the chouans-第47章

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osts　in　the　town。　The　commandant　ordered　him　to　choose　a　dozen　of　his　compatriots　who　could　best　counterfeit　the　Chouans；　and　take　them　out　by　the　Porte　Saint…Leonard；　so　as　to　creep　round　the　side　of　the　Saint…Sulpice　rocks　which　overlooks　the　valley　of　Couesnon　and　on　which　was　the　hovel　of　Galope…Chopine。　Hulot　himself　went　out　with　the　rest　of　his　troop　by　the　Porte　Saint…Sulpice；　to　reach　the　summit　of　the　same　rocks；　where；　according　to　his　calculations；　he　ought　to　meet　the　men　under　Beau…Pied；　whom　he　meant　to　use　as　a　line　of　sentinels　from　the　suburb　of　Saint…Sulpice　to　the　Nid…aux…Crocs。

Corentin；　satisfied　with　having　delivered　over　the　fate　of　the　Gars　to　his　implacable　enemies；　went　with　all　speed　to　the　Promenade；　so　as　to　follow　with　his　eyes　the　military　arrangements　of　the　commandant。　He　soon　saw　Gudin's　little　squad　issuing　from　the　valley　of　the　Nancon　and　following　the　line　of　the　rocks　to　the　great　valley；　while　Hulot；　creeping　round　the　castle　of　Fougeres；　was　mounting　the　dangerous　path　which　leads　to　the　summit　of　Saint…Sulpice。　The　two　companies　were　therefore　advancing　on　parallel　lines。　The　trees　and　shrubs；　draped　by　the　rich　arabesques　of　the　hoarfrost；　threw　whitish　reflections　which　enabled　the　watcher　to　see　the　gray　lines　of　the　squads　in　motion。　When　Hulot　reached　the　summit　of　the　rocks；　he　detached　all　the　soldiers　in　uniform　from　his　main　body；　and　made　them　into　a　line　of　sentinels；　each　communicating　with　the　other；　the　first　with　Gudin；　the　last　with　Hulot；　so　that　no　shrub　could　escape　the　bayonets　of　the　three　lines　which　were　now　in　a　position　to　hunt　the　Gars　across　field　and　mountain。

〃The　sly　old　wolf！〃　thought　Corentin；　as　the　shining　muzzle　of　the　last　gun　disappeared　in　the　bushes。　〃The　Gars　is　done　for。　If　Marie　had　only　betrayed　that　damned　marquis；　she　and　I　would　have　been　united　in　the　strongest　of　all　bondsa　vile　deed。　But　she's　mine；　in　any　case。〃

The　twelve　young　men　under　Gudin　soon　reached　the　base　of　the　rocks　of　Saint…Sulpice。　Here　Gudin　himself　left　the　road　with　six　of　them；　jumping　the　stiff　hedge　into　the　first　field　of　gorse　that　he　came　to；　while　the　other　six　by　his　orders　did　the　same　on　the　other　side　of　the　road。　Gudin　advanced　to　an　apple…tree　which　happened　to　be　in　the　middle　of　the　field。　Hearing　the　rustle　of　this　movement　through　the　gorse；　seven　or　eight　men；　at　the　head　of　whom　was　Beau…Pied；　hastily　hid　behind　some　chestnut…trees　which　topped　the　bank　of　this　particular　field。　Gudin's　men　did　not　see　them；　in　spite　of　the　white　reflections　of　the　hoar…frost　and　their　own　practised　sight。

〃Hush！　here　they　are；〃　said　Beau…Pied；　cautiously　putting　out　his　head。　〃The　brigands　have　more　men　than　we；　but　we　have　'em　at　the　muzzles　of　our　guns；　and　we　mustn't　miss　them；　or；　by　the　Lord；　we　are　not　fit　to　be　soldiers　of　the　pope。〃

By　this　time　Gudin's　keen　eyes　had　discovered　a　few　muzzles　pointing　through　the　branches　at　his　little　squad。　Just　then　eight　voices　cried　in　derision；　〃Qui　vive？〃　and　eight　shots　followed。　The　balls　whistled　round　Gudin　and　his　men。　One　fell；　another　was　shot　in　the　arm。　The　five　others　who　were　safe　and　sound　replied　with　a　volley　and　the　cry；　〃Friends！〃　Then　they　marched　rapidly　on　their　assailants　so　as　to　reach　them　before　they　had　time　to　reload。

〃We　did　not　know　how　true　we　spoke；〃　cried　Gudin；　as　he　recognized　the　uniforms　and　the　battered　hats　of　his　own　brigade。　〃Well；　we　behaved　like　Bretons；　and　fought　before　explaining。〃

The　other　men　were　stupefied　on　recognizing　the　little　company。

〃Who　the　devil　would　have　known　them　in　those　goatskins？〃　cried　Beau…　Pied；　dismally。

〃It　is　a　misfortune；〃　said　Gudin；　〃but　we　are　all　innocent　if　you　were　not　informed　of　the　sortie。　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　asked。

〃A　dozen　of　those　Chouans　are　amusing　themselves　by　picking　us　off；　and　we　are　getting　away　as　best　we　can；　like　poisoned　rats；　but　by　dint　of　scrambling　over　these　hedges　and　rocksmay　the　lightning　blast　'em！our　compasses　have　got　so　rusty　we　are　forced　to　take　a　rest。　I　think　those　brigands　are　now　somewhere　near　the　old　hovel　where　you　see　that　smoke。〃

〃Good！〃　cried　Gudin。　〃You；〃　he　added　to　Beau…Pied　and　his　men；　〃fall　back　towards　the　rocks　through　the　fields；　and　join　the　line　of　sentinels　you'll　find　there。　You　can't　go　with　us；　because　you　are　in　uniform。　We　mean　to　make　an　end　of　those　curs　now；　the　Gars　is　with　them。　I　can't　stop　to　tell　you　more。　To　the　right；　march！　and　don't　administer　any　more　shots　to　our　own　goatskins；　you'll　know　ours　by　their　cravats；　which　they　twist　round　their　necks　and　don't　tie。

Gudin　left　his　two　wounded　men　under　the　apple…tree；　and　marched　towards　Galope…Chopine's　cottage；　which　Beau…Pied　had　pointed　out　to　him；　the　smoke　from　the　chimney　serving　as　a　guide。

While　the　young　officer　was　thus　closing　in　upon　the　Chouans；　the　little　detachment　under　Hulot　had　reached　a　point　still　parallel　with　that　at　which　Gudin　had　arrived。　The　old　soldier；　at　the　head　of　his　men；　was　silently　gliding　along　the　hedges　with　the　ardor　of　a　young　man；　he　jumped　them　from　time　to　time　actively　enough；　casting　his　wary　eyes　to　the　heights　and　listening　with　the　ear　of　a　hunter　to　every　noise。　In　the　third　field　to　which　he　came　he　found　a　woman　about　thirty　years　old；　with　bent　back；　hoeing　the　ground　vigorously；　while　a　small　boy　with　a　sickle　in　his　hand　was　knocking　the　hoarfrost　from　the　rushes；　which　he　cut　and　laid　in　a　heap。　At　the　noise　Hulot　made　in　jumping　the　hedge；　the　boy　and　his　mother　raised　their　heads。　Hulot　mistook　the　young　woman　for　an　old　one；　naturally　enough。　Wrinkles；　coming　long　before　their　time；　furrowed　her　face　and　neck；　she　was　clothed　so　grotesquely　in　a　worn…out　goatskin　that　if　it　had　not　been　for　a　dirty　yellow　petticoat；　a　distinctive　mark　of　sex；　Hulot　would　hardly　have　known　the　gender　she　belonged　to；　for　the　meshes　of　her　long　black　hair　were　twisted　up　and　hidden　by　a　red　worsted　cap。　The　tatters　of　the　little　boy　did　not　cover　him；　but　left　his　skin　exposed。

〃Ho！　old　woman！〃　called　Hulot；　in　a　low　voice；　approaching　her；　〃where　is　the　Gars？〃

The　twenty　men　who　accompanied　Hulot　now　jumped　the　hedge。

〃Hey！　if　you　want　the　Gars　you'll　have　to　go　back　the　way　you　came；〃　said　the　woman；　with　a　suspicious　glance　at　the　troop。

〃Did　I　ask　you　the　road　to　Fougeres；　old　carcass？〃　said　Hulot；　roughly。　〃By　Saint…Anne　of　Auray；　have　you　seen　the　Gars　go　by？〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；〃　replied　the　woman；　bending　over　her　hoe。

〃You　damned　garce；　do　you　want　to　have　us　eaten　up　by　the　Blues　who　are　after　us？〃

At　these　words　the　woman　raised　her　head　and　gave　another　look　of　distrust　at　the　troop　as　she　replied；　〃How　can　the　Blues　be　after　you？　I　have　just　seen　eight　or　ten　of　them　who　were　going　back　to　Fougeres　by　the　lower　road。〃

〃One　would　think　she　meant　to　stab　us　with　that　nose　of　hers！〃　cried　Hulot。　〃Here；　look；　you　old　nanny…goat！〃

And　he　showed　her　in　the　distance　three　or　four　of　his　sentinels；　whose　hats；　guns；　and　uniforms　it　was　easy　to　recognize。

〃Are　you　going　to　let　those　fellows　cut　the　throats　of　men　who　are　sent　by　Marche…a…Terre　to　protect　the　Gars？〃　he　cried；　angrily。

〃Ah；　beg　pardon；〃　said　the　woman；　〃but　it　is　so　easy　to　be　deceived。　What　parish　do　you　belong　to？〃

〃Saint…Georges；〃　replied　two　or　three　of　the　men；　in　the　Breton　patois；　〃and　we　are　dying　of　hunger。〃

〃Well；　there；〃　said　the　woman；　〃do　you　see　that　smoke　down　there？　that's　my　house。　Follow　the　path　to　the　right；　and　you　will　come　to　the　rock　above　it。　Perhaps　you'll　meet　my　man　on　the　way。　Galope…　Chopine　is　sure　to　be　on　watch　to　warn　the　Gars。　He　is　spending　the　day　in　our　house；〃　she　said；　proudly；　〃as　you　seem　to　know。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　good　woman；〃　replied　Hulot。　〃Forward；　march！　God's　thunder！　we've　got　him；〃　he　added；　speaking　to　his　men。

The　detachment　followed　its　leader　at　a　quick　step　through　the　path　pointed　out　to　them。　The　wife　of　Galope…Chopine　turned　pale　as　she　heard　the　un…Catholic　oath　of　the　so…called　Chouan。　She　looked　at　the　gaiters　and　goatskins　of　his　men；　then　she　caught　her　boy　in　her　arms；　and　sat　down　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃May　the　holy　Virgin　of　Auray　and　the　ever　blessed　Saint…Labre　have　pity　upon　us！　Those　men　are　not　ours；　their　shoes　have　no　nails　in　them。　Run　down　by　the　lower　road　and　warn　your　father；　you　may　save　his　head；〃　she　said　to　the　boy；　who　disappeared　like　a　deer　among　the　bushes。

*****

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　met　no　one　on　her　way；　neither　Blues　nor　Chouans。　Seeing　the　column　of　blue　smoke　which　was　rising　from　the　half…ruined　chimney　of　Galope…Chopine's　melancholy　dwelling；　her　heart　was　seized　with　a　violent　palpitation；　the　rapid；　sonorous　beating　of　which　rose　to　her　throat　in　waves。　She　stopped；　rested　her　hand　against　a　tree；　and　watched　the　smoke　which　was　serving　as　a　beacon　to　the　foes　as　well　as　to　the　friends　of　the　young　chieftain。　Never　had　she　felt　such　overwhelming　emotion。

〃Ah！　I　love　him　too　much；〃　she　said；　with　a　sort　of　despair。　〃To…day；　perhaps；　I　shall　no　longer　be　mistress　of　myself〃

She　hurried　over　the　distance　which　separated　her　from　the　cottage；　and　reached　the　courtyard；　the　filth　of　which　was　now　stiffened　by　the　frost。　The　big　dog　sprang　up　barking；　but　a　word　from　Galope…Chopine　silenced　him　and　he　wagged　his　tail。　As　she　entered　the　house　Marie　gave　a　look　which　included　everything。　The　marquis　was　not　there。　She　breathed　more　freely；　and　saw　with　pleasure　that　the　Chouan　had　taken　some　pains　to　clean　the　dirty　and　only　room　in　his　hovel。　He　now　took　his　duck…gun；　bowed　silently　to　his　guest　and　left　the　house；　followed　by　his　dog。　Marie　went　to　the　threshold　of　the　door　and　watched　him　as　he　took　the　path　to　the　right　of　his　hut。　From　there　she　could　overlook　a　series　of　fields；　the　curious　openings　to　which　formed　a　perspective　of　gates；　for　the　leafless　trees　and　hedges　were　no　longer　a　barrier　to　a　full　view　of　the　country。　When　the　Chouan's　broad　hat　was　out　of　sight　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　turned　round　to　look　for　the　church　at　Fougeres；　but　the　shed　concealed　it。　She　cast　her　eyes　over　the　valley　of　the　Couesnon；　which　lay　before　her　like　a　vast　sheet　of　muslin；　the　whiteness　of　which　still　further　dulled　a　gray　sky　laden　with　snow。　It　was　one　of　those　days　when　nature　seems　dumb　and　noises　are　absorbed　by　the　atmosphere。　Therefore；　though　the　Blues　and　their　contingent　were　marching　through　the　country　in　three　lines；　forming　a　triangle　which　drew　together　as　they　neared　the　cottage；　the　silence　was　so　profound　that　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　overcome　by　a　presentiment　which　added　a　sort　of　physical　pain　to　her　mental　torture。　Misfortune　was　in　the　air。

At　last；　in　a　spot　where　a　little　curtain　of　wood　closed　the　perspective　of　gates；　she　saw　a　young　man　jumping　the　barriers　like　a　squirrel　and　running　with　astonishing　rapidity。　〃It　is　he！〃　she　thought。

The　Gars　was　dressed　as　a　Chouan；　with　a　musket　slung　from　his　shoulder　over　his　goatskin；　and　would　have　been　quite　disguised　were　it　not　for　the　grace　of　his　movements。　Marie　withdrew　hastily　into　the　cottage；　obeying　one　of　those　instinctive　promptings　which　are　as　little　explicable　as　fear　itself。　The　young　man　was　soon　beside　her　before　the　chimney；　where　a　bri