeans burst down upon them. + +Their numbers were not large, for the notice had been short, and only +the peasants of the surrounding district had had time to gather. +Nevertheless they attacked with such energy, led by Rochejaquelein +and d'Elbee, that they fought their way into the middle of the camp, +captured the headquarters with its correspondence and treasury, and +scattered several battalions in utter confusion. + +On the return of the advanced guard, under Santerre, the situation +changed; the fugitives were rallied and, after long and fierce +fighting, the Vendeans drew off. + +"We must admit another failure," said Rochejaquelein; who had, with +his little troop of mounted men, been in the thick of the fight; +charging again and again into the midst of the enemy, and covering +the retreat, when it began, by opposing a determined front to the +enemy's cavalry; "a failure, but a glorious one. They were superior +to us in numbers; and yet, if it hadn't been that their advanced +guard returned while our men were scattered, intent upon the +plunder of their headquarters, we should have won the day. However, +we shall have reinforcements up, in a couple of days." + +On the seventeenth, the French column resumed its march. Santerre's +command led the way to Vihiers, which they reached without +opposition. The rest of the division arrived in the afternoon. They +had left, at their previous halting place, the heavy baggage; with +a portion of their artillery ammunition. Scarcely had they arrived +at Vihiers when a tremendous explosion told them that the guard +left behind had been overpowered, and their store of ammunition +destroyed. + +A feeling of uneasiness and alarm spread through the army. +Santerre's battalion were at once attacked by Rochejaquelein, who +had but a small body of men with him, but who thought to take +advantage of the alarm which the explosion would naturally cause +among the enemy. Santerre's battalion, however, stood firm, and the +Vendeans were drawn off. In the night, however, the main body of +the peasants arrived and, at one o'clock next day, made their +attack. + +Menou himself, with the rest of his command, had now come up. Some +of the battalions, as before, stood steadily; but the rest of the +army, dispirited by the perseverance with which the Vendeans, in +spite of failure and losses, were ever ready to renew their attack, +speedily lost heart. + +In two hours the right fell back in disorder, the panic spread and, +in a short time, the rout became general. In vain the officers +endeavoured to check the fugitives. So great was their terror that, +in three hours, the panic stricken mob traversed the distance +between Vihiers and Saumur. + +Thus the second great invasion of La Vendee had met with no greater +success than the first. The two strong columns that had advanced, +in full confidence of success, had returned utterly discomfited. +Westermann's division had been all but annihilated. The army from +Saumur had lost great numbers of men, and had for the time ceased +to be a military body. The Bocage, with its sombre woods, its thick +hedges, and its brave population, seemed destined to become the +grave of the Republican army; and the order to advance into it was, +in itself, sufficient to shake the courage of those who boasted so +loudly, when at a distance. + +It was the grave, too, of the reputation of the French generals. +One after another they had tried, failed, and been disgraced. The +first general, Marce, was superseded by Berruyer; Berruyer by +Biron, who was recalled and guillotined. Westermann was also tried, +but having powerful friends, was acquitted. Generals of divisions +had come and gone in numbers. Some had been dismissed. Some, at +their own urgent request, allowed to return to the districts they +commanded before the outbreak of the insurrection. But one and all +had failed. One and all, too, had never ceased, from the time they +joined the army of invasion, to send report after report to the +Convention, complaining of the untrustworthiness of the troops, the +bad conduct and uselessness of the officers, and the want of a +sufficient staff to maintain discipline and restore order. + +Indeed, the bulk of the revolutionary troops possessed little more +discipline than the Vendeans themselves and, being uninspired, as +were the latter, by a feeling either of religion or of patriotic +enthusiasm, they were no match for men who were willing to give +their lives for the cause. + +The Vendeans were far better armed than when they commenced the +struggle. Then the proportion of men who were possessed of muskets +or firearms of any kind was extremely small; but now, thanks to the +immense quantity which had been captured in the hands of prisoners, +thrown away by fugitives, or found in the storehouses of the towns, +there were sufficient to supply almost every man of the population +with firearms; and in addition, they possessed a good many pieces +of artillery. + +Unfortunately they had learned little during the four months' +fighting. Their methods were unchanged. Love of home overpowered +all other considerations; and after a victory, as after a defeat, +they hurried away, leaving with their generals only the officers +and a small body of men, who were either emigres who had returned +from England to take part in the struggle, or Royalists who had +made their way from distant parts of France, for the same purpose. + +After the capture of Saumur, too, a good many Swiss and Germans, +belonging to a cavalry regiment formed of foreigners, had deserted +and joined the Vendeans. Thus a small nucleus of an army held +together, swelling only when the church bells summoned the peasants +to take up arms for a few days. + +But while the Royalists of La Vendee remained quiescent, after they +had expelled the invaders; the Republicans, more alarmed than ever, +were making the most tremendous efforts to stamp out the +insurrection. + +Beysser, who had commanded at Nantes, was appointed to succeed +Menou. Orders were given that the forests and hedges of La Vendee +were all to be levelled, the crops destroyed, the cattle seized, +and the goods of the insurgents confiscated. An enormous number of +carts were collected to carry faggots, tar, and other combustibles +into La Vendee, for setting fire to the woods. It was actually +proposed to destroy the whole male population, to deport the women +and children, and to repeople La Vendee from other parts of France, +from which immigrants would be attracted by offers of free land and +houses. Santerre suggested that poisonous gases should be inclosed +in suitable vessels, and fired into the district to poison the +atmosphere. + +Carrier, the infamous scoundrel who had been appointed commissioner +at Nantes, proposed an equally villainous scheme; namely, that +great quantities of bread, mixed with arsenic, should be baked and +scattered broadcast, so that the starving people might eat it and +be destroyed, wholesale. This would have been carried out, had it +not been vigorously opposed by General Kleber, who had now taken +the command of one of the armies of the invasion. + +The rest of July and the first half of August passed comparatively +quietly. General Toncq advanced with a column into La Vendee, and +fought two or three battles, in which he generally gained successes +over the peasants; but with this exception, no forward movement was +made, and the majority of the peasants remained undisturbed in +their homes. + +Soon, however, from all sides, the flood of invaders poured in. No +fewer than two hundred thousand men were now under the orders of +the French generals, and advanced from different directions, in all +cases carrying out the orders of the Convention, to devastate the +country, burn down the woods, destroy the crops, and slay the +inhabitants. Five armies moved forward simultaneously, that +commanded by Kleber consisting of the veteran battalions of +Mayence. + +But everywhere they were met. Charette had marched to the aid of +the Vendeans of the north, and the country was divided into four +districts, commanded by Charette, Bonchamp, Lescure, and la +Rochejaquelein. Each of these strove to defend his own district. + +The war now assumed a terrible aspect. Maddened by the atrocities +perpetrated upon them, the peasants no longer gave quarter to those +who fell into their hands and, in their despair, performed +prodigies of valour. They had not now, as at the commencement of +the war the superiority in numbers. Instead of fighting generally +four to one against the Blues, the latter now exceeded them in the +same proportion. + +But the peasants had changed their tactics. Instead of rushing +impetuously upon the enemy's lines, and hurling themselves upon his +artillery, they utilized the natural features of their country. As +the Republican columns marched along, believing that there was no +enemy near, they would hear the sound of a horn, and from behind +every hedge, every thicket, every tree, a stream of musketry would +break out. Very soon the column would fall into confusion. The +lanes would be blocked with dead horses and immovable waggons. In +vain would the soldiers try to force their way through the hedges, +and to return the fire of their invisible foes. Then, as suddenly +as the attack commenced, the peasants would leap from their shelter +and, with knife and bayonet, carry havoc among their enemies. + +These tactics prevailed over numbers, even when, as in the case of +Kleber's division, the numbers possessed military discipline, +training, and high reputation. For a month, fighting was almost +continuous and, at the end of that time, to the stupefaction of the +Convention, their two hundred thousand troops were driven out of La +Vendee, at every point, by a fourth of that number of undisciplined +peasants. Never, perhaps, in the history of military warfare did +enthusiasm and valour accomplish such a marvel. + +The second half of September was spent by the peasants at their +homes, rejoicing and returning thanks for their success; but +already a heavy blow was being struck at their cause. Charette, +hotheaded, impetuous, and self confident, had always preferred +carrying out his own plans, without regard to those of the leaders +in Upper Vendee; and he now quarrelled with them as to the course +that had best be pursued, and left, with the forces that he had +brought with him, to renew the war in the south. + +But although the peasants rejoiced, their leaders knew that the +struggle could not long continue. The number of fighting men--that +is to say, of the whole male population of La Vendee capable of +bearing arms--had diminished terribly; indeed, the number that +originally responded to the summons of the church bells was +decreased by fully a half. Food was scarce. Owing to the continued +absence of the peasants the harvest had, in many places, not been +garnered; and wherever the Republican troops had passed, the +destruction had been complete. A large portion of the population +were homeless. The very movements of the Vendeans were hampered by +the crowds of women and children who, with the few belongings that +they had saved, packed in their little carts, wandered almost +aimlessly through the country. Many of the towns were in ruins, and +deserted; in all save a few secluded spots, as yet unvisited by the +Republicans, want and misery were universal. + +There was no thought of surrender, but among chiefs and peasants +alike the idea that, as a last resource, it would be necessary to +abandon La Vendee altogether, and to take refuge in Brittany, where +the vast majority of the population were favourable to them, +gradually gained ground. + +Generals Beysser, Canclaux, and Dubayet were recalled by the +Convention for their failure to obtain success, and l'Echelle was +appointed to the command, having Kleber and Westermann as leaders +of his principal divisions. + +Jean Martin and Leigh had joined their friends, in their retreat in +the forest, after the repulse of all the Republican columns. They +had heard, while engaged in the thick of the fighting, of the death +of Monsieur Martin. He had never recovered from the effects of his +imprisonment at Nantes, and instead of gaining strength he had +become weaker and weaker. The terrible uncertainty of the position, +the news that constantly arrived of desperate battles, and the +conviction that in the end the Vendeans would be crushed, told +heavily upon him. He took to his bed, and sank gradually. + +"I am not sorry, my child," he said to Patsey, the day before he +died, "that I am going to leave you. I was wrong in not taking +Jean's advice, and sailing for England with my wife and daughter. +However, it is useless to think of that, now. + +"I can see terrible times in store for all here. It is evident that +no mercy is to be shown to the Vendeans. It has been decreed by the +Convention that they are to be hunted down like wild beasts. + +"Had I lived, I should have been a terrible burden to you. I should +have hampered your movements and destroyed any chance, whatever, +that you might have of escaping from these fiends. It would have +been impossible for me to have supported the fatigues and hardships +of a flight, and I should have been the means of bringing +destruction on you all. It is therefore better, in every respect, +that I should go. + +"I pray that Heaven will protect you and Jean and your brave +brother, and enable you to reach England in safety. You will bear +my last message to my wife and Louise. You will tell them that my +last thought was of them, my last feeling one of gratitude to God +that they are in safety, and that I have been permitted to die in +peace and quiet." + +"It is a sad homecoming this time, Jean," Patsey said, as her +husband and Leigh rode up to the door. + +"It is indeed, Patsey; and yet, even when the news came to me, I +could scarcely grieve that it was so. I had seen how he was fading +when I went away, and was not surprised when I heard that he had +gone. For me it is one care, one anxiety, the less, in future. + +"Patsey, we will be together. I cannot leave you here, when Leigh +and I are away. The child shall go with us and, when all is lost, +we will escape or die together." + +"I am glad to hear you say so, Jean. It has been terrible waiting +here, and knowing that you were in the midst of dangers, and that +even while I thought of you, you might be lying dead. I shall be +glad, indeed, to share your fate, whatever it is." + +For three weeks the little party lived quietly in the cottage. +There were many discussions as to the future. It was agreed that, +in case of a final reverse, it would be better that they should +travel alone. + +"The more of us there are, the more certain to attract +observation," Jean said. "We must go without Francois and Marthe. +Their chance of safety will be greater if they either return to +their villages, or take up their abode with the family of some +woodman--or rather, Marthe's safety would be greater. As to +Francois, he has long been eager to join in the fighting, and it is +only his fidelity that has constrained him to remain in what he +considers is a disgraceful position, when every other man who can +bear arms is fighting. We will therefore take him with us and, when +the day of battle comes, he will join the fighting men and, if we +are defeated, must care for his own safety. + +"When we fight, I shall always leave you at a village, a mile or +two away. You will have the horse ready to mount, and we shall join +you at once, if we are defeated." + +"We ought to be disguised, Jean," Leigh said. + +"It would be well," Jean said, "but I hardly see what disguise +would be of use to us. Certainly not that of peasants, for in that +dress we should be shot down, without question, by the first party +of Blues we came across. Even if we succeed in reaching the river +and crossing it, we may be sure that the authorities will be +everywhere on the lookout for fugitive peasants. It would be better +to be shot, at once, than to await in prison death by the +guillotine." + +"I should say that it does not matter a bit how we are dressed, +till we reach the river. We know now pretty nearly every lane in +the country," Leigh said, "and I should think that we ought to be +able to reach the Loire." + +"That is where the difficulty will begin. In the first place there +will be the trouble of crossing, and then that of making our way +through the country. Certainly we could not do so as Vendean +peasants." + +"I should say, Jean, that the best disguises would be those of +fairly well-to-do townspeople; something like those we wore into +Nantes, but rather less formal--the sort of thing that ordinary +tradesmen, without any strong political feeling either way, would +wear. I don't say that we shall not be suspected, however we are +dressed, because no one in his senses would be travelling about +just at present; but when once we get beyond Tours, if we go that +way, we might pass without much notice. + +"Which way do you think that we ought to go, Jean?" + +Jean shrugged his shoulders. + +"I don't see that there is any choice. There would be very little +chance of escaping from any of the ports of Brittany, and La +Rochelle would be still more hopeless. As far south as Bordeaux we +should be in a comparatively peaceful country, and I should hope to +find friends there. The eastern frontier is of course the safest to +cross, but the distance is very great and, in the towns near the +border, a very sharp lookout is kept to prevent emigres escaping. + +"There is a rumour that Lyons has declared against the Convention, +but if we got there it is certain that it would be but La Vendee +over again. Lyons cannot resist all France and, as soon as they +have done with us here, they will be able to send any number of +troops to stamp out these risings. + +"Undoubtedly, if we could get there, Toulon would be the best +place. I have heard for certain that they have driven out the +extreme party, and have admitted the English fleet. Once there, we +should be able to take berths in a ship bound somewhere abroad--it +matters little where--and thence get a passage to England. Most +probably we shall be able to arrange to go direct from Toulon, for +there are sure to be vessels coming and going with stores for the +British fleet." + +"But that would be a terrible journey, Jean," his wife said. + +"Yes, I think that would be quite out of the question. It seems to +me that our best chance would be either to cross the Loire and then +make for Le Mans, and so up through Alencon to Honfleur--that way +we should be east of the disturbed district--or, if we found that a +vast number of fugitives had made their way into Brittany, as is +almost certain to be the case, we might bear more to the east, and +go up through Vendome and Chartres and Evreux, and then branch off +and strike the Seine near Honfleur. In that case we should be +outside the district where they would be searching for fugitives +from here. + +"Once on the seashore, or on the Seine, it would be hard if we +could not steal a fishing boat, and cross the Channel. However, one +must of course be guided by circumstances. Still, I do think that +it would be as well to buy the disguises Leigh suggests, without +loss of time. I will ride over to Chatillon, tomorrow, and get +them." + + + +Chapter 13: Across The Loire. + + +Marthe was filled with grief, when she heard that it had been +decided that it was better that she should return to her native +village; but her mistress pointed out to her that, if all went +well, she could rejoin them. If things went badly, and they +escaped, they would send for her wherever they might be; but in +case disaster compelled them to fly, three persons were as many as +could hope to travel together, without exciting suspicion. The +nurse however begged that, at any rate, she might go with them to +the headquarters of the army. + +"Everyone is going," she said; "and they say that, if we are beaten +in the next battle, they will cross the Loire and take refuge in +Brittany, for the Blues will not leave a soul alive in La Vendee. I +should have nowhere to go to here, and will keep with the others, +whatever happens. If you are with them, madame, I can rejoin you; +if not, I hope to be with you, afterward." + +It was indeed an exodus, rather than the gathering of an army, that +was taking place. The atrocities committed by the invaders, the +destruction of every village, the clouds of smoke which ascended +from the burning woods, created so terrible a scare among the +peasants that the greater portion of the villages and farms were +entirely deserted, and every road leading to Chollet, which was the +rendezvous where the fighting men were ordered to gather, was +crowded with fugitives. Francois walked by the horse's head. +Patsey, the nurse, and the child, with a trunk containing articles +of absolute necessity, occupied the cart. Jean and Leigh rode +ahead. + +The company of Cathelineau's scouts no longer existed. More than +half of them had fallen in the late battles. Their services were no +longer required as scouts, and the survivors had joined their +fathers and brothers, and formed part of the command of Bonchamp. + +On the fourteenth of October the enemy's columns were closing in +upon Chollet. Those round Mortagne were marching forward, when the +advanced guard, under General Beaupuy, were suddenly attacked by +the Vendeans, while entangled in the lanes. The head of the column +fought well; but those in the rear, finding themselves also +attacked, and fearing that the retreat would be cut off, retired +hastily to Mortagne. The column would have been destroyed, had not +Beaupuy promptly sent up large reinforcements. After a long and +obstinate fight the Vendeans were driven from the woods and, the +Republican artillery opening upon them, they were compelled to +retire to Chollet. + +Here no halt was made. Kleber had also been fiercely attacked, but +had also, though with much difficulty, repulsed his assailants. The +next morning the Republicans entered Chollet, which they found +deserted by the enemy. + +On the seventeenth, their whole force being now concentrated there, +they were about to move forward towards Beaupreau; when the +advanced guard was hotly attacked and, in a short time, the combat +became general. For a time the Vendeans bore down all opposition, +but as the whole of the Republican force came into action, their +advance was arrested. + +The battle began soon after one o'clock. It raged without +intermission till nightfall. No decisive advantage had been gained +on either side, and the result was still doubtful, when a panic +took place among the multitude of noncombatants in the rear of the +Vendeans. The cry was raised, "To the Loire!" + +The panic spread. In vain the leaders and their officers galloped +backwards and forwards, endeavouring to restore confidence, and +shouted to the men that victory was still in their grasp. In the +darkness and din they could only be heard by those immediately +round them, and even these they failed to reanimate; and the men +who had for seven hours fought, as Kleber himself reported, like +tigers, lost heart. + +Lescure had fallen in the fighting on the fourteenth. Bonchamp and +d'Elbee were both desperately wounded at the battle at Chollet, and +were carried off by their men. La Rochejaquelein, with whom Jean +Martin and Leigh were riding, had made almost superhuman efforts to +check the panic; and they fell back, almost broken hearted, with a +band of peasants, who held together to the last. On the previous +day Leigh had escorted Patsey to Beaupreau, and it was to this town +that the fugitives made their way, arriving there at midnight. + +"Thank God that you are both alive!" Patsey said, bursting into +tears as her husband entered the room in which she was established. + +"We can hardly believe it ourselves," Jean said. "It has been a +terrible day, indeed. Our men fought nobly, and I firmly believe +that we should have won the day, had not an unaccountable panic set +in. What caused it I know not. We were doing well everywhere, and +had begun to drive them back and, could we have fought on for +another half hour it was likely that, as usual, a panic would have +seized them. + +"However, Patsey, they would have gathered again stronger than ever, +and it must have come to the same thing, in the long run. Now put on +your disguise, at once. We will lie down for two hours, and see you +off before daybreak. I do not know whether la Rochejaquelein, who +must now be considered in command, since d'Elbee and Bonchamp are +both desperately wounded, will gather a force to act as a rearguard. +If so we must stay with him; but I do not think that even his influence +would suffice to hold any considerable body of peasants together. All +have convinced themselves that there is safety in Brittany. + +"At any rate, the enemy will need a day's rest before they pursue. +They must have suffered quite as heavily as we have." + +The night, however, was not to pass quietly. At two o'clock two +officers, who had remained as piquets, rode into the town with news +that Westermann's division, which had marched through Moulet and +had taken no part in the action, was approaching. The horn sounded +the alarm, and the fugitives started up and renewed their flight. +Marthe could not be left behind now, nor did the others desire it; +and until they had crossed the Loire there could be no separation, +for the whole country would swarm, in forty-eight hours, with +parties of the enemy, hunting down and slaying those who had taken +refuge in the woods. + +Jean and Leigh had lain down in the cart, to prevent any of the +fugitives seizing it. The two women and the child were hurried +down, and took their places in it. Francois, who had escaped, had +fortunately found them; and took the reins, and the journey was +continued. + +There was no pursuit. It was only a portion of Westermann's force +that had arrived, and these were so exhausted and worn out, by the +length of their march and by the fact that they had been unable to +obtain food by the way, that they threw themselves down when they +reached the town, incapable of marching a mile farther. + +At Beaupreau there had been no fewer than five thousand Republican +prisoners, kept under guard. On the arrival of the routed Vendeans, +the peasants, as a last act of retaliation, would have slain them; +but Bonchamp, who was at the point of death, ordered them to be set +free. + +"It is the last order that I shall ever give," he said to the +peasants assembled round his litter. "Surely you will not disobey +me, my children." + +The order was obeyed, and the prisoners were at once sent off; and +as the Republican column marched out from Chollet, the next day, +they encountered on the road their liberated comrades. The +sentiments with which the commissioners of the Convention were +animated is evidenced by the fact that one of them declared, in a +letter to the commander-in-chief of the army, that the release of +these prisoners by the Vendeans was a regrettable affair; and +recommended that no mention, whatever, should be made of it in the +despatches to Paris, lest this act of mercy by the insurgents +should arouse public opinion to insist upon a cessation of the +measures that had been taken for the annihilation of the Vendeans. + +The fugitives, a vast crowd of over one hundred thousand men, +women, and children, reached Saint Florent without coming in +contact with the enemy. The Republican generals, indeed, had no +idea that the peasants had any intention of quitting their beloved +country; and imagined that they would disperse to their homes +again, and that there remained only the task of hunting them down. +A company had been left on a hill which commanded Saint Florent, +but they had no idea of being attacked, and had not even taken the +precaution of removing the boats across the river. + +As soon as they arrived, the Vendeans attacked the post with fury, +and captured it. Twenty boats were found, and the crossing was +effected with no little difficulty. There were still two or three +thousand, principally women and children, to be taken over, when a +party of Republican dragoons arrived. Numbers of the women and +children were massacred; but the great bulk, flying precipitately, +regained the country beyond the heights of Saint Florent, and took +refuge in the woods. + +The multitude were, for the present, safe. There was no strong +force of the enemy between Nantes and Saumur, and they halted for +the night, dispirited, worn out, and filled with grief. They had +left their homes and all they cared for behind. They were in a +strange country, without aim or purpose, their only hope being that +the Bretons would rise and join them--a poor hope, since the +terrible vengeance that had been taken on La Vendee could not but +strike terror throughout Brittany, also. + +Jean Martin and Leigh had seen Patsey and the nurse placed in one +of the first boats that crossed. + +"Do not go far from the spot where you land," they said. "We shall +stay here, until all is over. If the Blues come up before all have +crossed, we shall swim across with our horses; be under no +uneasiness about us." + +Taking the horse out of the shafts of the cart, and putting a +saddle that they had brought with them on its back, they left the +three animals in charge of Francois; and then aided other officers +to keep order among the crowd, and to prevent them from pressing +into the boats, as they returned from the other bank, in such +numbers as to sink them. All day the work went on quietly and +regularly, until so comparatively few remained that hope became +strong that all would cross, before any of the enemy arrived. + +That hope was destroyed when, suddenly, the enemy's cavalry +appeared at the edge of the slope, and came galloping down. The +officers in vain tried to get the few men that remained to make a +stand. They were too dispirited to attempt to do so, and the little +throng broke up and fled, some one way, some another. + +Fortunately an empty boat had just returned, and into this the +other officers leapt; while Jean, with his two companions, led the +horses into the water. They had already linked the reins. Francois +was unable to swim but, at Jean's order, he took hold of the tail +of the horse in the middle; while Jean and Leigh swam by the heads +of the two outside horses, and without difficulty the other side +was gained. Patsey, who had had her eye fixed upon them all day, +was standing at the spot where they landed. + +They were near the town of Ancenis, and a portion of the Vendeans +entered the place, which was wholly undefended. The inhabitants +were in abject terror, thinking that the town would be sacked; and +were surprised to find that the peasants did no one any harm, and +were ready to pay for anything that they required. So long, indeed, +as any money whatever remained, the Vendeans paid scrupulously. +When it was all expended, the chiefs did the only thing in their +power, issuing notes promising to pay; and although these had no +value, save in the good faith of the Vendeans, they were received +by the Bretons as readily as the assignats of the Republic--which, +indeed, like the notes of the Vendeans, were never destined to be +paid. + +Had the army plunged into Brittany after the capture of Saumur, +there can be no doubt that the peasantry would everywhere have +risen; but coming as fugitives and exiles, they were a warning +rather than a source of enthusiasm; and although small numbers of +peasants joined them, the accession of force was very trifling. + +Jean Martin, his wife, and Leigh held an anxious consultation that +evening. They had found a poor lodging, after attending a meeting +of the leaders, at which la Rochejaquelein had been unanimously +elected commander-in-chief; Bonchamp having died, while d'Elbee, +wounded to death, had been left at the cottage of a Breton peasant, +who promised to conceal him. The young soldier had accepted the +fearful responsibility with the greatest reluctance. He, and those +around him, saw plainly enough that the only hope of escape from +annihilation was the landing of a British force to their +assistance. Unhappily, however, England had not as yet awoke to the +tremendous nature of the struggle that was going on. Her army was a +small one; and her fleet, as yet, had not attained the dimensions +that were, before many years, to render her the unquestioned +mistress of the seas. + +The feeling that the Revolution was the fruit of centuries of +oppression; and that, terrible as were the excesses committed in +the name of liberty, the cause of the Revolution was still the +cause of the peoples of Europe, had created a party sufficiently +powerful to hamper the ministry. Moreover, the government was badly +informed in every respect by its agents in France, and had no idea +of the extent of the rising in La Vendee, or how nobly the people +there had been defending themselves against the whole force of +France. It is not too much to say that had England, at this time, +landed twenty thousand troops in Brittany or La Vendee, the whole +course of events in Europe would have been changed. The French +Revolution would have been crushed before it became formidable to +Europe, and countless millions of money and millions of lives would +have been saved. + +Throughout France there was a considerable portion of the +population who would have rejoiced in the overthrow of the +Republic, for even in the large towns its crimes had provoked +reaction. Toulon had opened its gates to the English. Lyons was in +arms against the Republic. Normandy's discontent was general, and +its peasantry would have joined those of Brittany and La Vendee, +had there been but a fair prospect of success. + +England, however, did nothing, but stood passive until the +peasantry of La Vendee were all but exterminated; and indeed, added +to their misfortunes by promising aid that never was sent, and thus +encouraging them to maintain a resistance that added to the +exasperation of their enemies, and to their own misfortunes and +sufferings. + +"What are we going to do?" Patsey asked, as her husband and Leigh +returned from the meeting. + +"That is more than anyone can say," Jean replied. "We shall, for +the present, move north. We are like a flight of locusts. We must +move since we must eat, and no district could furnish subsistence +for eighty thousand people, for more than a day or two. + +"There can be no doubt that the impulse to cross the Loire was a +mad one. On the other side we at least knew the country, and it +would have been far better to have died fighting, there, than to +throw ourselves across the river. It was well nigh a miracle that +we got across, and it will need nothing short of a miracle to get +us back again. + +"Of one thing we may be sure: the whole host of our enemies will, +by this time, be in movement. We should never have got across, had +they dreamed that such was our intention. Now that we have done it, +you may be sure that they will strain every effort to prevent us +from returning. Probably, by this time, half their forces are +marching to cross at Nantes. The other half are pressing on to +Saumur. In three or four days they will be united again, and will +be between us and the river. + +"Were we a smaller body, were we only men, I should say that we +ought to march another twenty miles north, then sweep round either +east or west and, while the enemy followed the north bank of the +river to effect a junction, we should march all night without a +halt, pass them, and hurl ourselves either upon Saumur or Nantes, +and so return to La Vendee. But with such a host as this, there +would be little hope of success. I fancy that we shall march to +Laval, and there halt for a day or two. By that time the whole +force of the enemy will have come up, and there will be another +battle." + +"And we, Jean?" + +"I see nothing but for us to march with them. We know nothing of +the movements of the enemy and, were we to try to make our way +across the country, we might run into their arms. Besides, Leigh +and I have both agreed that, at present at least, we cannot leave +Rochejaquelein." + +"We could not, indeed, Patsey," Leigh broke in. "If you had seen +him this evening when, with tears in his eyes, he accepted our +choice, you would feel as we do. It was all very well for us, +before, to talk of making off; but now that the worst has happened, +if it were only for his sake, I should stay by him; though I think +that Jean, with the responsibility of you and your child, would be +justified in going." + +"No," Patsey said firmly, "whatever comes, we will stay together. +As Jean said, you cannot desert the cause now. As long as there are +battles to fight we must stay with them, and it is not until +further fighting has become impossible that we, like others, must +endeavour to shift for ourselves." + +"Well spoken, Patsey!" her husband said. "That must be our course. +So long as the Vendeans hang together, with Rochejaquelein at their +head, we must remain true to the cause that we have taken up. When +once again the army becomes a mass of fugitives we can, without +loss of honour, and a clear consciousness that we have done our +duty to the end, think of our safety. I grant that, if one could +find a safe asylum for you and our Louis in the cottage of some +Breton peasant--" + +"No, no!" she interrupted, "that I would never consent to. We will +remain together, Jean, come what may. If all is lost, I will ask +you to put a pistol to my head. I would a thousand times rather die +so than fall into the hands of the Blues, and either be slaughtered +mercilessly, or thrown into one of their prisons to linger, until +the guillotine released me." + +"I agree with you in that, Patsey. Well, we will regard the matter +as settled. As long as the army hangs together, so long will we +remain with it; after that we will carry out the plans we talked +over, and make for the coast by the way which seems most open to +us." + +The next day was spent, by Rochejaquelein and his officers, in +going about among the peasants. They did not disguise from these +the extreme peril of the position, but they pointed out that it was +only by holding together, and by defeating the Blues whenever they +attacked them, that they could hope for safety. + +"It was difficult to cross the Loire before," they said; "it will +be tenfold more difficult now. Every boat will have been taken over +to the other side, and you may be sure that strong bodies of the +enemy will have been posted, all along the banks, to prevent our +returning. You have fought well before. You must fight even better +in future, for there is no retreat, no home to retire to. Your +lives, and those of the women and children with you, depend upon +your being victorious. You have beaten the Blues almost every time +that you have met them. You would have beaten them last time, had +not a sort of madness seized you. It was not we who led you across +the Loire; you have chosen to come, and we have followed you. + +"At any rate, it is better to die fighting, for God and country, +than to be slaughtered unresistingly by these murderers. You saw +how they fell upon the helpless ones who were unable to cross with +us; how they murdered women and children, although there was no +resistance, nothing to excite their anger. If you die, you die as +martyrs to your faith and loyalty, and no man could wish for a +better death. + +"All is not lost, yet. Defeat the Blues, and Brittany may yet rise; +besides, we are promised aid from England. At any rate, La Vendee +has been true to herself through over six months of terrible +struggle. La Vendee may perish. Let the world see that she has been +true to herself, to the end." + +The fugitive priests with the army seconded the efforts of the +officers and, by nightfall, a feeling of resolution and hope +succeeded the depression caused by the terrible events of the +preceding thirty-six hours; and it was with an air of calmness and +courage that the march was recommenced, on the following morning. + +The instant that it became known that the Vendeans had crossed the +Loire, a panic seized the Republicans at Nantes; and messengers +were sent to implore the commander-in-chief to march with all haste +to aid them should, as they believed, the Vendeans be marching to +assail the town. Kleber with his division started at once, followed +more slowly by the main body of the army. + +Another column advanced to Saint Florent and, obtaining boats, +crossed the river and entered Angers; to the immense relief of the +Republicans there, who had been in a state of abject terror at the +presence, so near them, of the Vendeans. Kleber marched with great +rapidity, passed through Nantes without stopping, and established +himself at the camp of Saint Georges. + +The news of what was termed the glorious victory at +Chollet--although in point of fact the Republicans fell back, after +the battle, to that town--caused the greatest enthusiasm in Paris, +and the Convention and the Republican authorities issued +proclamations, which were unanimous in exhorting the army to pursue +and exterminate the Vendeans. + +By the twenty-third, the whole of the French army was in readiness +to march in pursuit. Kleber was still in the camp of Saint Georges, +Chalbos was at Nantes with a corps d'armee, Beaupuy was at Angers. + +The Vendeans had marched through Cande and Chateau-Gontier, and had +without difficulty driven out the Republican force stationed at +Laval. L'Echelle, the commander-in-chief, was profoundly ignorant, +supine, and cowardly; and owed his position solely to the fact that +he belonged to the lower class, and was not, like Biron and the +other commanders-in-chief, of good family. Remaining always at a +distance from the scene of operations, he confused the generals of +divisions by contradictory orders, which vied with each other in +their folly. + +On the twenty-fourth, Kleber marched to Ancenis, and on the following +day he, Beaupuy, and Westermann arrived at Chateau-Gontier. Canuel's +division from Saint Florent had not yet come up. The troops were +already tired, but Westermann who, as Kleber in his report said, was +always anxious to gain glory and bring himself into prominence, +insisted on pushing forward at once; and prevailed over the more +prudent counsel of the others, as he was the senior officer. + +When they approached Laval, Westermann sent a troop of cavalry +forward to reconnoitre. He was not long before he came upon some +Vendean outposts. These he charged, and drove in towards the town. + +No sooner did they arrive there than the bells of the churches +pealed out. It was now midnight but, before the army could form +into order, the Vendeans poured out upon them, guided by the shouts +of the Republican officers, who were endeavouring to get their +troops into order. The combat was desperate and sanguinary. The +peasants, fighting with the fury of despair, threw themselves +recklessly upon the Republican troops; whose cannon were not yet in +a position to come into action, and whose infantry, in the +darkness, fired at random. Fighting in the dark, discipline availed +but little. Kleber's veterans, however, preserved their coolness, +and for a time the issue was doubtful. + +Had Westermann's cavalry done their duty, victory might still have +inclined towards them; but instead of charging when ordered, they +turned tail and, riding through a portion of their infantry, spread +disorder among them. Westermann, seeing that it was hopeless to +endeavour to retrieve the confusion, ordered a retreat; and the +army fell back to Chateau-Gontier, where they arrived in the course +of the day. Here they found the commander-in-chief who, +disregarding the exhausting march the troops had already +accomplished, and their loss of spirit after their defeat, ordered +them to return to Vihiers, halfway to Laval. + +It was nightfall when they reached this place, but Westermann +pushed the advanced guard some two leagues farther. Kleber, seeing +the extreme danger of the position, refused to advance beyond +Vihiers; and sent orders to Danican, who commanded the advanced +guard, to fall back to a strong position in advance of Vihiers. + +Danican had taken command only on the previous day, and the +soldiers, believing that this order was but an act of arbitrary +authority on his part, refused to move; and the bridge over the +river Ouette, in front of Vihiers, remained unguarded save by a +squadron of cavalry. Kleber had just returned from visiting the +post, when he received a despatch from l'Echelle, bidding him give +the order they had decided upon between them to the other two +divisions. As no such arrangement had been made, Kleber was in +ignorance of what was meant; but he sent a messenger to Beaupuy, +who was at Chateau-Gontier, and to Bloss, who commanded a column of +grenadiers, to join him as soon as possible. + +Bloss arrived early the next morning at the camp. Beaupuy moved +forward but, as his whole force had not yet come up, he did not +arrive at the camp at the same time. + +At eleven that night l'Echelle and the four generals now in the +camp held a council. Westermann was extremely discontented, at +finding that the heights were not occupied; but as Kleber remarked, +the troops were utterly dissatisfied at the way in which they had +been handled, and at the unnecessary and enormous fatigues that had +been imposed upon them, and it was impossible to demand further +exertions. Savary, one of the generals at the council, was well +acquainted with Laval, and gave the advice that a portion of the +army should follow the river for some distance, and then take +possession of the hills commanding the town. + +When Beaupuy arrived, his division moved forward at once, as an +advanced guard; but as the army was moving a messenger arrived from +l'Echelle, issuing orders in absolute contradiction of the plan +that he had agreed to, when the council of war broke up. The orders +were obeyed, but the generals again met, and sent off a messenger +to l'Echelle to remonstrate against the attack in one mass, and a +march by a single road, on a position that could be attacked by +several routes; and to recommend that at least a diversion should +be made, by a false attack. Westermann himself carried this +remonstrance, but the commander-in-chief paid no attention to him. + +Advancing, it was found that the Vendeans had taken up a position +on the neglected heights. The cannon opened on both sides, and +Beaupuy was soon hotly engaged. Kleber advanced his division to +sustain him. L'Echelle, coming up, arrested the further advance of +the division of Chalbos. Savary rode back in haste, to implore +l'Echelle to order Chalbos to move to the right and attack the left +flank of the enemy; but by this time the unfortunate wretch had +completely lost his head and, instead of giving Chalbos orders to +advance, ordered him to retreat, and himself fled in all haste. + +Two columns, that were posted a few miles in the rear, received no +orders whatever, and remained all day waiting for them. Kleber, +seeing the division of Chalbos retiring in great disorder, felt +that success was now impossible; and placed two battalions not yet +engaged at the bridge, to cover the retreat. But the panic was +spreading, his orders were disobeyed, and the veterans of Mayence, +as well as the divisions of Beaupuy, broke their ranks and fled. + +In vain the officers endeavoured to stay the flight. The panic was +complete. Their guns were left behind, and the Vendeans, pressing +hotly on their rear, overtook and killed great numbers. Bloss with +his grenadiers, advancing from Chateau-Gontier, tried in vain to +arrest the flight of the fugitives; and he himself and his command +were swept away by the mob, and carried beyond the town. + +A few hundreds of the soldiers alone were rallied, and prepared to +defend the bridge of Chateau-Gontier; but la Rochejaquelein had +sent a portion of his force to make a circuit and seize the town, +so that the defenders of the bridge were exposed to a heavy fire +from houses in their rear. + +Kleber, with a handful of men, held the bridge; and was joined by +Bloss, who had been already wounded while passing through the town. +He advanced to cross; Kleber and Savary in vain tried to stop him. + +"No," he said, "I will not survive the shame of such a day," and, +rushing forward with a small party, fell under the fire of the +advancing Vendeans. + +The pursuit was hotly maintained. Keeping on heights which +commanded the road, the Vendeans maintained an incessant fire of +cannon and musketry. It was already night, and this alone saved the +Republican army from total destruction. Beaupuy received a terrible +wound in the battle, and a great number of officers were killed, in +endeavouring to stop the panic. + +At last the pursuit ceased and, for a few hours, the weary +fugitives slept. Then they continued their retreat, and took up a +strong position near the town of Angers, which was crowded with +fugitives. + +L'Echelle came out to review the troops who, by the orders of their +generals, had already formed in order of battle; but was received +with such yells of hatred and contempt that he was forced to +retire. The representatives of the convention offered Kleber the +command of the army, but he refused, saying that Chalbos was of +superior rank, and that it was he who should take the command. They +agreed to this, and sent to l'Echelle, telling him to demand leave +of absence, on account of his health. + +A council of war was then held. The representatives of the +Convention were favourable to a fresh advance of the army, but +Kleber protested that, at present, there was no army. He said that +the soldiers were utterly discouraged, that some battalions had but +twenty or thirty men with the colours, that all were wet to the +skin, utterly exhausted, many without shoes, and all dispirited. +Therefore he insisted that it was absolutely necessary that the +army should be completely reorganized, before undertaking a fresh +forward movement. + +Their loss had indeed been extremely heavy, Kleber's division alone +having lost over a thousand men. Beaupuy had suffered even more +heavily; while the divisions of Chalbos, and the grenadiers of +Bloss had also lost large numbers. The total loss, including +deserters, amounted to over four thousand. + +The whole of the cannon of the two first divisions had fallen into +the hands of the enemy, the artillerymen having cut the traces. A +large number of ammunition waggons, and a quantity of carts laden +with provisions, had also been captured. + + + +Chapter 14: Le Mans. + + +The victory won by the Vendeans was one of the most important of +the war. Never had they fought with greater bravery. Never did they +carry out more accurately and promptly the orders of their +generals. Napoleon afterwards pronounced that the tactics pursued +by la Rochejaquelein showed that he possessed the highest military +genius. + +It was night, alone, that saved the routed army of the Republic +from absolute destruction. It is probable that, at the time, the +Vendean general had no idea of the completeness of the victory that +he had won, or of the disorganization of the enemy. Had he known +it, he would doubtless have attacked them again on the following +day; when he would have experienced no resistance, could have +captured Angers without firing a shot, and could, had he chosen, +have recrossed the Loire. The Vendeans, however, well content with +their success, returned to Laval, and there enjoyed a week's quiet +and repose. + +The crushing defeat that the Republicans had experienced caused an +immense sensation at Paris, and in the towns through which the +Vendeans would pass on their way to the capital, which was at the +time actually open to them. + +Patsey was delighted, when Jean and Leigh returned unwounded. + +"You both seem to bear a charmed life," she said. "Leigh has indeed +once been hit, but it was not serious; you have escaped altogether. +What is going to be done next?" + +"We are going to rest here for ten days or so. There is plenty of +food to be had, and the rest will do wonders for the men. Of +course, we rode back with la Rochejaquelein. His opinion was, as it +always has been, that a march on Paris will alone bring this +terrible business to a close; but he knows that even his authority +will not suffice to carry out such a plan. As long as they are in +Brittany they are among friends, and are still near their homes; +but to turn their backs on these, and march on Paris, would appear +so terrible an undertaking that, reckless as they are of their +lives in battle, nothing would induce them to attempt it." + +After ten days' delay, the Vendeans commenced their march towards +the coast. The battle at Vihiers was fought on the twenty-seventh. +By the sixth of November they had captured the towns of Ernee and +de Fougeres, defeating at the latter place three battalions. Dol +was next captured. Mayenne opened its gates without resistance. + +The greatest efforts were made, by the Republicans, to place the +seaports in a state of defence. Cherbourg would have been the best +point for the fugitives to attack, as here they would have found an +abundance of powder, of which they were in great need, and cannon; +and here they might have defended themselves until the promised +help arrived from England. Granville, however, had been fixed upon +by the British government; and the march thither was shorter, +therefore it was against Granville that the attack was directed. + +A considerable portion of the force, with the artillery, were left +at Avranches. Although assured that the march to the sea was made +in order to obtain succour there from England, there was much fear +among the peasants that the intention of the chiefs was to embark, +and to leave the army to its fate. Consequently they advanced +against Granville with less energy and enthusiasm than usual. + +However, half a league out of the town they came upon a portion of +the garrison, and repulsed them so successfully that they entered +one of the suburbs with them. The garrison had, for the most part, +shut themselves up in a fort which commanded the town; having +erected a strong palisade across the streets leading to it. Four +hundred men occupied this post. + +The Vendeans had no axes to cut down the palisades, nor powder to +blow then in. They were therefore obliged to content themselves +with a musketry fire against it. As the garrison were well supplied +with ammunition, and kept up a constant fire, they suffered +heavily. + +When night came, the Vendeans scattered among the houses to find +food, fire, and shelter; and all night the batteries on the heights +played upon them. + +In the morning the Republicans redoubled their fire. It became +evident that the town itself could not be taken, and the mass of +the Vendeans, without orders from their chiefs, began to retire, +and in a short time the whole were in rapid retreat to Avranches. + +There the cry was raised, "Back to La Vendee!" + +La Rochejaquelein, after halting his force on the main road a few +hours, called upon the men to follow him to Caen; but only one +thousand did so. On arriving at a village he learned that the bulk +of the army, instead of being behind him, had marched towards +Pontorson. He was therefore forced to retrace his steps and to +follow them and, on overtaking them, found that they had already +carried the bridge, driven away the enemy, and occupied the town. + +The enemy were closing round them, but the capture of Pontorson +deranged the plans of the Republicans. The place had been held by +four thousand men and ten pieces of cannon and, as it could be +approached only by a narrow defile, it was believed that it would +be impossible for the Vendeans to force their way into it. However, +after three hours' fighting, their desperate valour won the day, +and the Republicans were routed, with the loss of most of their +cannon. + +The affair, indeed, appeared to the peasants to be a miracle +granted in their favour; and with renewed heart they marched the +next night to Dol. Kleber was with a large force in this +neighbourhood, but the impetuosity of Westermann again upset his +plans. As soon as the latter heard that Pontorson had been carried +by the Vendeans, and that they had marched to Dol, he pursued them +with three thousand infantry, two hundred cavalry, and four cannon. +He arrived within a short distance of Dol at six in the evening +and, without waiting for the infantry to come up, charged into the +town, and for a moment spread confusion among the Vendeans. + +[Illustration: Westermann's cavalry charged into the streets of Dol.] + +They, however, soon recovered from their surprise, and drove the +enemy out with loss. Westermann's infantry took no part in the +action. Kleber was occupied in closing every route by which the +Vendeans could leave Dol; but Westermann, who had held no +communication with him, and knew nothing of his plans, marched with +Marigny's division, with six thousand men, to attack the town. + +This he did at two o'clock in the morning. The Vendeans at once +rushed to meet them, and first tried to turn the right; but they +failed here, and also in an attack on the left. They fought, +however, so fiercely that Westermann withdrew his troops to the +position that they had occupied before attacking. The Vendeans, +however, gave them no time to form in order of battle but, +heralding their charge with a heavy musketry fire, rushed down upon +them. The enemy at once broke and, leaving their cannon behind +them, continued their flight till they reached Pontorson. + +In the meantime Marceau was advancing with his division by another +road; and the Vendeans, hearing this, ceased their pursuit of +Westermann's routed division and moved against him and, at four +o'clock in the morning, attacked him when within a league of Dol. A +combat ensued that lasted for three hours. The Vendeans then drew +off, on learning that the division of Muller was on the point of +joining that of Marceau. + +Together these divisions could have forced their way into Dol, but +Muller was hopelessly drunk and, being the senior officer, the +greatest confusion arose and, had the Vendeans known what was +taking place, they could have gained a decisive victory. + +Marceau, seeing that he could do nothing to restore order, rode at +full speed to Kleber's headquarters; and at daybreak the two +generals arrived at the spot, and found the two divisions mingled +in supreme disorder, the brigades and battalions being mixed up +together. Finding that nothing could be done with them, there, +Kleber drew them off; their confusion being almost converted into a +rout, by the fire of about a hundred Vendeans. A council of war was +held, and eighteen hundred men, with two guns, were sent to +Pontorson to join Westermann's defeated division. + +That general was ordered to advance again, at once, upon Dol. +Kleber opposed this, and the rest of the council coming at last to +his opinion, orders were sent to Westermann to remain on the +defensive, and await fresh orders. Westermann, however, as usual, +disregarded these and, marching through the night, approached the +town and arrived, early in the morning, at a village close to it. + +The sounding of the church bells told that the Vendeans had +discovered the enemy, and in a few minutes these were seen rushing, +as usual, to the attack. In spite of the reinforcements that had +reached them, Westermann's troops fought worse than they had done +two nights before. The reinforcements were the first to give way. +The advanced guard speedily turned and fled. Westermann and +Marigny, with a small party of cavalry, fought desperately to cover +the retreat. Marigny however fell, and the whole force became a +mass of fugitives. + +Kleber, on his way the next day to reconnoitre the town, met the +Vendeans advancing. Scattering rapidly, these occupied the ridges, +and attacked the brigade that formed his advanced guard so fiercely +that it broke and fled. Kleber sent to fetch some battalions of the +troops of Mayence and, as soon as they arrived, with some +battalions of grenadiers, formed them in order of battle. Other +troops came up, and they prepared for a serious engagement. + +At this moment the Vendean column that had defeated Westermann +showed itself, on the right flank of the Republicans, and +threatened their rear. Kleber ordered some of the battalions to +take post further back, to cover the line of retreat. Other +battalions, seeing the movement, and believing this to be a signal +for retreat, followed. + +The grenadiers alone stood firm, and defended themselves for three +hours. In the meantime the greater portion of the Republican army +was already in full flight, and a retreat was ordered. The troops +remaining on the field retired at first in good order but, as the +victorious Vendeans pressed on, this speedily became a rout. + +Marceau, gathering together such soldiers as still retained their +presence of mind, endeavoured to defend the bridge of Antrain; but +the Vendeans, pressing forward, swept them away; and the fugitives +fled, in a confused mob, as far as Rennes. + +The Vendeans, on entering Antrain, at once scattered in search of +food; disregarding the orders and entreaties of la Rochejaquelein +and Stofflet, who urged them to press hotly upon the routed enemy, +and so to complete the victory they had won. At Antrain they +learned that the wounded, who had been left in hospital at +Fougeres, had been murdered in their beds by the Blues; and they +accordingly shot all the prisoners they had taken in the battle. + +The victory seemed to open the way to the Loire, and the Vendeans +steadily marched south through Mayenne and Laval, and arrived in +front of Angers. But the city was no longer in the defenceless +state in which it was when they first crossed the Loire. As soon as +it was perceived to be the point for which the Vendeans were +marching, four thousand troops were thrown into it, and all +preparations made for a stout defence. + +"If they defend themselves as they ought to do," la Rochejaquelein +said to two or three of his officers, among whom was Jean Martin, +"there is no hope of taking the town. We have neither cannon to +blow down the walls, nor means of scaling them. Thirty-six hours is +the utmost we can hope for our operations. Kleber and the rest of +them will be up by that time. However--it is our sole hope--possibly +a panic may seize them when we attack; but even cowards will fight +behind walls and, after our failure at Granville, I have little hope +of our taking Angers, especially as they must know how soon their +army will be up." + +The affair was a repetition of that at Granville. The Vendeans at +once obtained possession of one of the suburbs. Twenty pieces of +cannon opened fire upon it from the walls, while from the houses +the Vendeans replied with a musketry fire. During the night a +number of men laboured to undermine the wall by one of the gates, +and partially succeeded. But day broke before the work was +completed, and the defenders planted several cannon to bear upon +them. + +The Vendeans were too much discouraged to make any further effort; +and when, a few hours later, news came that the Republican army was +fast approaching, and would reach the ground in an hour's time, +they again got into motion, and pursued their hopeless journey in +search of some point where they could cross the river, if only to +die in their beloved land. + +On the following day Kleber was reinforced by a column, eight +thousand strong, from Cherbourg; and a reconnaissance was made +along the road by which the Vendeans had retreated. They found +everywhere the bodies of men, women, and children who had succumbed +to cold, fatigue, and misery. Westermann's cavalry set out in +pursuit, Muller following with his division to support him. + +Marceau was now appointed commander-in-chief, pending the arrival +of Turreau and Rossignol. The latter had, almost from the +commencement of the war, intrigued against every general concerned +in the operations, especially against Kleber. He was himself +utterly without military talent, and owed his position simply to +his devotion to the Convention, and his readiness to denounce the +men who failed to satisfy its anticipations of an easy victory, or +who showed the slightest repugnance to execute its barbarous +decrees. + +With the exception of some three thousand men, who marched at the +head of the Vendean column, the fugitives were now utterly +disheartened. Many hid their muskets and, cutting sticks, thought +that, being no longer armed, they would not be molested by the +enemy. Each night numbers stole away, in groups of twos and threes, +in the hope of finding a boat on the bank of the river. Others +scattered among the villages, their appearance exciting compassion; +but fear of the troops was more powerful, and the men for the most +part were seized and held prisoners. + +Of the hundred thousand men, women, and children who had crossed +the Loire, more than half were dead. Of those who remained, fully +fifteen thousand were women and children. + +On the march, Leigh always rode by the side of his sister, +generally carrying the child before him. Jean, as one of the +leading officers, now rode with Rochejaquelein at the head of the +column. Patsey suffered less, on her own account, than on that of +the poor people who had to journey on foot. The cold was intense +and, except when they entered a town, it was impossible to obtain +provisions. The horses were worn out and half famished, a great +proportion of the fugitives were without shoes, and the clothing of +all was in rags. + +In order to spare her the sight of the misery prevailing among +those who marched in the rear of the column, Leigh always rode with +his sister in the rear of the leading division. He himself, for the +most part, walked on foot; lending his horse to some wounded man, +or exhausted woman. + +When the column left Angers it had been intended to march to Saumur +and cross there, but the news arrived that a strong Republican +force had gathered there; and it was determined to change the +course, and to march through La Fleche to Le Mans. By this sudden +and unexpected movement, Rochejaquelein hoped to gain time to give +his followers two days' rest. + +The immediate result, however, was to excite a feeling of despair +among a great portion of them. Their backs were now turned to La +Vendee, and it seemed to them that their last hope of reaching +their homes had vanished. Rochejaquelein's idea, however, was that +in their present state of exhaustion it was impossible to hope to +cross the Loire--guarded as it was at every point, and with over +one hundred thousand men between him and La Vendee--and he +intended, after giving them the much needed rest, to march round +through Chateaudun, to come down on the Loire above Orleans, and so +to make his way back into Poitou. + +Had he had with him only men, the project, difficult as it seemed, +might possibly have been accomplished. Unembarrassed by baggage +trains or cannon, the peasants could have out marched their +pursuers; but hampered by the crowd of wounded, sick, women, and +children, the movement must be regarded as the inspiration of +despair. + +Indeed, even the fighting men were no longer in a state to bear the +fatigue. Bad and insufficient food had played havoc with them. +Dysentery was raging in their ranks, and many could scarce drag +themselves along. + +"We cannot conceal from ourselves that it is nearly over," Jean +said, when he told his wife and Leigh that the route was changed. +"We shall get to Le Mans, but the Republicans will be on our heels, +and one cannot doubt what the issue will be. Doubtless a small body +will hang together, and still try to regain La Vendee; but we shall +have done our duty. After our next defeat I will leave the army. + +"I shall not go without telling la Rochejaquelein of my intentions. +He has more than once spoken to me of you both, and it was but two +days ago that he said to me: + +"'Martin, you are not like the rest of us. You have an English +wife, and your brave young brother-in-law is English, also. You +have to think of them, as well as of La Vendee. You can make your +home in England, and live there until better times come. + +"'It is no longer a question of defending our country. It is lost. +Charette is there now, and still fighting; but as soon as we are +disposed of, all these troops that have been hunting us down will +be free to act against him, and he too must be crushed. The +peasants have nowhere else to go; and it is not with a desire to +defend their homes--which no longer exist--but to die in their +native land that they seek to return. You have from the first done +your utmost for La Vendee, but there can be no occasion that you +should throw away your life, and those of your wife and brother, +now that the cause is utterly lost, and all hope is at an end. + +"'Think this over. I do not say that it is possible for you to +escape; but the longer you stay with us, the more difficult will it +become.' + +"So you see, I am sure that when I tell him that, feeling that we +can no longer be of use, I am determined to make at least an +endeavour to reach England with you, he will approve." + +"I think he is right, Jean. No one can say that you have not done +your duty to your country to the utmost, or can blame you for now +doing what you can for your family." + +Just as they neared La Fleche, a squadron of the enemy's cavalry +fell upon the rear of the column. They killed many of the +fugitives, but were too small in number to threaten the safety of +the column, which kept on until it reached the bridge across the +Loir. This had been broken down, but fire was opened against the +cannon planted on the other side. The gunboats that were guarding +the river were driven away; and a party, moving up the bank, found +two little boats, and began to cross. + +A detachment of Republicans hurried to attack them; but the Loir, +an affluent of the Loire, was narrow, and the musketry fire of the +main body drove them away, until two or three hundred men had +crossed. La Rochejaquelein went over and took the command, and on +their advance the Republicans took to their heels. Rochejaquelein +then recrossed, and drove off the cavalry that were harrassing the +rear. + +Working desperately, a strong party threw beams across the broken +bridge, and the Vendeans occupied the town at daybreak. The weary +fugitives slept till midday, when the enemy's cavalry reappeared; +but Rochejaquelein with some mounted gentlemen attacked and +defeated them, and pursued them for some distance. + +In the evening a force under Chalbos approached the town, but the +Vendeans sallied out and speedily scattered them. They then broke +down the bridge that they had repaired, and started for Le Mans; +which they captured after three-quarters of an hour's fighting. + +Two days later, Kleber was in front of the town. Westermann and +Muller's divisions first approached. The two days' rest had +reanimated the Vendeans, and Muller's infantry were driven back +three miles; but large reinforcements came up, and the peasants +were forced to fall back again. Then Westermann's cavalry charged +into the town, carrying dismay among its defenders; but la +Rochejaquelein and his officers soon reanimated them, and the +cavalry were driven out of the town, itself. They and the infantry +that had come up were able, however, to maintain themselves in the +suburbs. + +By this time la Rochejaquelein was aware that the armies of Brest, +Cherbourg, and the west were all upon him. All through the night +the battle went on, without interruption. The Republican columns +could gain no ground, and were frequently obliged to give way; but +behind the Vendean line of defence, panic was gaining ground among +the fugitives. Three or four thousand escaped by the road to Laval, +but the retreat of the rest was cut off by the cavalry. + +In the morning, Kleber's division came up. They at once relieved +Marceau's division, which had been fighting all night, and renewed +the attack. The resistance was feeble. A few hundred men disputed +every foot of the way, and died with a consciousness that they had +at least covered the retreat of the rest. + +A hot pursuit was at once organised and, while all taken in the +town were massacred at once, Westermann's cavalry pursued the +fugitives in all directions, covering the plain with corpses, and +pressing hard on the rear of the force that still held together. + +Jean Martin had, the day before the Republican attack, gone with +Leigh to la Rochejaquelein's quarters; and told him that he +intended, if the town was captured by the enemy, to endeavour to +save the life of his wife by flight. + +"You are quite right," Rochejaquelein said warmly. "I entirely +approve of your determination. As long as ten of my men hold +together, it is my duty to remain with them; for I have accepted +the position of their commander, and I must share their fate to the +end. But it is different with you. As the cause of La Vendee, for +which you have fought, is lost, your first duty now is to your +wife. I trust that you will all three succeed in making your way to +England, and enjoy there the peace and rest that none can have in +unhappy France. I thank you for your gallant services. + +"And I thank you in the name of La Vendee, Leigh, for the manner in +which you have fought for her; and also for the companionship that +has so often cheered me, during our last days. + +"As for myself, I have no wish to live. I should feel dishonoured +were the army I led to be exterminated, and I, who accepted the +responsibility of leading it, to survive. We have the consolation, +at least, that never in history has a people fought more bravely +against overpowering odds than La Vendee has done; and though at +present we are called brigands, I am sure that the world will +acknowledge that we have fought like heroes, for our country and +our faith. Unfortunate as we may be, I am proud to be one of those +who have led them so often to victory. + +"When will you go, my friend?" + +"I intend to be with you to the last," Jean said. "When the fight +begins, Leigh and my wife will be ready, at a point agreed on in +the rear of the town. When all is lost, I shall join them there. We +shall ride until beyond pursuit, and then put on our disguises." + +"Then I will not say goodbye to you now," Rochejaquelein said. + +"Goodbye, Leigh. May Heaven keep you, and take you safely home +again." + +Leigh was too much affected to speak and, after a silent grasp of +the hand of the gallant young soldier, he returned with Jean to the +quarters they occupied. + +"Now for our plans," Jean said. "They are as vague as ever, but we +must settle now. It is quite evident that the alarm is so widely +spread, here in the west, that it will be well-nigh impossible to +pass through even a village without being questioned. Alencon on +the north has a strong garrison, at Mayenne on the west is a +division, and the whole country beyond will be alive with troops on +the search for fugitives. It is only to the east that the road is +open to us. + +"I should say that the safest way will be to travel so as to cross +the Loir between Chateaudun and Nogent, and then come down on the +road running south from Fontainebleau through Montargis. Travelling +south through Nevers, we should excite no suspicion. If questioned, +we can say that we are going to visit some friends at Macon. The +unfortunate thing is that we have no papers; and I think that our +story had best be that we belong to Le Mans, and fled in such +haste, when the town was captured by the Vendeans, that we escaped +just as we stood, and omitted to bring our papers with us. + +"Fortunately we all speak French without accent, and there is +nothing about us to give rise to suspicion that we belong to La +Vendee. If we can think of a more likely story, as we go along, all +the better. When we get as far as Macon, if we ever get there, we +can decide whether to endeavour to cross the frontier into +Switzerland, or to go down to Toulon. + +"Now remember, Patsey, my last injunctions are that, when you +perceive from the rush of fugitives that all is over, and that any +firing that may still be going on is but an attempt to cover the +retreat, you must not wait for me but, as soon as the sound of +combat approaches, you will ride off with Leigh. You need not +suppose, because I do not join you, that I am killed. The enemy may +have pushed so far through the town that I may find it impossible +to join you. But from whatever cause I tarry, you are not to wait +for me. + +"If I am shot, it will be a consolation to me to know that you will +be away under your brother's protection. If I escape, I shall, if I +make my way to England, have the hope of meeting you there; and +shall not be haunted with the fear that you have delayed too long, +and have sacrificed your lives uselessly. I want you and him to +give me your solemn promise that you will act thus, and will, as +soon as he considers that further delay will be dangerous, ride +off. Remember that this is my last wish, this is my last order." + +"I will do as you wish, Jean," his wife said firmly. "God has +preserved us three thus far, and I trust that He will continue to +do so. I shall have the less hesitation because I think that, +alone, you will have perhaps a better chance of escaping than with +us. At any rate, we will carry out your instructions. But should we +miss each other, is there no place where we can arrange to meet?" + +"I do not see that it is possible to make any arrangements, Patsey. +You may be turned out of your course, by circumstances which it is +impossible to foresee; and the same may be the case with myself. +Suppose we named a seaport, there would in the first place be +difficulty in finding each other. You might see some opportunity of +getting across the water and, if you lost that, the chance might +not occur again; and the delay might cost you your lives. I trust +that we shall not be separated, dear, but I see clearly that if +such a misfortune should happen, it were best that we should each +make our own way, in the hope of meeting at Poole. + +"You may be sure that I shall join you, if possible; for I see +that, if separated, your difficulties will be far greater than +mine. You, too, would have the burden of the child. But let us +suppose that I was wounded, but got away and managed to obtain +shelter in some Breton cottage. You might be waiting for me, for +weeks, at an agreed point. Now, while travelling, you might escape +many questions; but were you to stop even for a few days at any +town or village, you may be sure that you would be questioned so +closely, by the authorities, that there would be little chance of +your getting on. I should know that, and should be fretting my +heart out." + +"Yes, I see 'tis best that we should do as you say, Jean. God +forbid that we should be separated, but if you do not come to the +rendezvous, I promise you that we will, as you wish, go on by +ourselves." + +"And now, dear, we will divide our money. We have still three +hundred louis left. I will take one hundred, and you shall take the +rest. You are much more likely to want money, if we are separated, +than I. + +"You had best sew the greater part up in your saddle, Leigh." + +"I think we had better divide it as much as possible, Jean. We can +put seventy-five louis in each of our saddles, and the weight would +not be so great that anyone who happens to handle one of them would +notice it. I can put another five-and-forty in the belt round my +waist, and keep the odd five in my pocket for expenses. Of course, +if we decide to abandon our horses, I will make some other +arrangement." + +"The best plan, Leigh, will be for us to change the louis for +assignats at the first opportunity. Gold is so scarce that each +time you offered to pay with it, it would excite suspicion. I have +no doubt that I can buy assignats here. We have taken a quantity +from the enemy, and la Rochejaquelein will, I am sure, be glad to +obtain some gold for them. It will be a double advantage: we shall +have less weight to carry, and shall be able to pay our way without +the gold exciting suspicion. The assignats now are only a quarter +of their face value, so that for two hundred louis I should get +eight hundred louis in assignats, of which I would take two +hundred, and you could take the rest." + +"That would certainly be an excellent plan, Jean, for two hundred +louis in gold would be a serious weight to carry and, if found on +us, would in itself be sufficient to condemn us as intending +emigres." + +Jean at once took two hundred louis, which had hitherto been +carried in their wallets, and went out. He returned in an hour. + +"That is satisfactorily settled," he said. "Blacquard, who is in +charge of the treasury, was delighted to obtain some gold, and has +given us five times the amount in assignats. Of this I will take +two hundred and fifty louis' worth. You will have seven hundred and +fifty louis in assignats, and we will divide the hundred louis in +gold. Of the latter, you had best sew up twenty in each of your +saddles, and you can carry ten about you. People are so anxious for +gold that, in case of need, you can get services rendered for it +that you would fail to obtain for any amount of paper." + +The greater portion of the assignats and the gold, as agreed, was +sewn up in the saddles; some provisions packed in the valises; and +Jean and Leigh went out together, and fixed upon a spot where they +were to wait. The preparations were all finished, when firing broke +out. Jean kissed his wife. + +"May God's blessing keep you," he said. "I trust that we shall meet +again, when the fighting is over." + +Then he kissed his child, wrung Leigh by the hand, and rode off to +join the general. The women, children, and the men who had thrown +away their arms, the sick and wounded, were already leaving the +town. + +"Marthe, you must go now," Patsey said to the faithful nurse. + +They had bought a horse for her from a peasant who had captured it, +a riderless animal that belonged to one of Westermann troopers. + +"Here are fifty louis in assignats. I wish that you could have gone +with us, but that is not possible. Francois is waiting outside, and +will take care of you, as we have agreed. The best possible plan +will be to separate yourselves from the others as soon as possible. +The Blues are sure to be keeping close to them. Ride straight for +the river by by-lanes and, if you cannot obtain a boat, swim your +horse across, and then make for home. If we get safely to England, +we will write to you, as soon as these troubles are over, and you +can join us there." + +"God bless you, madame. It breaks my heart to part with you and the +child, but I see that it is for the best." + +Leigh fetched the horse round, and assisted her to mount behind +Francois. The two women, both weeping, were still exchanging adieus +when Leigh said to Francois: + +"Ride on; the sooner this is over, the better for both." + +The man nodded. + +"God bless you, young master! I will look after Marthe. As soon as +we get away from the rest, I shall get off and run by her side. The +horse would never carry two of us far." + +So saying, he touched the horse with his heel, and they rode off. + + + +Chapter 15: In Disguise. + + +Leigh returned into the house with his sister. + +"Cheer up, Patsey," he said; "it is very hard parting, but I have +every hope that they will succeed in getting safely home. Francois +is a sharp fellow. They have a good stock of food, and they won't +have to go into any village and, being only two, they will have a +far better chance of crossing the river than if they kept with the +others." + +"How they are fighting!" Patsey said, a few minutes later. + +Indeed the roar of musketry was unceasing, and was mingled with the +louder cracks of the field guns. + +"Our men are holding their own," Leigh replied. "The firing is no +nearer than it was half an hour ago. + +"Now, you had better lie down, Patsey. I will keep a sharp lookout +and, the moment I see any signs of our men retiring, we will mount. +I know there is no chance of your sleeping, but it will rest you to +lie down, and we shall have a long ride before us, tomorrow." + +Patsey nodded, but after he had gone out she did not lie down, but +threw herself on her knees by the couch, and prayed for the safety +of her husband. Hour after hour passed. From time to time Leigh +returned and, towards morning, told Patsey that it was time that +they should mount. + +"Our men have not begun to give way yet," he said, "but they say +that Kleber's division has just arrived. There is a lull in the +fighting at present, but no doubt they will relieve the division +that has been fighting all night, and our men cannot hope to hold +out for long. I have just brought the horses round to the door. +Now, I will strap the valises on while you wrap Louis up warmly." + +In five minutes they started for the point agreed on. Before they +reached it, the firing broke out again with increased violence. In +an hour numbers of men began to make their way past them. One of +them halted. He was one of Jean's tenants. + +"Ah! madame," he said, as he recognized her--for it was now broad +daylight--"I fear that all is lost. You had best ride at once. The +Blues will not come just yet, for la Rochejaquelein, with four or +five hundred of his best followers, will hold the place till the +last, so as to give us time to get away." + +"Did you see my husband, Leroux?" + +"He was with the general, madame. They and the horsemen charged +again and again, whenever the Blues pushed forward." + +"Thank God he is safe so far!" Patsey said. "Goodbye, Leroux; we +may not meet again." + +"We shall meet in heaven, madame," the man said reverently. "They +may take away our country, they may kill our cures, they may +destroy our churches, but they cannot take away our God. May He +protect you, madame!" and, pressing the hand she held out to him, +he hurried on. + +Faster and faster the fugitives passed them, but for an hour the +combat continued unabated; then the exulting shouts of the Blues +showed that they were making way. The gallant band of Vendeans were +not, indeed, retiring; but they were being annihilated. Patsey had +said but little during the anxious time of waiting. From time to +time she murmured: + +"Will he never come? Oh, God, send him to us!" + +Presently a mounted officer rode past. + +"Ride on! ride on!" he shouted. "The Blues will be here in a +minute!" + +"We must go, Patsey," Leigh said as, without drawing rein, the +officer rode on. + +"No, no; wait a few minutes, Leigh. He will surely come soon." + +Presently, however, a number of peasants, their faces blackened +with powder, ran past. + +"The Blues are on our heels!" they shouted. "They will be here in a +minute; they are but a hundred yards away." + +"Come, Patsey," Leigh said. "Remember your promise. We must go; it +is madness waiting any longer." + +And as he spoke one of the peasants, running past, fell dead, shot +by a musket ball from the rear. Leigh seized Patsey's bridle and, +setting his own horse in motion, they rode on. They were but just +in time for, before they had ridden two hundred yards Leigh, +looking round, saw the Republicans issuing from the town. + +"Pull yourself together, Patsey!" Leigh exclaimed. "We may have +their cavalry after us, in a minute or two. Remember, Jean trusts +you to carry out his instructions." + +Patsey drew herself up, struck the horse with her whip, and +galloped on at full speed. They soon left the road followed by the +rest of the fugitives, and turned down one leading east. The din of +battle had ceased now, but a scattered fire of musketry showed that +the enemy were engaged in their usual work of shooting all who fell +into their hands. + +After riding for an hour at full speed they drew rein at a wood +and, entering it, dismounted and put on their disguises. They had +no fear now of pursuit. The enemy's cavalry must have made a very +long march to reach the town, and their horses must be worn out by +their previous exertions; while their own had had forty-eight +hours' rest, during which time they had been well fed and cared +for. Moreover, any pursuit that was made would be in the direction +taken by the bulk of the fugitives. + +Mounting again, they rode on. It was but a narrow country road that +they were traversing and, during the day, they only passed through +two or three small hamlets. + +"Are the brigands coming this way?" they were asked. + +"No," Leigh replied. "They are fighting at Le Mans. If they are +beaten they won't come this way, but will make south. We thought it +best to leave the town. When fighting is going on in the streets it +is time for quiet people to be off." + +They rode forty miles before night, and then entered a wood; having +agreed that, until they got farther away from the scene of action, +and struck the road running south, it would be better not to enter +any place where they would be questioned. Choosing an open space +among the trees, Leigh took off the bridles to let the horses pluck +what grass they could, after giving to each a hunch of bread from +their store. Then he returned, with the blankets that had been +rolled up and fastened behind the saddles. + +"Now, Patsey, you must eat something and drink some wine. You must +keep up your strength, for the sake of Louis and Jean." + +Patsey had spoken very few words during the day. She shook her +head. + +"I will try for Louis's sake," she said; "as to Jean--" and she +stopped. + +"As to Jean," he said, "we have every reason to hope for the best. +Many things may have happened to prevent his joining us. The Blues +may have pushed in between his party and us, and he may have found +that he could not rejoin us. His horse may have been shot and he +obliged to fly on foot. He has gone through all these battles from +the first, and has never been wounded. Why should we suppose that +he has not done the same now? I feel sure that if he had lost his +horse he would not have tried to join us, for he would have thought +that he would have hampered our escape. + +"Jean is full of resources, and has everything in his favour. He is +not like the others, who have but one aim, to get back to La Vendee +and die there, and whose way is barred by the Loire. He has all +France open to him and, if he gains a port, has but to get some +sailor clothes to pass unnoticed. He is well provided with money, +and has everything in his favour. When he once gets away from Le +Mans, the road would be open, for we may be sure that the enemy +will all gather in the rear of the remains of our army." + +"I see all that," Patsey said; "and if I were but sure that he got +safely away, I should feel comparatively easy. However, Leigh, I +will try and look at the best side of things. If Jean is killed he +has died gloriously, doing his duty till the last. If he is not, he +will some day be restored to me." + +"That is right, dear," he said. "You have always been so hopeful +and cheery, through all this business, that I am sure you will keep +up your courage now. We have every reason to hope and, for my part, +I confidently expect to see Jean, safe and sound, when we arrive +home. Now let us set to; we both want something badly." + +Patsey did her best and, being indeed faint from hunger, having +eaten nothing since the evening before, she felt all the better and +stronger when she had finished her meal; and was able to chatter +cheerfully to little Louis, who had ridden before Leigh all day, +and who was now just beginning to talk. Then they spread a blanket +on the ground and, lying down together for warmth, covered +themselves with the rest of their wraps; and Leigh was glad to +find, by her steady breathing, that the fatigue of the last +twenty-four hours had sufficed to send his sister to sleep, in +spite of her grief at her separation from her husband. + +The next day they crossed the road leading to Tours, between +Chateaudun and Chartres. Once over this there was no longer any +occasion for haste. There was no fear of their connection with the +struggle in the west being suspected, and they had now only to face +the troubles consequent on travelling unprovided with proper +papers. + +Late that evening they entered the town of Artenay, on the main +road from Paris to Orleans, coming down upon it from the north +side. Here they entered a quiet inn. The landlord was a jovial, +pleasant-faced man of some sixty years of age; and his wife a kind, +motherly-looking woman. As usual, the travellers signed the names +they had agreed upon in the book kept for the purpose, Patsey +retaining her own name, and he signing as Lucien Porson. + +The landlady, seeing that Patsey was completely worn out, at once +took her off to her room. + +"Ah! I thought that monsieur was too young to be madame's husband," +the landlord said. + +Leigh laughed. + +"I am her brother," he said. "Her husband is a sailor, and she is +to join him at Toulon." + +"I see the resemblance," the landlord said. "It is a long journey +indeed for her, and with a child under two years old, and in such +weather. + +"But you forget that such a place as Toulon no longer exists. It +has been decreed that the town that received the English and +resisted the Republic is to be altogether destroyed, except of +course the arsenal, and is henceforth to be known as 'the town +without a name.'" + +The tone, rather than the words, convinced Leigh that his host was +not an admirer of the present state of things. Leigh shrugged his +shoulders slightly, and said, with a smile: + +"Perhaps France will change her own name. Surely a Republic cannot +put up with the name that has been associated, for centuries, with +kings." + +The landlord brought his hand down, with a heavy smack, on Leigh's +shoulder. + +"Ah," he said, "I see that you are too young, as I am too old, to +care for the present changes. With anyone in the town I should not +venture to say anything; but I am sure, by your face, that you can +be trusted." + +"And I can say the same to you, landlord." + +"Are your papers, by the by, in good order?" + +"Frankly, we have no papers." + +The landlord gave a low whistle, expressive of surprise and +consternation. + +"And how do you expect to travel, monsieur? How you have got so far +as this, I cannot make out; for at any tavern where you put up you +might, of course, have been asked for them." + +"We have not put up at any towns, as yet; but have slept at little +places, where no questions were asked." + +"But you can't get on like that, monsieur. Even in the small +villages, they are on the watch for suspected persons. You must +have papers of some sort." + +"That is all very well," Leigh said; "the question is, where to get +them?" + +"What story do you mean to tell?" + +"If we had been stopped anywhere on our way here, we should have +said that we belonged to Le Mans; that, like most of the other +inhabitants, we fled before the Vendeans entered, and in such haste +that I forgot all about papers; and indeed could not have got them, +had I thought of it, as all the authorities had fled before we +did." + +"That story, added to your appearance and that of madame as +respectable citizens, might succeed sometimes, with those who are +not anxious to show their zeal; but as most of these functionaries +are so, you would probably, if it was a village, be sent on under a +guard to the next town, and if it were a town would be thrown into +prison. And you know, to get in a prison in our days is--" + +"Equivalent to a sentence of death," Leigh put in as he hesitated. + +"You must get papers somehow--something that would pass at any rate +in the villages, where as often as not there is not a man who can +read. I will see what I can do. A cousin of mine is clerk to the +mayor. He is a good fellow, though he has to pretend to be a +violent supporter of the Convention. + +"I don't know how you are situated, monsieur, but times are hard, +and all salaries terribly in arrears; and when they are paid it is +in assignats, and I need hardly say that when you pay in assignats +you don't buy cheap." + +"We have money," Leigh said, "and I would pay any reasonable sum, +in gold, for proper papers." + +"Sapristi! You might almost tempt the maire himself, by offering +him gold. Only he would suspect that you must have more hidden +away, and that by arresting you, he could make himself master of +the whole, instead of only a part; but since you offer gold, I have +no doubt that my cousin would not mind running some little risk. +How much shall I say, monsieur?" + +"I would, if necessary, give forty louis." + +"That is more than his yearly salary," the innkeeper said; "half of +that would be ample. I will go to him at once. It is important that +you should get papers of some kind, for at any moment anyone might +come in and demand to see them." + +"Here are ten louis. I have more sewn up in my saddle, and can give +him the other ten later on, when I get an opportunity to go to the +stable unnoticed." + +"That will do very well, monsieur. I will be off at once." + +It was an hour before he returned, and Leigh and Patsey had just +finished supper. As there were two or three other persons in the +room he said nothing, but signified by a little nod that he had +succeeded. A quarter of an hour later the other customers, having +finished their meal, went out. + +"Here are your papers," he said, as he handed a document to Leigh. + +It was a printed form, blanks being left for the names, +description, and the object of journey. + +"Arthenay Mairie, + +"To all concerned-- + +"It is hereby testified that citizen Lucien Porson, and his sister +citoyenne Martin, both of good repute and well disposed to the +Republic, natives of this town of Arthenay, are travelling, +accompanied by a child of the latter, to Marseilles, whither they +go on family affairs, and to join citoyenne Martin's husband, a +master mariner of that town." + +The destination had been altered when they heard of the state of +things at Toulon. The document was purposed to be signed by the +maire, under his official seal. + +"There is only one difficulty," the landlord said, as Leigh and +Patsey warmly thanked him; "and that is that, although it will pass +you when you have once left this town, it would be dangerous to use +it here; and you may at any moment be asked for it. But my cousin, +who is a charming fellow, pointed out the difficulty to me, and +said: + +"'The best thing will be for me to take a couple of men, and pay +the official visit to him, myself.' + +"I expect that he will be here in a few minutes." + +"Then, as the stableman has gone out at last--at least I see no +lights there--I will go and get the rest of the money." + +"Yes, I met him a hundred yards off, on my way back. There is no +one about. I will take a lantern and go out with you." + +In ten minutes they returned, Leigh having the ten louis required +in his pocket. A quarter of an hour later the door opened, and a +man wearing the scarf which showed him to be an officer of the +municipality entered, followed by two men with the cockade of the +Republic in their hats. + +"This is citizen Porson and citoyenne Martin, his sister," the +landlord, who accompanied the party, said. + +The functionary walked up to the table and said gruffly, "Your +papers, citizen." + +Leigh handed him the document. He glanced through it. + +"That is right," he said. "Citizen Porson and citoyenne Martin, of +the arrondissement of Paris, travelling to Marseilles, duly signed +by the maire of the arrondissement and duly sealed. That is all in +order. We are obliged to be particular, citizen; there are many ill +disposed to the Republic travelling through the country." + +"Will you sit down, citizen, and take a glass of wine with me? +Landlord, draw two stoups of wine for these two good citizens." + +The two men followed the landlord out to the public room. + +"I should think, Jeannette," Leigh said to his sister, "you had +better to retire to bed. You have had a long day's ride, and must, +I am sure, be tired out." + +As soon as she had left the room, Leigh dropped the ten louis into +the adjoint's hand. + +"I thank you with all my heart," he said. "You have done a good +action, and I can assure you that it can do no harm to the +Republic, against whom I have no intention of conspiring. There is +no fear, I suppose, that the maire's signature may be questioned?" + +"There is no fear whatever of that, because the signature is +precisely similar to that which occurs on all official documents. +The maire is without doubt an excellent Republican, and a devoted +servant of the Convention, but he is altogether ignorant of +letters, and the consequence is that I sign all official documents +for him. So you see there was no trouble whatever in filling in, +signing, and sealing this letter. The only matter that concerned me +was that, if by any chance you should be arrested as a suspect, +possibly a demand might be made as to how you obtained this pass. +However, even that did not trouble me greatly; for as I myself open +and read the maire's letters, I should have no difficulty in +keeping him altogether in the dark as to the purport of any letter +that might come, and should myself pen an answer, with explanations +which would no doubt be found satisfactory." + +"And now can you tell me, sir, which in your opinion would be the +best port for me to make to, to leave the country? It matters +little whether we go by land or sea." + +"It would be more easy for you to make your way to a port than +across the frontier," the adjoint said, "but when you reach a port, +your difficulties would but begin. In the first place, our trade +with foreign countries is almost at a standstill, and every vessel +that goes out is rigidly searched for concealed emigres. + +"On the other hand, once across the frontier your troubles would be +at an end; but every road is closely watched, every village is on +the lookout, for the orders are precise that all persons leaving +France shall be arrested and detained until in a position to prove +their identity, and to place the truth of the reason given for +journeying beyond all doubt. I do not say that it might not be +possible to bribe peasants to take you by unfrequented paths over +the Jura; but the journey would be arduous in the extreme, and +probably impossible to be performed on horseback. + +"But for my part, if I were in your position and desired to leave +the country, I should go north instead of south. I should go in the +first place to Paris, stay there in quiet lodgings for a little +time until you became known, and you might then get your papers +visaed to enable you to continue your journey to Calais or Dunkirk. +Money will go just as far among the incorruptibles of Paris as it +will here. You might obtain a passage down the Seine, to Rouen or +Havre." + +"That would certainly suit us best. I regret, now, that I had the +paper made out for Marseilles." + +"That can easily be remedied, monsieur. If you will walk back with +me to the mairie, I will write a fresh paper out, and destroy the +one I have given you. But what shall I say is your object in +journeying to Paris? You are too young to be going to purchase +goods and, indeed, would hardly be taking a woman and child with +you for such a purpose. + +"Now, monsieur, frankly tell me who you are. I have some relations +in Paris, quiet bourgeois, who keep a small shop near the markets. +If I were to give you a letter to them, saying that you have +business in Paris, and have asked me to recommend someone who would +provide you with quiet lodgings, no doubt they would willingly take +you in. But I would not involve them in danger. You might be +recognised as being members of some family who are proscribed, and +in that case not only would my friends get into trouble but, as +they would, of course, say that you were recommended to them by me, +I might find myself in a very unpleasant position." + +"There is no fear of anything of that sort. I and my sister are +both English. She married the son of a merchant at Nantes, and I +came over with her to learn the business. There have, as you know, +been troubles in that part of France. We endeavoured to escape, but +she was separated from her husband--who has, I greatly fear, been +killed--and we, of course, are both anxious to rejoin our family in +England." + +"How long have you been in France, monsieur? You speak the language +well." + +"We have been over here nearly three years." + +"Well, I do not think that there is any risk; unless, of course, +you are caught in the act of trying to make your escape. But I +think that it would be as well that my friends should be prepared +for your coming. I know a man who is leaving for Paris tomorrow. I +will give him my letter, and ask him to deliver it personally, as +soon as he gets there; then you can follow, twenty-four hours +later. Now that it is known that I have examined your papers, and +found them correct, there will be no further inquiry about you and, +at any rate, you could stay here for a day or two without any +questions being asked." + +"That would be an admirable plan, monsieur; and I cannot tell you +how much I am obliged to you." + +"Say no more about that, monsieur; you have paid me well for it +and, moreover, I am not a bad fellow, though at present I am +obliged to appear to be a strong supporter of the people in Paris. +Now, if you will put on your hat and come along with me, I will +leave you a short distance from the hotel de ville, to which I have +access at all hours. I shall of course simply put, in the passport, +that you are travelling to Paris on private matters, and that you +will stay with your friend, citizen Tourrier, in the rue des +Halles." + +A quarter of an hour later Leigh returned to the auberge, furnished +with the required paper. The adjoint had said, on handing it to +him: + +"I shall not come round tomorrow. We met as strangers yesterday, +and it is as well I should not appear to be intimate with you. But +should you find yourself in any difficulty, send for me at once, +and I will soon set matters right." + +"Is it all satisfactorily arranged, monsieur?" the hotel keeper +asked, when Leigh returned. + +"Perfectly. Your friend has done even more than he promised." + +And he told him of the change that had been made in the plans. + +"That is certainly better. I have been wondering, myself, how you +would ever be able to get away from Marseilles. Now it seems +comparatively easy. I have no doubt that my cousin's friends in +Paris will be able to get you another pass, or to put you in the +way of travelling to one of the ports; though no doubt it will be +almost as difficult to get away, from there, as from Marseilles." + +"I think that could be managed, landlord. I am a pretty good +sailor, and there ought to be no great difficulty in getting hold +of a boat and making out to sea and, when once away, I could steer +for England, or get on board some vessel bound there." + +He tapped at his sister's door. She was still up. + +"You are very late, Leigh." + +"Yes, but you will be able to sleep as long as you like tomorrow, +as we are not going to start till next day, and are then going +north instead of south. Our paper has been changed for Paris, +instead of Marseilles; and we are going to the house of a cousin of +the man who gave me the pass, so we shall be safe so far; and ought +to have no difficulty, whatever, in journeying from there either to +Havre or one of the northern ports. I will tell you all about it, +tomorrow." + +They passed the next day quietly, and both felt better for the +short rest. In addition to the pass, the adjoint had given Leigh a +note to his cousin. It was unsealed, and read: + +"My dear Cousin, + +"The bearer of this is Monsieur Porson, and his sister, Madame +Martin, of whom I wrote to you. You will find them amiable people, +who will give you but little trouble. I have assured them that they +will find themselves very comfortable with you, and that you will +do all in your power for them, for the sake of your affectionate +cousin. + +"Simon Valles, + +"Adjoint to the maire of Arthenay." + +They journeyed by easy stages, stopping at Etampes, Arpajon, and +Longjumeau, and rode on the fourth day into Paris. They had no +difficulty in finding the shop of Monsieur Tourrier. It was a +grocer's and, as soon as they alighted from their horses, its owner +came out and greeted them heartily. + +"Madame and monsieur are both most welcome," he said. "I have +received a letter from my cousin Simon. I am glad, indeed, to +receive his friends. Fortunately our rooms upstairs are unlet. +Strangers are rare in Paris, at present." + +He called a boy from the shop, and told him to show Leigh the way +to some stables near. He then entered the house, accompanied by +Patsey with her child. Here she was received by Madame Tourrier, a +plump-faced businesslike woman, and was not long in finding out +that she was the real head of the establishment. + +"I have got the rooms ready for you," she said. "We were surprised, +indeed, to get a letter from Simon Valles; for he is a poor +correspondent, though he generally comes to stay with us for three +days, once a year. He is a good fellow, but it is a pity that he +did not go into trade. He would have done better for himself than +by becoming adjoint to the maire of Arthenay. It has a high sound, +but in these days, when men are paid their salaries in assignats, +it is but a poor living. However, I suppose that it is an easy +life, for I don't think hard work would suit Simon. The last time +he was up we tried to persuade him that he would do better here, +but he laughed and said that people's heads were safer in Arthenay +than they were in Paris. But that is folly; the Convention does not +trouble itself with small shopkeepers. It knows well enough that we +have work enough to do to earn our living, without troubling +ourselves about politics; yet if the truth were known, a good many +of us are better to do than some of those they call aristocrats. +This is a busy quarter, you see, and we are close to the markets, +and the country people who come in know that we sell good +groceries, and on cheaper terms than they can get them in their +villages. We should do better, still, if my husband would but +bestir himself; but men are poor creatures, and I don't know what +would become of them, if they had not us women to look after their +affairs." + +They now reached the rooms, which were small but comfortable, and +the price which Madame Tourrier named seemed to Patsey to be very +moderate. + +"You see, your room is furnished as a sitting room also, madame, +and you and your brother can talk over your affairs here. As to +your meals, I could provide your cafe au lait in the morning, but I +can't undertake to cook for you. But there are many good places, +where you can obtain your meals at a cheap rate, in the +neighbourhood. How long do you expect to remain in Paris?" + +"That I cannot say, at present. My husband is a sailor, but I have +not heard from him for a long time. At Arthenay there is but small +opportunity of learning what happens outside, and it may be that I +shall have to travel to Havre to obtain news of him; although I am +troubled greatly by the fear that his ship has been lost, or +captured by the English. We have never been in Paris before, and my +brother naturally wishes to stay a short time, to see the sights." + +Madame Tourrier shook her head. + +"There are but few sights to see," she said. "The churches are all +closed, or at least are turned into meeting places and clubs. It is +not as it was before the troubles began; there are few amusements, +and no reviews or pageants. I do not say that it is not better so. +I have no opinion on such subjects. I have never once been to the +hall of representatives. I have no time for such follies and, +except on Sunday afternoons, I never stir out of doors. Still, no +doubt, it will all be new to him, and as you have horses you can +ride over to Versailles, and other places round. There is not much +of that now; people think of nothing but the Convention, talk of +nothing but of the speeches there, and of Robespierre and Saint +Just and Danton. It seems to me that they are always quarrelling, +and that nothing much comes of it. + +"Now if you will excuse me, madame, I will go down to the shop +again. My husband cannot be trusted there a minute and, if my back +is turned, he will be selling the best sugar for the price of the +worst, then we shall lose money; or the worst sugar for the price +of the best, and then we shall lose customers." + +So saying, she hurried away. In a few minutes Leigh came up. + +"I was told where to find you," he said. "Madame is in the thick of +business, and there were half a dozen customers waiting to be +served. Monsieur was standing a few yards away from the front of +the shop. It was he who gave me instructions for finding your room. + +"'It is best,' he said, 'that madame should be asked no questions +while she is busy. I always go out myself, when customers come in. +She is one of the best of wives, and manages affairs excellently, +but her temper is short. She likes to do things her own way and, as +it pleases her, I never interfere with her.'" + +"I think he is wise not to do so," Patsey laughed. "I can see +already that she is mistress of the establishment. But from what I +have seen at Nantes, I think that it is generally the women who +look after the shops and mind the businesses. However, though she +speaks sharply, I should say that she is a kind-hearted woman. +However, we may be very thankful that we have obtained a shelter +where we can live, safely and quietly, until we have fixed on our +plans for the future." + +But although Monsieur Tourrier was, in all matters connected with +the business, but as a child in the hands of his wife, he was far +better acquainted with what was passing around them; and when Leigh +mentioned to him that he intended to ride out to Versailles, he at +once warned him against doing so. + +"My dear monsieur," he said, "I know nothing of the state of things +at Arthenay, and for aught I know people may go out riding for +pleasure there; but it would be little short of madness to attempt +such a thing here. At present things have got to such a state that +for any man to seem richer than another is, in itself, a crime. +Here all must be on an equality. Were you to ride out, every man +you pass would look askance at you. At the first village through +which you rode you would be arrested, and to be arrested at present +is to be condemned. There are no questions asked, the prisoners are +brought in in bunches, and are condemned wholesale. I say nothing +against the condemnation of the aristocrats; but when perhaps two +or three aristocrats are brought up with half a dozen journalists, +and a dozen others who may have been arrested merely out of spite, +and are all condemned in five minutes, it is clear that the only +way to live is to avoid being arrested, and the only way to avoid +being arrested is to avoid attracting attention. + +"If you were really going on a matter of business, it would be +different, but to ride to Versailles merely to see the place would +be regarded as ample proof that you were an aristocrat; and no one +would regard your papers as anything but a proof that these had +been obtained by fraud, and that you were either an aristocrat, or +a spy of Pitt's, or a Girondist, and certainly an enemy of the +Convention. Therefore, monsieur, if you wish to go anywhere, walk, +or go out in a market cart, for to ride might be fatal." + +"I will take your advice," Leigh said. "I did not think that things +were so bad as that." + +"They could not be worse, monsieur; it would be impossible. But we +who are quiet men think that it cannot go on much longer; even the +sans-culottes are getting tired of bloodshed. There is no longer a +great crowd to see the executions, and the tumbrils pass along +without insults and imprecations being hurled against the +prisoners. + +"The men of the Convention, having killed all the Girondists, are +now quarrelling among themselves. Robespierre is still all +powerful, but the party opposed to him are gaining in strength, and +there is a feeling that, ere long, there will be a terrible +struggle between them and, if Robespierre is beaten, there are many +of us who think that the reign of terror will come to an end. We +who are too insignificant to be watched talk these things over +together, when we gather at our cafe, and there is no one but +ourselves present; and even then we talk only in whispers, but we +all live in hopes of a change, and any change must surely be for +the better." + + + +Chapter 16: A Friend At Last: + + +Day after day, Leigh went out into the town. More than once he saw +the fatal tumbrils going along in the distance, but he always +turned and walked in the opposite direction. Once or twice, having +changed his clothes for those of a workman, he fought his way into +the public galleries of the Convention and listened to the +speeches; in which it seemed to him that the principal object of +each speaker was to exceed those who had gone before him in +violence, and that the most violent was the most loudly applauded, +both by the galleries and the Assembly. + +Patsey was most anxious to be off, but he urged that it would not +do to show haste. She did not leave the house at all, while he was +out almost all day. At the end of the fortnight, he told Monsieur +Tourrier that he had now finished his business, and asked him if he +could obtain from the maire of the arrondissement a pass down to +Havre. + +"It is a pity that you did not get your pass direct from Arthenay," +he said. "You say that your sister wants to make inquiries about a +husband there, and that you are taking her down, and you also say +that you are a sailor." + +"Yes." + +"Then, I should think that the best thing for you would be to dress +yourself as a sailor again. It will seem more natural than for you +to be in that civilian dress. I can go with you, and say that you +were strongly recommended to me by the maire's adjoint at Arthenay, +and that your papers are all en regle. If he asks why you did not +have your papers made out in the first place to Havre, say that you +had hoped to have been joined by your brother-in-law here; but as +he has not arrived your sister is anxious about him, and wishes +therefore to go on to Havre, which indeed he has requested her to +do, as it was uncertain whether he would be able to leave his ship. + +"I know, of course, that it is all right, or my cousin would not +have recommended you so strongly to me; but in these days everyone +is suspicious, and one cannot be too cautious. I will get one of +the market authorities to go up with me. I am well known to them +all, and 'tis likely that none of the people at the mairie will +know me, seeing that I am a quiet man, and keep myself to myself." + +Leigh had no trouble in buying a sailor's dress, at a shop down by +the wharves and, having put this on, went up with Monsieur Tourrier +and one of the market officers to the mairie. As the former had +anticipated, there was no difficulty. Leigh's pass was examined. +The market official testified to the grocer as being a well-known +citizen, doing business with the market people, and taking no part +in public affairs; while Monsieur Tourrier showed the letter that +he had received from his cousin, the adjoint at Arthenay. + +"What is the name of the ship which your sister's husband +commands?" the maire asked. + +"The Henriette, a lugger. Formerly she traded with England but, +since the war broke out, she trades between the ports on our +western coast." + +"And you have been a sailor on board her?" + +"Yes, citizen." + +The maire nodded, and made out the pass for Jeannette Martin, +travelling to join her husband, the captain of the lugger +Henriette; for her brother, Lucien Porson; and for Louis Martin, +aged two years, son of the above-named citoyenne Martin. + +As they agreed that it would now be best to travel by water, Leigh +next went to the stables and, as the horses were both good ones, +obtained a fair price for them. The next morning they went on board +a sailing craft going down the river and, after a cordial adieu +from their host and hostess, and a promise to take up their abode +there, on their return through Paris, they went on board. Leigh had +sold the saddles with the horses; having, on the journey to Paris, +removed the bundles of assignats concealed in them. + +The accommodation on board was very fair. Patsey occupied a roomy +cabin aft, the rest slept in a large cabin forward; for before the +troubles began, the majority of people travelling from Paris down +to Rouen or Havre went by water, and although the boats were mainly +constructed for the carriage of merchandise, the conveyance of +passengers formed an important part of the profits. At present, +however, there was but little travelling, and Patsey had the +women's cabin to herself; while one other male messenger, with the +master and two hands, had the forward compartments to themselves. + +The master explained that, at ordinary times, his two men occupied +a tiny place boarded off from the hold, or in summer slept on deck; +but that, as there were so few passengers, they lived with the rest +"for," as he growled under his breath, "the present." + +The voyage was slow but not unpleasant. There was scarce wind +enough to fill the two sails carried by the boat, but the captain +and his two hands frequently got out sweeps, to keep the boat in +the middle of the current. They stopped for a day at Rouen, while +the cargo destined for that town was landed. Patsey and Leigh were +glad to spend the day in the town, visiting the cathedral, taking +their meals at a restaurant, for the cuisine on board the boat was +not of the highest character. + +"We used to keep a regular cook," the captain lamented. "In those +days we often carried several passengers; but at present, when we +seldom have more than one or two, we cannot afford it. The +Revolution is no doubt a grand thing, and has greatly benefited the +nation, but it has weighed hardly on us. There are but half the +boats on the river there used to be, and they are hardly paying +expenses, now that no one travels. Those that go to sea are worse +off still for, what with the falling off in trade, and with the +English cruisers all along the coast, there is little employment +for seamen, save in the privateers. However, they don't starve; for +the greater portion of the men on the coast have to go in the ships +of the Republic." + +On the sixth day after leaving Paris, they arrived at Havre. Here +they had no difficulty in obtaining lodgings, in a small auberge +near the port. Their pass was, on their arrival, sent to the +authorities of the town and duly stamped. Leigh's first inquiries +were for the Henriette. He found that she was well known in the +port, and had sailed for La Rochelle, six weeks before. + +"She does not very often come up here," one of the sailors said. +"Sometimes she is months between her visits. As likely as not, she +may have been captured on her way down. Her port is Bordeaux and, +if you wanted to find her, you had much better have gone straight +there than come to this place." + +"I do want to find her," Leigh said. "Is there any chance of +finding a ship going down south?" + +"Well, you might find one," the man said; "but you would have to +take your chance of getting there. Many of the ships are laid up, +for the risk of capture is great. It is small craft that, for the +most part, make the venture. They creep along inshore, and either +run into a port or anchor under the guns of a battery if they see a +British cruiser outside. Drawing so little water, they can keep in +nearer than a cruiser would dare to; and as they all can take the +mud, they do not mind if they stick on the sands for a tide." + +Leigh returned with the news to his sister. + +"What do you think, Patsey?" he said. "I do not say that we cannot +cross from here in a boat, though I have learned that the entrance +to the Channel is guarded by gunboats. If we passed safely through +these, we should have serious risk and many hardships to undergo. I +hear that there are numerous French privateers, and we might be +picked up by one of them, instead of by an English cruiser. I am +afraid that our passes, in that case, would not avail us in the +slightest. + +"Now, if we go down to Bordeaux, we have only to wait till the +Henriette comes in. Possibly she may be there when we arrive. In +that case, I am sure that Lefaux will be willing to take us out, +and either put us on board a British cruiser, or land us in +England." + +"Certainly we will go to Bordeaux," Patsey said. "We may find Jean +there. If he escaped that night he would make for the Loire and, as +he is a good swimmer, he would get over without difficulty, and he +would then try to make his way towards Bordeaux." + +"That may be so, Patsey; but I would not be too sanguine about our +finding him there. It was so much nearer for him to have made for +one of the northern ports that he might very well have done so and, +as soon as he managed to obtain a sea outfit, he would no longer be +suspected of having anything to do with the Vendeans." + +They had learnt before this that, after the fight at Le Mans, the +Vendeans had made for the river, had desperately fought their way +through the forces that barred their march, had come down on the +banks, but had failed to find any means to cross it. Then they had +turned into Brittany again for a short distance, had fought two or +three more desperate battles, and had again reached the Loire. +There was but one leaky boat to be found. In this la Rochejaquelein, +with a few of his officers, had crossed the river to bring back some +boats that were moored on the opposite bank. Directly they got +across they were attacked, but la Rochejaquelein, with two or three +others, effected their escape. + +After this the Vendeans no longer kept together. The women and +children, wounded and invalids, hid themselves in the woods; where +they were hunted down like wild beasts, and either slaughtered at +once or sent to Nantes, where thousands were either executed or +drowned by the infamous Carrier, one of the most sanguinary +villains produced by the Revolution. Many of the men managed to +cross the river either by swimming on rough rafts or in boats. In +La Vendee the war was still going on, for Charette had marched up +again from Lower Poitou, and was keeping a large force of the +Republican troops engaged. + +"I will try not to hope too much," Patsey said. "But at any rate, I +am for going down to Bordeaux for, apart from the chance of finding +Jean there, it seems much safer than putting out to sea in a little +boat." + +"I certainly think so," Leigh replied. "Now I will go out and make +inquiries as to what craft there may be, bound south." + +He returned in a couple of hours. + +"I have arranged for our passage, Patsey. She is a fast-looking +little craft, with very decent accommodation. She is in the wine +trade, and brought a cargo safely up last week, and will start +again the day after tomorrow. She carries a crew of eight hands; +and I have made inquiries about the captain, and hear a very good +report of him, and he seemed to me a first-rate fellow. When I +mentioned the name of the Henriette he said that he knew her well, +and was acquainted both with the present captain and with your +Jean. He had heard, from Lefaux, that her former owner had been +denounced, and had been obliged to fly from Nantes to a chateau +that he had in La Vendee. The Henriette has never been into Nantes +since, but went down to Bordeaux, and was there registered in +another owner's name, and Lefaux had worked for him ever since. + +"'I fancy,' he said, 'she sometimes makes a run with brandy to +England. She was in that business before, and had, Lefaux said, +been chased many a time by English cutters, but had always managed +to give them the slip.' + +"I was half inclined to tell him that I was Jean's brother-in-law, +but I thought it better not to until we had been to sea for a day +or two, and had learned a little more about him." + +The next day Leigh went to the mairie and explained that, not +having found the ship commanded by citoyenne Martin's husband, and +thinking it likely that they would hear of him at Bordeaux, they +had taken passage by the Trois Freres, which sailed the next day. +The addition was made to his papers without a question, and the +next morning they went on board. They were heartily received by the +captain. + +"You ought to bring us luck, madame," he said; "I mean citoyenne, +but the old word slips out of one's mouth, sometimes. It is not +often that I have a lady passenger. There are few who travel now +and, before the war broke out, people preferred taking passage in +larger ships than mine. Still, I will do my best to make you +comfortable, and I can assure you that Leon, my cook, is by no +means a bad hand at turning out dainty dishes. He was cook in an +hotel, at one time; but he let his tongue wag too freely and, +having to leave suddenly, was glad enough to ship with me. +Fortunately he likes the life, and I do not think anything would +tempt him to go back to an hotel kitchen again." + +"I am not particular, I can assure you," Patsey said. "In these +times we all have to rough it. Still, I own that I like a good +dinner better than a bad one." + +"We shall put in to a good many little ports," the skipper said. +"Sailing as close as we do inshore, I always make a port if I can, +as evening comes on; and we are therefore never without fresh meat, +fish, and vegetables." + +"How long shall we be going down?" + +"That I cannot tell you. It all depends upon the wind. We may, too, +be kept in port for two or three days if there is an enemy's +cruiser anywhere about. We may get there in ten days, we may take +three weeks." + +Before the boat set sail, a commissary with two men came on board +and examined the passes of the passengers, and searched below the +hatches to make sure that no one was hidden there. As soon as they +had completed their inspection the sails were hoisted, and the +Trois Freres started on her way down the Channel. The wind was +light and blowing from the southwest, and they were just able to +lay their course, and anchored for the night off the mouth of the +Vire river. + +"I suppose tomorrow you will get round the Cape de la Hague, +captain?" Leigh said. + +"No, we shall not attempt that. The coast is a very difficult one, +with furious currents. We shall bring up off Cherbourg and start at +daylight; and shall, I hope, be well down towards the bay of +Avranches by nightfall. There is no fear of a British cruiser till +we get out towards Ushant. They do not care about coming inside the +islands; what with the fogs, the rocks, and the currents, it is +safer outside than in. Besides, there is little to be picked up +except coasters like ourselves, and fishing boats. There is hardly +any foreign trade between Havre and Brest. It is from there down to +the mouth of the Gironde that their cruisers are so thick. From +Ushant to Boulogne there are plenty of them, but these are chiefly +occupied in guarding their ships going up and down the Channel from +our privateers, which run out from every port: Dieppe and Havre, +Granville, Avranches, and Saint Malo." + +The skipper had by no means over praised his cook, who turned them +out a better dinner than any that they had eaten since the troubles +began, with the exception only of those they had had at Arthenay. + +"He takes a pride in it," the captain said, "and you will never get +good work done in any line, unless by a man who does so. A sailor +who is careless about the appearance of his ship is sure to be +careless about the keeping of the watch, and is not to be trusted +in matters of navigation. When you see a craft with every rope in +its place, everything spotlessly clean, the brass work polished up, +and the paint carefully attended to, you may be sure that the +skipper is as particular in more important matters. It is just so +with our man. It is a little bit of a galley, but his saucepans +shine like gold, everything is clean and in its place. He grumbles +if we run short of anything, and is a good deal more particular +about my dinner being just what it should be than I am myself. + +"Sometimes when we have rough weather I say to him, 'Make me a soup +today, Leon. I shall be well content with that, and it is not +weather for turning out a regular dinner.' + +"He always replies gravely, 'Monsieur, anyone can cook when the sea +is calm. It is on an occasion like this that one who knows his +business is required. Monsieur will dine as usual.' + +"And up comes dinner, with three or four courses, cooked to +perfection. For myself, I would rather snatch a few mouthfuls and +go up on deck again; but this would hurt Leon's feelings if he saw +it, and he might even consider that he must seek another employer, +for that his talents were wasted upon me; so I go through it all +with exemplary patience. I would not lose him for anything, not +only because I own I like good food, but the Trois Freres has such +a reputation for good living that, if I am in port, passengers will +wait for days to sail with me, instead of going by other craft. + +"And then, too, I have no trouble with my crew, and it is rarely, +indeed, that I change one of my hands; for although their meals are +of course much simpler than mine, they are all perfect in their +way. + +"It takes a great deal of trouble off my hands, too. Instead of my +having a dozen little accounts to go into, at every port we enter, +I allow him a certain sum and he manages on that--so much a day for +my own table, so much for each passenger, and so much for the crew. +How he does it, I don't know. I find that it is cheaper than it +used to be, before his time; and yet I have all sorts of dainties I +never dreamt of, then. + +"I say to him sometimes, 'Leon, you must be ruining yourself;' but +he smiles and says, 'I am well content, captain; if you are +satisfied, I am so.' + +"He buys the fish off the boats as they come in, and I can +understand that he gets them far more cheaply than if he waited +till they were hawked in the streets. He is great at omelets and, +when he has a chance, he is ashore before the countrywomen come +into the market; and will buy the whole stock of eggs, a pound or +two of butter, and three or four couples of fowls from one woman, +who is glad to sell cheaply and so be free to return home at once. +At Bordeaux he lays in a stock of snipe and other birds from the +sand hills and marshes, oysters, and other such matters. He is a +great favourite with the crew and, in cold weather or stormy +nights, there is always hot soup ready for them. + +"He has only one fault. As a rule, the cooks are expected to help +get up the anchor and sails, but he will not put a hand to sailors' +work. He says that a cook must not have a rough hand, but that it +should be as soft as a woman's. Personally, I believe that is all +nonsense. However, as we have a fairly strong crew, I do not press +him on the subject; though sometimes, when I tail on to a rope +myself, and see him leaning quietly against his galley smoking his +pipe, I am inclined to use strong language." + +"I don't think that is much to put up with, captain," Patsey said +with a smile, "if he always cooks for you such breakfasts and +dinners as we have had today; and I do think that there is, +perhaps, something in what he says about rough hands." + +"Well, I feel that myself," he said. "Still, it is a little +aggravating, when everyone else is working hard, to see a man +calmly smoking, and never raising a finger to help." + +The next day they kept very close inshore. More than once a white +sail was seen in the distance, which the captain pronounced, from +its cut, to belong to a British cruiser. + +"The weather is fine, you see, and the wind is steady, so they are +coming rather farther into the bay than usual. We shall see more of +them, as soon as we are round that cape ahead, for they keep a very +sharp lookout off Cherbourg." + +It was not, however, until they had rounded Ushant that any British +vessel came near enough to cause them uneasiness. There were two +large frigates cruising backwards and forwards off Brest, and a +brig-of-war came within shot, as they were doubling Penmarch Point. + +"There is plenty of water for her, here," the skipper said. +"However, she will hardly catch us, before we are under shelter of +the batteries of Quimper." + +"I should have thought that she would hardly think you worth the +trouble of chasing." + +"It may be that they think we are carrying fresh meat from Saint +Malo to Nantes. There is a good deal of trade that way, this time +of year, when meat will keep good for a week. Or it may be that +they want to get news of what ships there are in Brest. However, it +is certain that he is in earnest; he is politely requesting us to +lower our sails." + +He laughed as a puff of white smoke broke out from the brig and, a +second or two later, a ball dashed up the water fifty yards ahead +of them. The emotions with which Patsey and Leigh watched the brig +differed much from those of the captain. They would gladly have +seen the lugger overhauled and captured, but they soon saw that +there was little chance of this. The lugger was a fast boat, the +wind just suited her, and the brig fell farther and farther astern +until, as the former entered the bay of Quimper and laid her course +north, the brig hauled her wind and turned to rejoin the vessels +off Brest. + +Keeping close to the land, they passed L'Orient and Quiberon and +Vannes without stopping, and did not drop anchor again until they +entered the bay on the eastern side of the island of Noirmoutier. +The next day they passed out through the narrow channel of Froment, +and had gone between the island and the mainland, for a distance of +two miles, when they saw a large brig making in towards the shore. + +"Another of those cruisers," the captain exclaimed. "This is more +serious, for there is no bay we can run into, and the fellow is +bringing the wind down with him. Our only chance is to anchor under +the guns of Saint Jean des Montes; we shall be lucky if we get +there in time." + +The brig came up fast, and was within a mile when the lugger caught +the wind; then running along rapidly she held her own until off +Saint Jean, when she ran in as close as her draught would permit, +and anchored. Two French privateers were already lying in there, +one having dropped anchor only a few minutes before the Trois +Freres arrived. + +"I expect it was that fellow that the brig was in chase of, and I +am not by any means sure that we have done with her, yet. They are +as likely as not to try to cut out one, if not both, of these +privateers. Of course it would look like madness, with the guns of +that battery on the height protecting them, but they have done such +things so often that one can never say that one is altogether safe +from them." + +The brig stood in until two or three guns in the battery opened +fire, when she turned and made out to sea again. + +"That means nothing," the captain said. "Of course she would not +attack in daylight. I dare say she will sail pretty nearly out of +sight, so as to make the privateers believe that she had no +intention of meddling with them. If I was sure that was her game, I +would get up sail again, as soon as it is dark, and make for +Oleron; but it is likely enough that she may think that that is +just what the privateers will do, and will sail in that direction +herself, so as to cut them off before they get there, and force +them to fight without the protection of a shore battery. + +"There is the bell for breakfast! Leon would not be two minutes +late, if there was an action going on close to us." + +Half an hour later they went on deck again. + +"At any rate, the sea has saved us the trouble of discussing the +matter," the captain said. "We are aground. The tide turned just +before we got here. It is now half past twelve, and we shall not be +afloat again for nearly twelve hours. + +"Well, there is one thing: if they are thinking of trying to cut +out the privateers, they are not likely to do it before two or +three o'clock in the morning. As soon as we float I shall haul out, +a cable's length or two, so as to ensure our being able to get off; +and if they do attack, I shall get up my sails at once, and run +south. They will be too much occupied to give us a thought. Whereas +if I stay here, and they capture the privateers, they might take it +into their heads to come on board and set fire to the lugger; +which, as I am part owner, would be a very serious matter to me." + +It was apparent that the privateers had no thought of the brig +returning, at any rate at present, as boats went backwards and +forwards between them and the shore. + +"What do you think, Leigh?" his sister asked quietly, as they were +sitting alone together. + +"I do not know in the least," he said. "Our best chance is that the +two Frenchmen seem to be so confident that they are safe under the +guns of the fort, that they will take no very great precautions. +One of them mounts eight guns, the other ten, and they ought to be +a match for the brig, even without the forts; for we could see, by +her ports, that she only carries sixteen guns. However, I think +myself that she will very likely have a try at them. It will be a +very dark night, for the sky is overcast and there is no moon." + +It was between ten and eleven when, just as they were about to turn +in, the captain ran in. + +"Quick, madame, you must hurry on your clothes! I heard a sound +just now that could only be made by a boat. As we are still +aground, I shall bring a boat alongside and land. There is nothing +like being on the safe side!" + +The two privateers were lying a quarter of a mile farther out, and +there were still lights burning on board them. + +"The fools!" the captain growled, as Leigh and his sister came on +deck; Leigh carrying little Louis, who had been put to bed fully +dressed. Indeed, no time had been lost, for his mother and Leigh +had agreed that it would be better to lie down in their clothes, in +case of an alarm being given. + +"The fools!" the captain repeated. "If they had extinguished every +light, as they ought to have done, the boats would have had +difficulty in finding them. Now, they could not miss them if they +tried. + +"Now, madame, will you please take your place in the boat with me? +I am sure that there are boats coming along. Of course the oars are +muffled, and there is enough sea on to prevent us hearing the +splash. I think the noise I heard was caused by one of the +stretchers giving way." + +Reluctantly Patsey and Leigh took their places in the boat. Just as +they reached the shore, a shout was heard on board one of the +privateers and, a moment later, came the sound of a British cheer. +It was followed by a hubbub of shouts, then muskets flashed out +from the decks, and almost immediately came the sounds of conflict. +A blue light was struck on the deck of one of the privateers and, +by its light, those on shore could obtain a view of the conflict. +The boats had boarded from the shore side. Two of them lay +alongside each of the privateers, and the crews could be seen +climbing up by the chains and leaping down upon the decks. + +"They deserve to be taken," the captain said. "They have not even +triced up their boarding nets." + +A confused medley of sounds came to the shore; with the shouts of +the French sailors were mingled the clash of cutlasses and the +crack of pistols. The British sailors fought, for the most part, +silently. On the heights above, blue lights were burning in the +battery, and men could be seen standing on its crest watching the +combat below, but powerless to assist their friends. + +It was but five minutes after the outbreak of the combat when a +loud British cheer, followed by a dead silence, showed that one, at +least, of the privateers had been captured. The fighting still +continued on the deck of the other craft but, from the vessel that +had been captured, a number of sailors leapt down into one of their +boats, and rowed to the assistance of their comrades. The +reinforcements apparently decided the issue of the fight, for in a +couple of minutes the British cheer was again heard, and the blue +light was promptly extinguished, as were all the other lights on +both vessels. Scarcely was this done when the guns from the battery +boomed out. + +"It is of no use their firing," the captain said. "I don't think +they can depress the guns enough to bear upon them. + +"There, they are making sail!" he went on, as the creaking of +blocks was heard. "Of course they have cut the cables. They would +not waste time in getting up anchors, with the forts playing upon +them. However, it is mere waste of powder and shot on such a night +as this. I don't suppose the gunners can make them out, now; for a +certainty they won't be able to do so, as soon as they have moved +off another quarter of a mile. Of course a stray shot may hit them, +but practically it is all over. + +"I think that we can go on board again. I did not think of it +before, but they would hardly set fire to us, for the light would +enable the gunners to see them till they were a long way out. + +"There is no doubt those Englishmen can fight. Our men are all +right when they are under sail, and it is a question of exchanging +broadsides, but the success of so many of their cutting out +expeditions shows that, somehow or other, we lose heart when we are +boarded. We must have had nearly twice as many men as there were in +those four boats, and yet it seemed to be a certainty, as soon as +the English got among them. + +"Our craft had much better have sailed out together when the brig +came in this morning, and fought her fairly. They ought to have +been more than a match for her. No doubt they would have done so if +they had thought that they would be attacked tonight; but they +relied upon the battery, and allowed themselves to be taken +completely by surprise. + +"I could see, even from this distance, that most of them were +fighting in their shirts; and I expect that they were sound asleep +when the attack began, and men roused in that sudden way can never +be relied upon to do their duty as they would do, if prepared to +meet it." + +The party were soon on board the lugger again. Just as daylight was +breaking there was a trampling of feet on the deck, and Leigh, +going up, found that sail was being hoisted. Keeping close to the +shore they ran down, without putting in anywhere, to La Rochelle. +Here they waited for a day and then, keeping inside the Isle of +Oleron, entered the Gironde and, the next day, anchored in the +Garonne, off the quays of Bordeaux. + +After thanking the captain very heartily for his kindness during +the passage, they landed, showed their papers to an official on the +quay, and then, being unhampered by luggage, walked quietly away. +As there was nothing particularly noticeable in their appearance, +they attracted no attention whatever. It was five o'clock when they +landed, and already becoming dusk. They waited until it was quite +dark and then, having inquired for the house of Monsieur Flambard, +the merchant to whom Jean had assigned the Henriette, they knocked +at his door. + +It was a handsome house, not far from the quays. The lower portion +was evidently occupied by the offices. As a servant opened the +door, Leigh, seeing that his sister hesitated to speak, inquired if +Monsieur Flambard was at home. + +"He is," the man said shortly, "but he does not see people on +business after the office is closed." + +Leigh saw that his dress, as a sailor, did not impress the man. + +"I think he will see us," he said, "if you take the name up to him. +Will you tell him that Citoyenne Martin wishes to speak to him." + +A minute later the merchant himself, a handsome man of about the +same age as Jean Martin, came down. + +"Ah! madame, I am glad indeed to see you," he said; for he had more +than once been up to Nantes, during the time she was living there, +and had been frequently at the house. "I have been in great anxiety +about you." + +"Has Jean been here?" she asked, in a tone of intense anxiety. + +"No, madame, I have heard nothing of him for many months; not, +indeed, since his lugger first came down here, with his letter and +the deed of her sale to myself. Did you expect to find him here?" + +"I hoped so, although there was no arrangement between us to meet +here. Still, I thought that he would have made his way down here, +if possible, as he would then be able to escape in the lugger." + +"He may have found it more difficult than he thought," Monsieur +Flambard said, soothingly. "But do not let us be standing here. +Pray, come up. My wife will be glad to welcome you, for she has +often heard me speak of Martin's English wife." + +Leigh had been standing behind Patsey while they spoke but, as the +merchant closed the door, his eye fell upon him. + +"Ah, monsieur, now I recognize you. You are Monsieur Leigh +Stansfield, the brother of madame. I welcome you also, cordially." + +So saying, he led the way upstairs. + + + +Chapter 17: A Grave Risk. + + +Nothing could be kinder than the reception of the fugitives by +Madame Flambard. She had heard so much of Patsey, she said, from +her husband, to whom she had been married six months before, that +she had quite shared his anxiety about the fate of Jean Martin, who +had more than once been mentioned as being one of the leaders of +the Vendeans. She soon went off with Patsey to put the child to bed +and, while they were away, Monsieur Flambard took Leigh into his +smoking room. + +"Before," he said, "I ask you anything about your adventures, I +must explain to you the state of things here. Until November last +Bordeaux, and indeed the whole of the Gironde, was moderate. All +our deputies--who have now, as perhaps you know, either fallen on +the scaffold or been hunted down like wild beasts--belonged to that +party. They were earnest reformers, and were prominent among the +leaders of the Revolution. They went with the stream, up to a +certain point. They voted for most of the sanguinary decrees, +although in time they strove to mitigate the horrors inflicted by +the extreme party; but after a long conflict the latter, supported +by the mob of Paris, obtained the ascendency, and the Girondists +underwent the same fate that had befallen so many others. For +myself, I cannot pity them. They were all men of standing and of +intelligence but, without perceiving the terrible results that must +follow, they unchained the mob and became its victims. + +"Up to that time there had been but few executions here, and the +power remained in the hands of the moderate party. Two months +since, however, there was a local insurrection. The party of the +terror suddenly rose, seized the members of the council, and threw +them into prison. Other prominent citizens were seized, and the +guillotine began its bloody work in earnest. Since that time every +citizen of position or standing lives in momentary danger of +arrest. Not a day passes, but a dozen or so are seized and dragged +off. I grant that, at present, there is nothing like the wholesale +butchery that goes on at Nantes under that fiend Carrier; it is +only those who have wealth and property that are seized. Not only +in this town, but in the whole department, the agents of those who +assumed power are busy. It is the Gironde, and therefore hateful to +the party of Robespierre; and the proprietors of the land, who have +hitherto been left unmolested, are being brought in daily. + +"The trial is of course a mere farce. The prisoners are murdered, +not because they are moderates, but because they are rich; and +their wealth is divided among the members of the council, and the +mob who support them. So far I have been unmolested. I have never +taken any part in politics, business being sufficient to occupy all +my time. Another thing is that I employ a considerable number of +men, in addition to the crews of some ten vessels which belong to +me. I believe that I am popular generally on the wharves, and it is +the knowledge that my arrest might promote a tumult, and might +reverse the present order of things, that has led to my being left +alone so far. + +"Fortunately my servant, who let you in, has been in the family for +the past five-and-thirty years, and is devoted to me. Had it been +otherwise the position would have been a dangerous one. A report to +the council that a young man in the attire of a sailor, accompanied +by a lady and child, had arrived, and been at once received, would +suffice to set them in motion. I should be accused of having a +suspect, probably one of the emigres hidden here, and it would be +difficult for me to explain your reception. You must, in the first +place, attire yourself in clothes such as are worn by the mate of a +privateer. I suppose you have papers, or you would not have been +permitted to land." + +Leigh took out the passes and handed them to him. Monsieur Flambard +glanced through them. + +"You must have managed well to have got hold of these passes, and +they certainly put the matter on safer ground. However, I should +find some difficulty in explaining how I came to show hospitality +to two persons who, by a strangely roundabout course, had made +their way from Arthenay. It is a little unfortunate that your +sister kept her own name. Had it been otherwise, I might have said +that her husband was captain of one of my ships. But he is +unfortunately not unknown here. After Martin's flight from Nantes, +a claim was made by the committee of public safety at Nantes for +the Henriette. Fortunately your brother-in-law had dated his bill +of sale to me a fortnight before he left. The trial took place here +and, as in those days law and justice still prevailed in the civic +courts, the decision was given in my favour. + +"It was urged on the other side that the transaction was invalid, +as Martin must have parted with his vessel knowing well that he was +a traitor to the Republic, and that his property would be +confiscated. However, we got the best of them. There was no proof +whatever that Martin was conscious that he was suspected of being +disaffected, and we claimed that he had only sold it as, having +married, he had decided to give up the sea and to settle upon his +estates in La Vendee. Of course, at that time La Vendee had not +risen, and it was not a crime worthy of death to own an estate +there. Still, the case attracted attention, and the fact that my +guest was a Madame Martin might recall the circumstances, and at +once awake a suspicion that she was the wife of one of those who +had led the insurgents of La Vendee; in which case her life and +yours would be certainly forfeited, and my receiving you would be +regarded as amply sufficient evidence of my connection with the +insurgents. + +"Now, for our sakes, as well as yours, I think that it would be +strongly advisable that you should take up your abode elsewhere. +Believe me that it is no want of hospitality, but a measure of +precaution, both for your sake and ours. Tomorrow morning I should +have to send in a statement that two guests have arrived here, and +it is therefore most desirable that you should move without delay. +Fortunately the wives of two or three of my captains live here; one +of these especially, an excellent woman, has a house much larger +than she needs, and takes in lodgers, generally captains whose +families do not reside here, when their ships are in port. +Therefore the fact that a sailor, with a sister and her child, have +taken rooms there will excite no suspicion, whatever. She will, as +a matter of course, send in your name to the police of the town, +together with your passes. They will be marked and returned +without, probably, being glanced at." + +"I think that that will be an excellent arrangement, sir," Leigh +said, "and I quite see that our stay here might be awkward for you, +as well as us." + +"I will at once go with you; that is, as soon as you have told your +sister the reason why it will be better for you to establish +yourselves elsewhere than here. I may tell you that I, myself, have +been quietly making preparations for flight; but it is not all my +captains whom I can trust. The Henriette, which I expect here +shortly, has been delayed; but on her arrival I propose that we +shall all cross the Channel together. I hear the ladies' voices in +the next room. It were best that we got this painful business over, +at once." + +Madame Flambard was greatly distressed, when Leigh gave his sister +an account of the conversation they had had, and the resolution at +which they had arrived; but Patsey at once saw that it was most +desirable that the change should be made, and assured her hostess +that she fully recognized that their safety would be imperilled by +staying at their house. + +"It would be a cruel kindness, on your part, to insist upon our +stopping here, Madame Flambard. We know that it is from no lack of +hospitality that we are leaving, but that you are making a real +sacrifice, in order to procure our safety. + +"Shall I put on my things at once, monsieur?" + +"By no means. I will go with your brother, first, to see if Madame +Chopin has other lodgers. If so, I will go to the wife of one of my +clerks, who also lets a portion of a house; or, if you would not +mind poor accommodation, to another of the captains' wives as, in +your brother's character of a sailor, it would be more natural for +you to go to such a lodging, which may very well have been +recommended to you by the skipper of the lugger in which you came +here. When we have arranged things, we will return. It is but a +quarter of an hour's walk, for the house stands near the river, +above the bridge." + +He at once set out with Leigh. On arriving at the house, they found +that there were at present no lodgers there. + +"This young sailor has brought a letter of recommendation to me, +Madame Chopin. He has a married sister and her child with him, and +I am sure that you will make them very comfortable, and can supply +them with what they may require. They have just arrived by sea, +from Havre; the length of their stay is uncertain. This young man +is looking for a berth as mate, and shall have the first vacancy on +one of my vessels. His sister may stop with you for some time, as +she is hoping that her husband will return here, though he is so +long overdue that I fear his ship has been either lost or captured +by the English." + +"I will do my best to make them both comfortable, Monsieur +Flambard, and thank you for recommending them to me." + +Leigh saw the rooms, which consisted of two bedrooms, and a third +room which was similarly furnished; but Madame Chopin said that she +would take down the bed and put some other furniture into it, so +that they could use it as a sitting room. + +"We should prefer that, madame; for my sister at times is greatly +depressed, and we should prefer being alone." + +"I can quite understand that," the woman said. "Well, you will not +be troubled with society here, as I have only these three rooms to +let so that, unless my husband comes home before you go, we shall +be quite alone." + +"I shall return with my sister in an hour's time," Leigh said; +"that will not be too late for you?" + +"No, monsieur, it is little past eight o'clock yet, and it will +take me fully two hours to get everything straight and tidy." + +"Very well, then, we will say ten o'clock," Monsieur Flambard said. +"I will keep Monsieur Porson, as he has news to give me concerning +the friend who recommended him to me." + +On their return to the merchant's, they sat chatting for an hour +over the adventures through which Leigh and his sister had passed, +and the manner in which they were separated from Jean Martin. + +"I think you have every reason to hope, madame," Monsieur Flambard +said cheerfully. "Jean is not the sort of fellow to let himself be +caught in a hole; and I expect that, when he found that he could +not rejoin you, he at once struck north, either for Dunkirk or +Calais, and has probably managed to be taken over in a fishing boat +or a smuggler and, if he failed in doing so, he would probably make +off in a boat single handed. I think that you have every reason to +hope that you will find him at Poole, when you arrive there; but +even should he not be there, there will be no reason for despair. +He may have had difficulty in getting away. He may have been +impressed for the naval service. At any rate, I have great faith +that he will turn up, sooner or later. Certainly, when he has once +managed to get a seafaring outfit, he will be safe from any fear of +detection as one of the terrible Vendean insurgents." + +At a quarter to ten little Louis was taken out of bed, wrapped up +in a cloak, and carried by Leigh. Monsieur Flambard insisted on +again accompanying them. The streets were now almost deserted, and +they soon arrived at Madame Chopin's. + +"I quite forgot to ask if you would want anything, before going to +bed; but I can make you a cup of good coffee, if you would like +it." + +"Thank you, but we have eaten but an hour ago." + +Saying goodnight to Monsieur Flambard, they went up to their rooms, +their hostess leading with a candle. She had made the most of her +time, since Leigh left the house. White curtains had been put up at +the windows, and everything looked beautifully clean; and Patsey +uttered an exclamation of pleasure when she entered the room. + +"This does indeed look fresh and homelike," she said. "Thank you +for taking so much trouble, madame." + +The next morning Leigh procured a jacket and waistcoat, with brass +buttons; and a cap with a gold band. He then sauntered along the +wharves and went aboard the Trois Freres, and told the skipper that +no news had been received of his sister's husband. It had been +agreed that it was best that they should not go to Monsieur +Flambard's house, but that the merchant should call at the lodging, +after dark. When Leigh returned to the midday meal, he found that +the papers had come back from the mairie, duly stamped and +countersigned, and that as no one had been to the house to make +inquiries, it was evident that no suspicion had been excited. + +During the next four or five days Leigh went but little into the +town, contenting himself with keeping near the wharves, watching +the vessels loading or discharging cargo, and spending much of his +time on board the Trois Freres. On the afternoon of the fifth day +he saw a lugger approaching and as it came near, he made out, to +his great delight, that it was the Henriette. As soon as she +dropped anchor in the stream, her boat rowed to the wharves. Lefaux +was sitting in the stern and, as soon as he landed, went off in the +direction of Monsieur Flambard's office. + +Leigh did not go near him. He thought that it would be better that +the honest sailor should learn that he and his sister were there +from the merchant, before he spoke to him; as any imprudent remark +on the sailor's part might be caught up by one of the spies of the +committee, and lead to trouble. As he expected, Monsieur Flambard +came round with Lefaux, that evening. + +"I am heartily glad to see you again, madame," he said, as Patsey +shook him by the hand; "and you too, Monsieur Stansfield. I began +to think that I never should do so, and I only wish that Monsieur +Jean was here, too. Still, I feel confident that he has got safely +away; trust a sailor for getting out of a scrape. You must have +gone through a lot, madame, but you don't look any the worse for +it." + +"Except anxiety for my husband, I have gone through nothing to +speak of. I had a horse to ride, and generally a shelter to sleep +under, and for myself I had little to complain of; but it was +terrible to see the sufferings of the peasant women and children, +and of the many men broken down by sickness. And there was, too, +the anxiety as to the safety of my husband and brother, in each +battle that took place. But of hardship to myself there was very +little." + +"Well, madame, I hope that I shall soon have the pleasure of +sailing into Poole again, with you and Monsieur Leigh on board; and +also with my good master, Monsieur Flambard, and his wife." + +"When will you be off again?" Patsey asked eagerly. + +"That is what I have come to talk with you about, Madame Martin," +Monsieur Flambard said. "I have pretty good information as to what +passes, at the meetings of the wretches who call themselves the +committee of public safety, and I hear that there will very shortly +be a seizure of a number of prominent citizens, and my name has +been mentioned. They are only hanging back until they can decide +upon what shall be the pretext, since none of those named have +taken any part in politics here. All those who have done so have +been already seized. However, the blow may come at any moment. + +"The Henriette has already begun to discharge her cargo. +Fortunately, there is not much of it. The moment that she has +finished she will drop down below the rest of the shipping, and be +ready to start at any moment. If we find that the matter is not +absolutely pressing, we will go quietly on board as soon as she is +ready, and sail at once; as there will then be no fear of her being +stopped. + +"If, however, I find that the order for our arrest is on the point +of being issued, I will send her down and let her lie beyond Fort +Medoc and Blaye. If it were discovered that I was missing, a few +hours after she had started, it would be suspected at once that I +had gone in the Henriette. Mounted messengers would carry the news +down to both forts, and the boat would be forced to heave to, as +she passed between them. + +"Therefore I shall have a light carriage, with two fast horses, +kept in readiness a quarter of a mile outside the town; and a relay +of horses fifteen miles on, which is about halfway, and join the +ship below the forts. If, as may possibly happen, I am suddenly +arrested in the streets, I shall have my servant near me. He will +have his orders, which will be to hurry back home to tell his +mistress to put on the disguise of a peasant woman, that has +already been prepared for her, and to go with her at once to the +carriage; and another man, whom I can also thoroughly trust, is to +come here and say to you, 'It is a bad day.' + +"Then you and your sister and the child will at once start to join +my wife. She has most reluctantly consented to carry out this plan +for, as I tell her, it will add to my sufferings a hundredfold, +were she also to be arrested." + +By dint of great exertions the Henriette was unloaded by the +following evening and, half an hour after her last bale was ashore, +she dropped down the river with the tide. She was to anchor off a +small village, two miles beyond Fort Medoc; and if inquiry was made +as to why she stopped there, Lefaux was to say that he was to take +in some wine that Monsieur Flambard had bought from a large grower +in that district, and that the lugger was then going to Charente to +fill up with brandy for Havre. + +Leigh had, the day before, gone with the merchant into the +extensive cellars which adjoined the house. + +"There is not a man here," Monsieur Flambard said, "who would not +do all in his power for me. Some of them have been with the firm +nearly all their lives. I treat them well, and I am happy to say +that not one of them has taken any part in our last troubles. +Indeed, I am told that is one of the matters that, if I am +arrested, will be brought against me. It will be said that it was a +proof of my enmity to the Convention that none of my people took +the side of the patriots. + +"However, it tells both ways. I have over forty men here. They +have, of course, friends among the porters and others working on +the wharves; and a disturbance might take place, were I arrested. +However, the scoundrels have now got such absolute power that, no +doubt, they feel that they could disregard any local rising and, +indeed, with the plunder of my store before them, they could reckon +on the devotion of the greater part of the mob of the town." + +On the morning after the Henriette had sailed, the merchant took +Leigh down to a little wayside inn, half a mile below the town, +where he had placed his carriage and horses; and gave instructions +to his coachman that he was to place himself under Leigh's orders. + +"At whatever hour of the day or night he comes, you will start at +once with him, and the lady and child who accompany him. You will +know in that case that I am not coming, but have been arrested." + +"But, master--" + +"It must be as I say, Pierre. Once I am arrested--and it is almost +certain my wife would be arrested with me--nothing can be done to +help, and it would be a great satisfaction to me to know that my +friends have escaped. There will be in that case no need of extreme +haste, for no one knows that they are in any way connected with me, +and there will be no inquiries for them." + +Leigh told Patsey that afternoon that, in the event of the +Flambards being arrested, he might possibly, instead of coming +himself, send a messenger to her; and that she must then start at +once, and await his coming in front of the church, at the end of +the street in which the merchant's house stood. + +"You had better have a letter written to our landlady, inclosing +the sum due to her and a week's rent in advance; and say that we +are hastily called away to Blaye, but may return in a few days, and +begging her to keep the rooms vacant for a week, for which you +leave the money. You had better write the letter at once, so that +if you get my message you can leave instantly. There is nothing +like being prepared for everything. Of course the arrest of the +Flambards would not really affect us in any way, or add to our +danger; but if the coachman were to hear of it before we got there, +he might disregard his master's orders, and return at once with the +carriage." + +Leigh had in his mind the very short notice that Desailles had had +of his danger, and how narrowly he escaped being arrested, although +he had a friend who kept him acquainted with what was going on. He +thought that it was still more likely that the arrest of the +Flambards would take place suddenly. It would probably be decided +upon by two or three of the men, who were the leaders of the party +of terror; and no word would get about as to their intentions until +the arrest had been absolutely made, in which case the captives +would be lodged in prison before the matter would be known, and all +fear of an emeute be thereby prevented. He had therefore decided +upon what was the best course to pursue, and posted himself in the +street, where he could observe anyone who entered or left +Flambard's house. + +It was already getting dusk when he saw two commissaries of the +committee, with six armed men, stop before the door and knock. It +was opened. Two of the men remained outside, and the rest entered. +He ran to the stores. The head cellarman had gone round the place +with him and his master, and Leigh at once went to him. + +"Lefranc," he said, "your master and mistress have just been +arrested. Two commissaries and six armed men have gone into the +house. There is time to save them yet. They have a carriage in +waiting, a short distance away; and if we can overpower these men +and tie them up, so that they cannot give the alarm until morning, +Monsieur Flambard and his wife will get safely away. They have a +vessel waiting for them in readiness, down the river." + +"I am your man, sir, and every one here." + +"Half a dozen will be enough. Pick out that number of strong +fellows, whom you can rely upon. Let them all take off their +aprons, and tear up this black silk handkerchief and, as we leave +the cellar, let each man put a piece over his face, to act as a +mask. There is a private door leading to the house, is there not?" + +"Yes, monsieur." + +"Well, draw the men off quietly, so that the others shall not +notice them; and tell them to go to that door, and to put on their +masks there. Let each man take some weapon, but not a mallet, or +anything used in the trade. Let them bring some stout rope with +them." + +The man nodded and hurried away, and Leigh went to the end of the +stores abutting on the house, and stopped at the door he found +there. In a minute the men began to arrive. They had, as he +directed, thrown aside their leather aprons and put on blouses; so +that they differed in no way, in appearance, from ordinary working +men. One or two were armed with hammers, others with long knives. +Each carried a piece of black handkerchief in his hand, long enough +to go from the forehead down to the mouth. Leigh tied these on with +strings, cutting holes with his knife through which they could see. + +When the six men and the foreman had assembled, they entered the +house. The old servant was standing in the hall, wringing his hands +in distress. + +"Where are they?" Leigh asked. + +"In the master's study, sir. They are searching the drawers." + +"Come on quietly," Leigh said to the men. "We must take them by +surprise." + +The door of the study was standing open, and lights burned within. +Leigh had already instructed his followers to go at once for the +armed men, and to knock them down before they had time to use their +muskets. Going noiselessly up, they entered the door with a sudden +rush. + +The two commissaries were engaged in emptying the contents of the +table drawers into a basket. The armed ruffians had leant their +muskets against the wall, and had seated themselves in comfortable +chairs. Flambard stood with his arm round his wife, looking +disdainfully at the proceedings of the commissaries. + +In a moment the scene changed. Before the men could even rise from +their seats they were knocked down, bits of sacking thrust into +their mouths, and their arms tied. Leigh had levelled one of the +commissaries by a blow in the face, and the foreman had struck down +the other with a hammer. These were also securely tied. + +The Flambards stood, a picture of astonishment. The whole thing had +passed so instantaneously that they could scarcely realize what had +happened. When they did so, Madame Flambard, who had hitherto +preserved her calmness, burst into tears; while her husband +embraced Leigh with passionate gratitude. + +"Now, monsieur," the latter said, "you had better collect at once +any money and jewels you wish to take with you, while we are making +sure of these ruffians. + +"Now, my men," he went on, "take these fellows into different +rooms; but first let me see that the ropes are securely tied; +although, as sailors, you are not likely to make any mistake that +way. Still, it is as well to be on the safe side." + +He himself then examined the fastenings, and added a few more +cords. + +"Now, when you have got them into separate rooms, tie their feet to +a heavy piece of furniture. Make a slipknot at the end of another +rope, put the noose round the neck, and fasten the other end to +another piece of furniture, that there may be no chance of their +getting loose, till their friends come to their assistance." + +He saw all this securely done. Then he said: + +"There is one more thing to see to. In time those fellows at the +door will be getting impatient, and will begin to suspect that all +is not right. We must get them inside, and then tie them up with +the others. Stand back behind the door as they enter and, as I +close it, throw yourselves upon them. One of you grip each of them +by the throat, and another seize his musket and wrench it from him. +The rest will be easy." + +The men placed themselves as directed, and Leigh then opened the +door and said: + +"You are to come in. They will take some little time over the +papers, and there is plenty of good wine for you to amuse +yourselves with." + +With an exclamation of satisfaction, the two men entered. + +"It is very dark in here," one said, as Leigh closed the door. "Why +didn't you get a light?" + +The words were scarcely spoken when there was a rush, a sudden +exclamation, the sound of a short struggle, and then silence. + +"Keep hold of them tightly, while I fetch a candle," Leigh said +and, running upstairs, soon came down with the light. + +The two guards were standing helpless in the hands of their +captors, and gripped so tightly that they were unable to utter the +least sound. + +"Now, put the gags into their mouths and truss them up, as you did +the others." + +Leaving the men to carry out his orders, he ran upstairs again. + +"Everything is arranged now," he said. "The whole of the fellows +are bound, and the road is free for you. I should go out by the +back way, for there is sure to be a little crowd in front of the +house, attracted by the sight of the guard standing outside. I do +not think that there is any extraordinary hurry, but in an hour or +so, if either of the men who have ordered your arrest is waiting at +the prison, he may get impatient, and send down to see what detains +the party here. + +"I am going, in the first place, to have the servants bound, so +that they may not be suspected of having aided in this business. As +soon as that is done, I shall hasten to my lodging and bring my +sister and the child to the inn where you have your carriage. Of +course, you will have the horses put in as soon as you get there. I +shall not be very long behind you, as I shall take the first fiacre +and drive down to that end of the town, and then discharge him. As +I am not in any way associated with you, even if inquiries are +made, our movements will throw no light upon yours." + +The conversation took place in the bedroom where Madame Flambard +was, with her husband, packing up a few necessaries. + +"As we go downstairs," he went on, "I shall make some remark about +our going straight on board. That will put them on the wrong scent, +and they will waste a lot of time searching all the craft in the +river. I do it principally because I want them to believe that you +have been rescued by a party of sailors. You heard me say that, as +sailors, they would be accustomed to tie the knots tightly; and of +course my uniform will help to lead them astray. The men with me +were really some of your cellarmen, under Lefranc." + +"We shall be ready in three minutes. Fortunately we have not much +beyond my wife's jewels that we want to save. Like your wife's +brother, I have already made provision in England for this." + +"I will be off as soon as I see the servants tied up." + +He ran downstairs again. The two men and the maids willingly +suffered themselves to be tied up, when Leigh explained to them the +reasons for which it was done. + +"Mind," he said, "if questioned, you say you believe that the men +who rushed in and fastened you up were sailors." + +Before the work was done Monsieur Flambard came down and, standing +at the door which communicated with the cellars, shook hands with +his rescuers as they went out; and thanked them most heartily, in +the name of himself as well as his wife, for the service that they +had rendered. The men, before they passed through the door, took +off their masks. It had already been arranged that they should at +once scatter, and return quietly to the places where they had been +at work, and in so large a place it was not likely that their +absence had been noticed, as it would be supposed that they had +gone to another part of the cellar, and it was not above twenty +minutes since they had left it. + +As soon as they had gone out, the door was locked on the inside. +Leigh and the Flambards went out at the back entrance into another +street, and there separated, Leigh hurrying back to his lodgings. +Madame Chopin opened the door. + +"Madame," he said, "I have good news for my sister. I hope that we +shall be able to obtain news of her husband at Blaye; for he may, +if my information is correct, have sailed up the Dordogne, and we +may catch him as he comes down again. If my information is not +correct, we shall return here. I will therefore, if you will allow +me, pay you our reckoning at once, and also the rent of the rooms +for another week; so that if we return, we may find them +unoccupied." + +"But you are not going to start this evening, surely, monsieur?" + +"Yes; I have arranged for a passage on a boat that is on the point +of starting, and have not a moment to lose." + +He ran upstairs to Patsey. + +"They have gone on to the carriage," he said. "Put on Louis's +things and your own. I will tell you all about it, as we go." + +He then went down again and settled up with his landlady, who was +profuse in her exclamations of regret at their departure. In a +couple of minutes Patsey came down. She had the letter that she had +written in her hand. Leigh took it from her. + +"I have already settled up with our kind hostess," he said. "Say +goodbye, dear, at once, or the boat may be starting without us." + +A minute later they were out of the house. Leigh carried Louis, and +led the way to a spot near, where two or three fiacres were always +standing. He took the first, and told the driver to put them down +in a street at the lower end of the town, the name of which he had +noticed when he went with Monsieur Flambard to the inn where the +carriage was standing. + +When he got to the end of the street he told the driver to stop, +saying that he was not sure of the number. Paying the man his fare, +they walked slowly down the street until the fiacre had driven off; +and then, returning, took the road leading into the country. + +Ten minutes' walking brought them close to the little inn. They met +the carriage coming along slowly, three hundred yards before they +arrived there. It stopped at once. + +"You are here sooner than I expected, madame," Monsieur Flambard +said, as he alighted and helped Patsey. + +As she took her place by the side of Madame Flambard, the latter +threw her arms round her neck. + +"Thank God this awful time is over!" she said. "It is to your +brother we owe it that we are not, both, now in that terrible +prison. + +"Leigh is good at breaking prison," Patsey said. "He rescued me +from the gaol at Nantes." + +By this time her husband and Leigh had taken their places. Louis, +still soundly asleep, was transferred to his mother's lap; and the +carriage, turning, went back at the full speed of the horses. + + + +Chapter 18: Home. + + +"Why did you come down the road?" Leigh asked Monsieur Flambard, as +the carriage flew past the little inn. "We had not arranged for +that, and in the dark we might have passed it without knowing that +it was yours." + +"We were on the lookout for you, and had no fear of missing you. I +decided to drive back to the town as we went out. I believe the +innkeeper to be an honest fellow, and he has been one of our +customers for a number of years; but I thought it just as well to +throw dust in his eyes. Therefore, as I got into the carriage, I +said in his hearing: + +"'Don't go through the main streets of the town, but drive round +and strike the road beyond it. Keep on to Langon. We shall stop +there tonight.' + +"We drove off fast, and only broke into a walk just before you met +us. The innkeeper would have gone into the house again, before we +met; and as I noticed that the shutters were up, he certainly would +not have supposed that the vehicle which passed was our carriage, +coming back again. + +"Well, thank God we are all safe and together! In three hours we +shall be at the village. Lefaux was to keep a boat ashore, and to +be himself at the inn. There is only one in the village." + +The road was a good one, and the horses fast, and in less than an +hour and a half they reached the spot where the relay of horses had +been stationed. Five minutes sufficed to make the change and, in a +little under three hours after starting, they arrived at the +village two miles below Fort Medoc. They stopped at the first +house. + +"Now, Gregoire," Monsieur Flambard said, as they alighted, "here +are five louis for yourself. You had better drive back to the place +where we changed horses, and put up there for the night. Tomorrow +you can go quietly back to Bordeaux. Don't get there until late in +the afternoon. Return the carriage and the other two horses to the +stables where you hired them, and take my two horses back to our +stables. + +"You are sure to be questioned, and can tell them the truth. Say +that you acted by my orders, and had no idea of the reason for +which I had hired the carriage and the extra horses; that you knew +that I often made flying visits to the vineyards, and you thought I +wanted to see some proprietor of Medoc, on business, and to return +as quickly as possible; and were much surprised when you saw that +madame went with me. Do not say anything about our picking up my +friends on the road." + +"I understand, monsieur, and I will stick to that story. God bless +you, sir, and you, madame; and I trust that, before long, you will +be back again with us." + +"I hope so, Gregoire, but I fear it will not be for some time to +come." + +They now walked forward, Leigh hurrying on in front until he came +to the little village inn. It was already closed but, on his +knocking violently at the door, a window above was opened. + +"What are you making such a noise for, at this time of night?" + +"I have come to call Captain Lefaux," he said. "A messenger has +just brought an order, from Bordeaux, that he is to get up anchor +at daylight." + +"I will call him," the landlord said, and in three minutes Lefaux +came out. + +"We are all here, Lefaux," Leigh said, "and we want to go on board +and get up anchor at once, and to be as far down the river as we +can, before daylight." + +"The saints be praised that you have all escaped, Monsieur +Stansfield! We will lose no time. I have two men sleeping in a +cottage, close to where the boat is made fast. They sleep on the +ground floor, and I can tap at the window and get them out. I told +them to turn in as they stood, as they might be wanted at any +moment." + +The others had now come up, and together they went down to the +boat. The tide had turned about an hour before, and the boat was +afloat. + +"Now, I will fetch the men out," the skipper said, and in five +minutes he came down with them. + +They untied the head rope of the boat, from the stump to which it +was fastened, and hauled it in. + +"That is the lugger, I suppose?" Leigh said, pointing to a dark +object, a hundred yards from the shore. + +"That is her, sir, and it won't take us long to get under weigh. +Everything is ready for hoisting sail." + +They rowed off to the Henriette, and Leigh could hardly restrain a +shout of joy at finding himself once again on board her. The crew +had been unchanged since they left Nantes and, tumbling up on deck +as they heard the boat coming off, greeted Leigh most heartily; and +respectfully saluted Patsey and their owner. They would have broken +into cheers, had not their skipper sharply silenced them. + +"It will be time enough to cheer when we reach the open sea, lads," +he said; "and we will do so more heartily still, when we land +Madame Martin, Monsieur Leigh, and the owner and his wife either on +English ground, or the deck of an English ship." + +"You mistake, captain," Monsieur Flambard said. "As you know, the +lugger was only passed over to me by Monsieur Martin to escape +confiscation. There is no longer any need that I should appear as +owner; and in fact Madame Martin, as representative of her husband, +is the owner of the Henriette, and I and my wife are passengers on +board her." + +"I hope that you will find it all right below, madame," Captain +Lefaux said. "Captain Martin's cabin--we have always called it +so--is ready for you and Madame Flambard. Monsieur will take the +spare cabin, and Monsieur Leigh mine." + +"I will sleep on one of the sofas in the saloon, captain. I should +not feel comfortable if I turned you out; and besides, I like being +able to pop quietly on deck, whenever I feel inclined: so that is +settled." + +"Now we will have a tumbler of hot brandy and water," the captain +said. "You have had a cold drive. + +"What will you take, ladies?" + +Both declared that they wanted nothing but to get to bed, and they +at once retired to the after cabin with little Louis, who had slept +without waking, ever since he had been lifted from his bed at +Bordeaux. The captain had given orders, as soon as he came on +board, to have the sails hoisted and, as Monsieur Flambard and +Leigh sipped their grog, they had the satisfaction of hearing the +water rippling past; and of feeling, by the heel of the boat, that +there was sufficient wind to send them along at a good rate. + +"What is she making, captain?" Leigh asked, as he went up to take a +last look round. + +"About five knots, but the wind is getting up. There was scarcely a +breath when I turned in, at ten o'clock." + +"How far do you call it to the mouth of the river?" + +"It is about forty miles to the tower of Cordouan. Once past that, +we reckon we are at sea." + +"Eight hours going, at five knots. It is nearly twelve now. It will +be daylight when we get there." + +"I hope that we shall be there before that, sir. You have not +allowed for the tide, nor for the wind increasing. I reckon we +shall be there by six, and day does not begin to break till an hour +later. + +"I want to get past without being seen. There are always a couple +of gunboats lying there. I fancy that they know us pretty well by +this time, but sometimes as we go out they make us lie to, and come +on board to see that we are not taking off suspected persons, and +that any passengers we have tally with those on the manifest. If +they should take it into their heads to do that in the morning, it +would be awkward; and I am anxious to get past without being seen. +Once out of gunshot I do not mind. I fancy that we can show our +heels to either of the gunboats." + +Leigh and Monsieur Flambard turned in. The latter slept soundly, +but Leigh went frequently on deck. + +"She is doing well," the captain said gleefully, "she is going +fully seven knots an hour. You see, Master Leigh, I still keep to +Captain Martin's terms, and count by knots instead of by leagues. +The tide is giving us another two knots. I reckon that, at the rate +we are going, we shall keep it pretty nearly down to the mouth of +the river. Seven and two are nine, and as I have just been looking +up the chart, and as I find that it is but thirty-seven from the +village where we started, we shall do it in five hours at the +outside. + +"The river is wide at the mouth, and by heading south directly we +get there, and running so for a couple of miles before we put +straight out to sea, there will be no chance whatever of our being +seen. Once away, we shall of course lay a course inside the islands +till we are off Finisterre; then we can either strike out into the +Channel, or coast along as far as Cape la Hague, and thence sail +straight for Poole. But there is no occasion to discuss that, at +present." + +Satisfied with the assurance of the captain, Leigh turned in again +at two o'clock, and this time slept soundly. When he awoke the +motion of the vessel told him he was at sea, and he saw that it was +broad daylight. Leaping off the sofa, he saw by his watch that it +was eight o'clock, and he was speedily on deck. The mate was in +charge. + +"The captain turned in half an hour ago, sir. Do you wish him to be +called?" + +"Certainly not. Where are we now?" + +"We are just passing between the island of Oleron and the +mainland." + +"Oh, yes, I see. When I came down, of course we saw it from the +other way; and I did not recognize it, at first. So we managed to +get past Cordouan without being seen?" + +"Yes, we rounded the south point of the river before six o'clock, +laid her head southwest for an hour and, just as it became light, +changed our course north and passed three miles to seaward of the +tower. They doubtless supposed that we were coming up from Bayonne. +At any rate, they paid no attention to us." + +"The wind is blowing pretty strongly." + +"Yes, sir, we should have had a rough tumble of sea if it had been +from the west, and should have had to lie up under shelter of the +island; but as it is blowing right off shore, it is just about the +right strength for us, and we shall make a quick run of it if it +holds. + +"I hear there is no news of Captain Martin, monsieur?" + +"No, I am sorry to say there is not; but I have every hope that we +shall find he has got to Poole before us." + +"We are all hoping that nothing has happened to him. Of course, we +heard that he was fighting in La Vendee and, as every one of us +comes from one port or another there, we only wished that we had +been with him." + +"You were well out of it, Edouard. It was a terrible business. No +one could have fought better than your people did, but they had all +France against them; and few, indeed, of those who were engaged +from the first can ever have returned to their homes. And even when +they get there there can be no safety for them, for Carrier and his +commissioners seem to be determined to annihilate the Vendeans +altogether." + +The mate indulged in many strong expressions as to the future fate +of Carrier and his underlings. + +"We heard of that attack on the jail, Master Leigh. I guessed that +you were in that, for among the prisoners who were delivered the +names of Monsieur Martin and Madame Jean Martin were mentioned." + +"Yes, Captain Martin and I were in the thick of it. There was very +little fighting to do, for we chose a time when the troops were all +busy with Cathelineau's and Stofflet's attack; and we had really +only to open the door of the prison, to get them out." + +"The captain has been telling us that Monsieur Flambard was also in +danger of arrest. It is atrocious. Everyone knows that he is a good +master, and I never heard a word said against him." + +"That has very little to do with it," Leigh said. "His crime was +that he was rich, and the scoundrels wanted his money. They did +arrest him, but he was rescued before they got him out of his +house, and fortunately everything had been prepared for his flight. +At the present moment they are searching high and low for him, and +I expect that no craft there will be permitted to leave till she +has been thoroughly ransacked, to make sure that he and madame are +not hiding there." + +"Ah, they are bad times, monsieur. It may be that things were not +quite as they might have been, though for my part I never saw +anything to grumble at; nor did any other Vendean, as far as I ever +heard; but if things had been ten times as bad as they were, they +would have been better than what is going on now. + +"Why, monsieur, all Europe must think that we Frenchmen are devils. +They say that more than a hundred thousand people have been put to +death, not counting the loss in La Vendee." + +"Which must be quite as much more, Edouard; and it is no +consolation to know that the loss of the Blues must have been fully +equal to ours." + +"How is it to end, monsieur?" + +"I think that the first part will end soon. As far as I could find +out as we travelled through the country, and in Paris, even the mob +are getting sick of this terrible bloodshed. That feeling will get +stronger, until finally I believe that Robespierre and his gang +will be overturned. What will come after that, I don't know. One +may hope that some strong man will rise, drive out the Convention, +and establish a fixed government. After that, I should say that no +one can guess what will follow." + +"There is one consolation, monsieur. No change can be for the +worse." + +"That is absolutely certain." + +He went to the galley. + +"Well, cook, when are you going to let us have some breakfast? I am +famishing, for I have eaten nothing since twelve o'clock +yesterday." + +"It will be ready in twenty minutes, monsieur. I was just going to +ask you if you would call the ladies, or whether you will take the +cafe au lait and eggs to their door." + +"I will go and ask them." + +He went and knocked at the cabin door. + +"Patsey, cafe au lait will be ready in twenty minutes. Will you and +Madame Flambard take it in your cabin, or come into the saloon?" + +"I am just dressed, and shall be up on deck with Louis in two or +three minutes. Madame Flambard will not get up. It is her first +voyage, and she will not take anything to eat." + +He was just going to knock at the merchant's door, when there was a +shout from within: + +"I have heard what you are saying, and shall be dressed in ten +minutes." + +Patsey was soon on deck. + +"This is splendid, Leigh! And now that we have got away so +wonderfully, I feel more hopeful than I have done before that Jean, +also, will have made his escape. + +"Well, Louis, what do you think of this? You had better keep hold +of your uncle's hand, as well as mine, or you may get a nasty +tumble." + +"Nasty, bad ship, mama?" + +"It is because the wind is blowing hard, and the sea is rough. We +had smooth water on our last voyage, you know." + +"Louis not like him," he said positively; "very bad ship." + +"You will be all right, if you keep hold of your uncle's hand. He +will walk up and down with you." + +"This is good, indeed," Monsieur Flambard said. "If we go on as +well as we have begun, we shall have nothing to grumble at." + +The voyage to Ushant was accomplished without any adventure. The +lugger was so evidently French that two or three privateers, who +passed close by, paid no attention to them; and although they saw +the sails of more than one British cruiser, they either escaped +observation or were considered too insignificant to be chased. + +On the voyage they had agreed that, when they came to Ushant, they +would be guided by the wind. If it continued to blow as it had +done, from the east, it would be a great loss of time to beat in to +Saint Malo, and they would be within sight of England long before +they could make in there. + +As the wind was unchanged, they therefore laid their course from +Ushant for the Isle of Wight. Before they had been many hours out +they saw an English brig of war, making toward them. They did not +attempt to escape, but slightly changed their course so as to head +for her. + +As the brig approached, they lowered their mainsail. The brig was +thrown up into the wind, a couple of lengths away. + +"Send your boat on board!" the captain of the brig shouted. + +They had indeed already got the boat over the side. + +"You may as well come with me," Leigh said, as he stepped into her. +"Monsieur Flambard will take care of Louis while you are away." + +Seeing that there was a woman in the boat, the brig lowered its +accommodation ladder, and the captain was standing at the gangway. + +"We are English, sir," Leigh said. "The lugger is owned by my +sister's husband, if he is alive. If not, I suppose it belongs to +her. We are escaping from France, with two French friends. My +brother-in-law was a Vendean, and has fought through the war. We +were with him until, at the attack on Le Mans, we were separated. +We hope to meet him at Poole. The vessel traded between that port +and Nantes until the war broke out. Some members of the family are +already established there, and our father is a magistrate, living +within a couple of miles of the town." + +"I am sorry, madam, that I cannot offer you a passage; but I must +not leave my cruising ground." + +"Thank you, sir. We are doing very well in the lugger. We intend to +register her as a British vessel; and the crew, who are all +Vendeans, will probably remain in our service until things settle +down in France." + +"And were you through the war too, madam?" the captain asked +Patsey. + +"Not through the whole of it," she replied. "Our chateau was burned +down by the Republicans, and I was carried to the prison at Nantes; +and should have been guillotined had not my husband and brother +rescued me, when the Vendeans were attacking the town. I remained +at the farmhouse, until the Vendeans could no longer maintain +themselves in La Vendee and crossed the Loire; then I accompanied +my husband." + +"Well, madam, I congratulate you heartily on your escape. We heard +terrible tales, in England, of what is going on in France." + +"However terrible they are, they can hardly give you an idea of the +truth. At Nantes, for instance, the guillotine is too slow; and +hundreds of men, women, and children are put into boats, which are +sunk in the middle of the river. It is too horrible to think of." + +"Is there anything that I can do for you, madam? Anything in the +way of provisions with which we can supply you?" + +"No, thank you, we have everything that we can want." + +"Then I will detain you no further," he said, "and can only wish +you a pleasant voyage. I see, by the course you are steering, that +you are making for the Isle of Wight. You ought to be there +tomorrow afternoon." + +The boat returned to the lugger, the sails were filled again and, +at four next afternoon, the Henriette passed Handfast Point, and +headed for the entrance to Poole harbour. As the distance from home +lessened, Patsey's excitement increased hourly. She could not sit +down for a minute, quietly, but walked restlessly up and down the +deck. She had scarcely spoken when Leigh said, after a long look +through the telescope: + +"I can make out the house on the hill, quite plainly, Patsey." + +At any other time Patsey, who dearly loved their old home, would +have shown the liveliest interest; but just then her thoughts were +all of Jean, and she could spare none for anything else. + +"They must have made us out, by this time," she said, as they +passed Durleston. + +"I should think so, but I don't suppose they watch as we used to do +in the old days. The revenue men up there--" and he nodded up the +cliff "--must of course see that we are French; and if there are +any of them who were here, three or four years ago, no doubt they +know us again, and must be wondering what brings us here." + +They had scarcely passed Durleston when Patsey sprang on to the +rail, holding fast by the shrouds, and gazed intently at the narrow +entrance of the channel, between the island and the mainland. + +"There is a boat coming out," she exclaimed. + +"The coast guard are sure to have launched their boat, as soon as +they made us out. They would naturally come out to inquire what a +French lugger is doing here." + +He went forward with his telescope, and took a long look at the +boat. + +"Yes, it is the coast guard, rowing six oars." + +In a minute or two he went back to his sister. + +"Do get down, Patsey," he urged. "Of course they may have news of +Jean, but you must not be disappointed, too much, if they have not. +You know that we have agreed, all along, that very likely we shall +be the first back; and no news cannot be considered as bad news. It +will only mean that we must wait." + +She shook her head, but did not reply. + +"There are three men in the stern," she said at last. + +Leigh sprang up onto the rail behind her. + +"Yes, there are three sitters." + +Suddenly one of the men stood up. The boat was still too far away +for the figure to be distinguished. Leigh would have called to the +captain, to use his glass; but he feared to hold out even a hope, +to Patsey, that Jean might be in the boat. + +A minute later the standing figure began to wave his arms wildly. + +"It is Jean, it is Jean!" Patsey cried. "He has made me out." + +It was well that Leigh had taken his place beside her, for suddenly +her figure swayed; his arm closed round her and, calling to the +captain to help him, he lowered her and laid her on the deck. + +"My sister has fainted. Bring a bucket of water." + +Madame Flambard took Patsey from him. + +"She thinks she sees her husband in that boat," Leigh said. "Pray +try and get her round, before it comes up. I think it must be he; +but if it should not be, we will take her below, directly we are +sure. It will be a terrible blow to her to be disappointed, now; +but possibly they may have news of him, and that would be almost as +good as his being here." + +"She could not have recognized him, at this distance," Monsieur +Flambard said. + +"No, she did not; but he would have recognized her. At least, he +must have seen that there was a woman standing upon the rail, +watching them; and it was hardly likely that, coming in his own +boat, it should be anyone but her. I don't see why anyone else +should have waved his arms, suddenly, in the way that he did." + +He took the bucket of water from Lefaux's hands. + +"We think it is Captain Martin," he said. "Run up the shrouds and +take a look through the glass." + +Then, taking a double handful of water, he dashed it into his +sister's face. + +"But, monsieur--" Madame Flambard began to remonstrate. + +"Oh, it does not matter about her being wet a bit," Leigh said. +"The great thing is to bring her round. + +"There, she is opening her eyes. I never saw her faint before. She +is not that sort." + +At this moment, there was a joyous shout from the skipper: + +"It is Captain Martin, himself! Hurrah, boys! It is the captain." + +The crew broke into joyous shouts. + +"It is Jean, Patsey," Leigh said, sharply. "Thank God, it is he. + +"Steady, steady!" he added, as his sister suddenly sat up, and held +out her arms to be lifted to her feet. "Are you all right, dear? He +will not be alongside for some little time. Don't try to get up for +a minute or two." + +As Madame Flambard supported her, he ran down into the cabin, +poured out a little brandy and water, and ran upstairs again with +the glass. + +"There, dear, drink this. You must be strong enough to greet him, +as he comes alongside." + +She drank it up, and then he helped her to her feet. She stood +leaning on the rail, but unable to see the boat through her tears. +Leigh ran up a few of the ratlines and waved his cap and, two or +three minutes later, the whole crew, clustered along the side, +raised a loud cheer as the boat came near. + +Patsey held out her arms to Jean, who had, after his first eager +signal, dropped back into his seat; and sat there, with his face +covered in his hands, until within two or three hundred yards of +the lugger. Then he had stood up again. He waved his cap in reply +to the cheers of the crew, but his eyes were fixed upon Patsey. + +[Illustration: For two or three minutes, husband and wife stood +together.] + +As the boat came alongside he sprang on to the channel, swung +himself over the rail, Patsey falling into his arms as his feet +touched the deck. The others all drew back and, for two or three +minutes, husband and wife stood together. Then Jean, placing Patsey +in a chair, turned and embraced Leigh warmly. + +"I felt sure that you would bring her back safely," he said. "I +never allowed myself to doubt it, for a minute; and as soon as I +made the lugger out, from the height there, I was sure that she was +on board; and ran down to the coast guard station, and Captain +Whittier and the crew were in her, in a couple of minutes. + +"Where is Louis?" + +"Here he is!" Monsieur Flambard said, coming forward with the child +in his arms. + +Louis knew his father at once, and greeted him with a little shout +of pleasure. + +"And you, too, Flambard?" Jean said, after he had kissed and +embraced his boy. "I am glad indeed that you, too, have escaped +from that inferno they call France." + +"Yes, and my wife too, Martin; and, like your wife, we owe our +safety to Leigh." + +Although they had not met before, Jean and Madame Flambard shook +hands as warmly as if they had been old friends, filled as they +were by a common happiness. + +Captain Whittier now came on board. He had hitherto remained in the +boat, in order that the family meetings should be got over before +he showed himself. + +"I am glad to see you, Master Leigh," he said, shaking hands as he +spoke; "though I certainly should not have known you again. You +ought no longer to be called Master Leigh, for you are a grown man. +We have talked of you, often and often; and it was not until +Captain Martin arrived, a week ago, that we had any idea of what +had become of you. + +"Everyone will be glad to know that you are safely back; and you +too, Mrs. Martin. Everyone has missed Miss Patsey, as they still +call you when they speak of you." + +Jean had been shaking hands with Lefaux and the crew, and now +returned. + +"I don't know how we stand with this craft, captain. She has come +into port of her own free will, and not as a prize. I claim that +she is the property of a French Royalist, now an emigre; and as +England, so far from being at war with French Royalists, is their +ally, I intend to transfer her to my wife, and to have her +registered as an English ship." + +"Well, I suppose that you will have to settle that with the +authorities, Captain Martin; but I should think that you are right, +for other French craft have come across with emigres, and have +always been allowed to return. Is there any cargo on board?" + +"None," Leigh said. "She left Bordeaux the moment she discharged +the cargo she brought there." + +As they dropped anchor off the island another boat came alongside, +with Mr. Stansfield and his two sons, and there was again a scene +of tender greeting between them, her, and Leigh. + +"Where is Polly?" Patsey asked. + +"She was married, two years ago," her father said, "to Harry King, +the son of the banker, you know. Of course, she lives in Poole now. + +"And so this is your little boy?" + +"Yes, but he cannot understand you, at present. We have always +talked French with him since the troubles began as, had he spoken a +word or two of English, it might have been fatal to him, and to us; +but he will soon pick it up, now he is among you all." + +It was a happy party, indeed, that evening at Netherstock, where +Mr. Stansfield had insisted that Monsieur and Madame Flambard +should stay, till they could find a lodging to suit them in Poole. +Madame Martin and her daughter, Louise, arrived a few minutes after +the others had reached the house; as Jean had sent off a boy to +tell them, as soon as he made out the lugger; and a little later +Patsey's sister, Polly, came over from Poole. + +At first, innumerable questions were asked on each side; and then +Leigh related all that had happened, since they left Le Mans. +Monsieur Flambard interrupted, when it came to the point where +Leigh had rescued him and his wife, and gave full particulars of it +to Jean, who translated it to the others. Then it came to Jean's +turn. + +"I was with Rochejaquelein," he said. "We had made our last charge +down on the head of the enemy's column. It was hot work. Desailles +was shot through the head, close by my side and, as we rode off, I +felt my horse stumble, and knew that it was hit. Almost at the same +moment my sword fell from my hand, my right arm being broken by a +musket ball. + +"La Rochejaquelein had given orders that this charge was to be the +last. He knew that, by this time, the main part of the army would +have left the town. My horse lagged behind the others, and I was +just turning it to ride to our meeting place, when it fell under +me. + +"I decided at once not to attempt to come to the rendezvous. In the +first place, I felt sure that you had already followed out my +instructions; and in the next place, had I joined you, I should +have ruined your chance of escape. Being dismounted, I should have +hampered your flight and, even had we escaped pursuit, your having +a man with a broken arm with you would, everywhere, have roused +suspicion. I therefore determined to go as far as I could, and then +hide in a wood and shift for myself. + +"I got a peasant, who was running past me, to stop for a moment and +bind my arm tightly with my sash. It was broken high up. I walked, +for two or three hours, in the direction opposite to that in which +the army had retreated. The peasant who had bound my arm up +accompanied me. I found that he came from a farm near us. He had +recognized me at once, but I had not noticed who it was. I told him +to try and save himself, but he would not hear of it. + +"'Monsieur will require my aid," he said, 'and it is my duty to +render it. Besides, I am as likely to escape one way as the other. +Monsieur knows more about the roads than I do, and will be able to +direct me.' + +"Of course, I assented, for I was glad indeed to have him with me. +As soon as we hid up in a wood, he cut two strips of bark off the +trunk of a young tree, cut off the sleeve of my coat and shirt, put +the arm straight and, with a strip torn off my sash first bandaged +it, and then applied the two pieces of bark as splints, and finally +bound another bandage round them. + +"He had carried with him the blanket and valises he had taken off +the saddle. The latter contained a bottle of wine, and some food, +and on this we lived for three days. Then I determined upon +starting. He went out in the evening and managed to buy, at a +cottage, two loaves of bread and a couple of bottles of wine. We +divided these. Then I put on my disguise, and we started in +different directions, he making south for the river, which I trust +the good fellow managed to reach and cross safely, while I struck +north. + +"My wine and bread lasted me for four days, by which time I had +arrived at Louviers, on the Seine. I was now a hundred miles from +Le Mans, and altogether beyond the line of action. I felt +comparatively safe. My arm was so painful, however, that I felt +that, at whatever risk, I must see a surgeon. + +"I went first to an inn, where my appearance as a stranger, and +without means of conveyance, excited the surprise of the landlord. + +"'You are hurt, monsieur,' he said. + +"'Yes; my horse fell under me and threw me heavily, and broke my +arm. Before I could recover myself, it had run away. Fortunately a +peasant who was going by bandaged my arm up, and I was able to walk +on here. Who is the best surgeon in the place?' + +"He mentioned the name of the doctor, and said that he had the +reputation of being very skilful and kind. He offered to send for +him but, being close by, I said that I would rather go to him. + +"The man's face gave me confidence, as soon as I entered. I knew +that it would be of no use to tell him the story of a fall, and I +said at once: + +"'Monsieur, I believe doctors are like confessors, and that they +keep the secrets of their patients.' + +"He smiled. + +"'Monsieur has a secret, then?' + +"'I have,' I said. 'I have had my arm broken by a musket ball--it +does not matter how or when, does it?' + +"'In no way,' he said; 'my business is simply to do what I can for +you.' + +"'It is seven days old,' I said, 'and is horribly painful and +inflamed.' + +"He examined the wound. + +"'The bone is badly broken,' he said. 'It is well for you that it +has been bound up with some skill, and that these rough splints +have kept it in its place. Of course, what you require is rest and +quiet. Without cutting down to the bone I cannot tell how badly it +is splintered and, in the state of inflammation that it is now in, +I could not venture upon that. I can only rebandage it again, and +give you a lotion to pour over it, from time to time. + +"Tell me frankly what you are. You can trust me.' + +"'I am a sailor,' I said, 'captain of my own craft. I am also a +Vendean and, as the cause is now lost, I am making my way down to +the sea. I hope, in some way or other, to make my escape to +England, where I have friends, my wife being an Englishwoman. What +I require more than anything is a suit of sailor's clothes.' + +"'I will do what I can to help you, my friend. I am not one of +those who think that France can be regenerated by the slaughter of +the whole of the best of her people, and by all power being given +to the worst. + +"'Let me see; I cannot go and buy sailor's clothes myself, but my +old servant can be trusted absolutely. There is a shop down by the +river where such things are sold. I will get her to go down there, +and say that she has a nephew just arrived from sea, and that she +wants to give him a new rig out; but as he has hurt himself, and +cannot come, she must choose it. What is your height?' + +"'About five foot ten,' I said. + +"'And how broad round the shoulders?' + +"'Forty-three inches. I have plenty of money to pay for all that is +necessary, and more,' and I took out my roll of assignats. + +"'Since you are well provided,' he said, 'I will take some. The +people are very poor, and we all suffer together. They pay me when +they can and, so that I can make ends meet, I am well content.' + +"In an hour the woman returned, with a suit of rough sailor's +clothes, and you may imagine how glad I was to put them on, the +doctor helping me on with the jacket. + +"'Now,' he said, when I had dressed and eaten some food the old +servant had set before me, 'it happens that at daybreak tomorrow +one of my patients, the master of a river boat, is starting on the +turn of tide for Honfleur. I will first go round to the auberge, +and tell the landlord that your arm is badly broken, and that I +shall keep you here for the night, as you will require attention; +then I will go to the captain, and arrange for your passage. When I +tell him that you are a patient of mine, and that I should be +obliged if he would find you some quiet lodging at Honfleur, where +you can remain till your arm is better and you are fit to be about +again, I have no doubt he will manage it. He is a good fellow, and +I shall let him understand that you don't want inquiries made about +you. + +"'Now, you had better lie down on a bed upstairs, and try to sleep. +I will call you in time to go down to the boat.' + +"'There is no fear of my getting you into trouble?' I asked. 'I +would rather go on to Honfleur by road at once, than do so.' + +"'There is no fear of that; the maire is a friend and patient of +mine. And if, as may be the case, the landlord mentions the arrival +of a stranger, and his coming to me; I shall simply tell the maire +that, your arm being badly broken, I kept you for the night, and +then sent you on by boat; and that as for papers, not being a +gendarme, I never thought of asking you for them.' + +"The next morning he dressed my arm again, and then himself took me +down to the boat, and handed me over to its skipper. He absolutely +refused any payment for his services; but I insisted on his +receiving a couple of hundred francs, in assignats, for the use of +his poorer patients. + +"The skipper carried out his instructions to the letter. We got to +Honfleur after dark, on the day after starting, and he went with me +to the cottage of a widow of his acquaintance. + +"He said to her, 'Mother, I want you to take care of this young +sailor. He has broken his arm, and wants nursing. He does not want +his being here to be known, because he is afraid he might be packed +off in one of the ships of war, as soon as he recovers. I suppose +you can manage that?' + +"'Oh, yes,' she said; 'I have very few visitors, and no one would +guess that I have anyone upstairs.' + +"'He has plenty of money to pay your charges. Now I will leave him +with you, and will look in tomorrow, to see how he is getting on.' + +"I stayed there a fortnight, by which time the inflammation had +pretty well subsided. No one could be kinder than the old woman +was. She used to bathe my arm by the hour, and she fed me up with +broth. + +"At the end of that time I felt ready for work, though my arm was +of course useless. So, having paid my account, I went down boldly +to the river and crossed to Harfleur, and then went on to Havre. I +stayed there for a couple of days, at a sailors' cabaret; where +they supposed that I belonged to a vessel in port, and no questions +were asked. + +"Finding that it would be difficult to pass the gunboat lying +there, I walked up to Fecamp, picked out a likely looking boat +afloat by the quay; and at night got on board, rowed quietly out, +and then managed to get the sail hoisted. The wind was offshore, +and by the morning I was out of sight of the French coast. I laid +my course for Portsmouth, and landed there that evening. Being +fortunately able to speak English, I had only to leave the boat +tied up to the quay, and go up to a small inn close by. I slept +there, crossed to Gosport, and walked to Southampton the next +morning; and got into Poole on the following day, and soon found +where my mother and sister were staying. + +"So you see I had, altogether, very little adventure on my way from +Le Mans. Since then, I have spent most of my time up here sweeping +the water with your father's glass. I had been watching the +Henriette, for hours, before she came near enough for me to be sure +that it was she; though of course, I could see that she was a +French-rigged boat. + +"As soon as I made her out I sent off word to my mother, and ran +down to the coast guard station. I felt sure that you were on +board, for otherwise the lugger would not have come over here. +Still, of course, I could not be absolutely certain until I saw +that the figure I could make out, standing on the rail, was that of +a woman." + +It was some little time before their plans were finally decided +upon. It was evident that, at present, no trade could be done in +French wines. However, as Jean, his mother, and his friend Flambard +had sufficient capital to enable them to live without trade, for +some time, they agreed that they should establish themselves at +once, in London, as wine merchants. Flambard had correspondents in +Spain and Portugal, from whom he could obtain wine of these +countries; and they agreed that Poole did not offer opportunities +for carrying on any considerable trade. Both insisted that Leigh +should become a member of the firm and, a month after their arrival +at Poole, the party moved up to London. + +Madame Martin, her daughter, Jean and his wife took a house, +between them, at Hackney; and Monsieur Flambard and his wife +established themselves in another, a few hundred yards away. + +From time to time came scraps of news from across the Channel. La +Rochejaquelein and Stofflet, after being separated from their +followers when crossing the Loire, had gathered a small band +together, and gained some successes over parties of the enemy. Two +grenadiers, after one of these skirmishes, were on the point of +being shot by the peasants when Henri came up to save their lives. +One of the prisoners, however, recognizing the gallant leader of +the Vendeans, raised his musket and shot him dead. + +It was not for two years after this that the struggle was finally +brought to a conclusion, for the heroic people of La Vendee +continued to resist all the efforts of their enemies; until +Stofflet and Charette were captured and executed, the one in +February, 1796, the other in the following month. The moderation +and judgment of General Hoche finally brought about the end of a +war which stands unexampled, in history, for the noble resistance +offered by a small body of peasants to the power of a great +country. + +As soon as Monsieur Flambard heard, from his correspondents abroad, +that a consignment of wine was on its way they took an office; for +it had already been agreed that, having no connection for sales to +private customers, they would work only as wholesale merchants, +dealing with the trade and with large hotels and other establishments, +contenting themselves with the smallest possible rate of profit until +they made a connection; and at the end of two or three years, they +were doing a considerable business. + +The Henriette sailed for France, shortly after their arrival in +Poole, as the crew preferred returning home. Lefaux was to trade as +before and, being so well known at all the western ports, was +certain of obtaining freights. He was to pay wages and all other +expenses, and to transmit the balance as opportunity occurred. + +Three years later, when the internal affairs of the country had +calmed down, Jean managed to get a letter sent to the priest of +their village, asking him to inquire about Marthe; and after a +considerable time an answer was received, saying that she and +Francois had reached home in safety, had been married shortly after +their return, and were doing well; having, with their joint +savings, purchased at a very low price one of Jean's confiscated +farms. + +Ten years later the firm of Flambard, Martin, & Stansfield were +doing a large business, and when the war came to a termination, and +trade with Bordeaux, Charente, and Nantes was renewed, Monsieur +Flambard returned to Bordeaux and, having a large connection there, +the firm soon became known as the largest importers of foreign +wines in London. + +Madame Martin had, long before that, died. Patsey was the mother of +three boys and two girls, and Leigh had a separate establishment of +his own, and had been for fifteen years a married man. Mr. +Stansfield was still alive, and things went on at Netherstock in +very much the same fashion as before Patsey left home. + +Jacques Martin had been one of the many who were guillotined when +the terror came to an end, after the death of Robespierre. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of No Surrender!, by G. A. 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