the chouans-第6章

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ut；　like　a　figure　in　a　pantomime；　he　disappeared　in　a　second　among　the　tufts　of　gorse。　These　events；　which　have　taken　so　many　words　to　tell；　happened　instantaneously；　and　in　another　moment　the　rear…guard　of　patriots　and　soldiers　had　joined　the　main　body　of　the　escort。

〃Forward！〃　cried　Hulot。

The　company　moved　quickly　to　the　higher　and　more　open　ground　on　which　the　picket　guard　was　already　stationed。　There；　the　commander　formed　his　troop　once　more　into　line　of　battle；　but；　as　the　Chouans　made　no　further　hostile　demonstrations；　he　began　to　think　that　the　deliverance　of　the　conscripts　might　have　been　the　sole　object　of　the　ambuscade。

〃Their　cries；〃　he　said　to　his　two　friends；　〃prove　that　they　are　not　numerous。　We'll　advance　at　a　quick　step；　and　possibly　we　may　be　able　to　reach　Ernee　without　getting　them　on　our　backs。〃

These　words　were　overheard　by　one　of　the　patriot　conscripts；　who　stepped　from　the　ranks；　and　said　respectfully：

〃General；　I　have　already　fought　the　Chouans；　may　I　be　allowed　a　word？〃

〃A　lawyer；〃　whispered　Hulot　to　Merle。　〃They　always　want　to　harangue。　Argue　away；〃　he　said　to　the　young　man。

〃General；　the　Chouans　have　no　doubt　brought　arms　for　those　escaped　recruits。　Now；　if　we　try　to　outmarch　them；　they　will　catch　us　in　the　woods　and　shoot　every　one　of　us　before　we　can　get　to　Ernee。　We　must　argue；　as　you　call　it；　with　cartridges。　During　the　skirmish；　which　will　last　more　time　than　you　think　for；　some　of　us　ought　to　go　back　and　fetch　the　National　Guard　and　the　militia　from　Fougeres。〃

〃Then　you　think　there　are　a　good　many　Chouans？〃

〃Judge　for　yourself；　citizen　commander。〃

He　led　Hulot　to　a　place　where　the　sand　had　been　stirred　as　with　a　rake；　then　he　took　him　to　the　opening　of　a　wood…path；　where　the　leaves　were　scattered　and　trampled　into　the　earth；unmistakable　signs　of　the　passage　of　a　large　body　of　men。

〃Those　were　the　'gars'　from　Vitre；'　said　the　man；　who　came　himself　from　Fougeres；　〃they　are　on　their　way　to　Lower　Normandy。〃

〃What　is　your　name？〃　asked　Hulot。

〃Gudin；　commander。〃

〃Well；　then；　Gudin；　I　make　you　a　corporal。　You　seem　to　me　trustworthy。　Select　a　man　to　send　to　Fougeres；　but　stay　yourself　with　me。　In　the　first　place；　however；　take　two　or　three　of　your　comrades　and　bring　in　the　muskets　and　ammunition　of　the　poor　fellows　those　brigands　have　rolled　into　the　ditch。　These　Bretons；〃　added　Hulot　to　Gerard；　〃will　make　famous　infantry　if　they　take　to　rations。〃

Gudin's　emissary　started　on　a　run　to　Fougeres　by　a　wood…road　to　the　left；　the　soldiers　looked　to　their　arms；　and　awaited　an　attack；　the　commandant　passed　along　their　line；　smiling　to　them；　and　then　placed　himself　with　his　officers；　a　little　in　front　of　it。　Silence　fell　once　more；　but　it　was　of　short　duration。　Three　hundred　or　more　Chouans；　their　clothing　identical　with　that　of　the　late　recruits；　burst　from　the　woods　to　the　right　with　actual　howls　and　planted　themselves；　without　any　semblance　of　order；　on　the　road　directly　in　front　of　the　feeble　detachment　of　the　Blues。　The　commandant　thereupon　ranged　his　soldiers　in　two　equal　parts；　each　with　a　front　of　ten　men。　Between　them；　he　placed　the　twelve　recruits；　to　whom　he　hastily　gave　arms；　putting　himself　at　their　head。　This　little　centre　was　protected　by　the　two　wings；　of　twenty…five　men　each；　which　manoeuvred　on　either　side　of　the　road　under　the　orders　of　Merle　and　Gerard；　their　object　being　to　catch　the　Chouans　on　the　flank　and　prevent　them　from　posting　themselves　as　sharp…shooters　among　the　trees；　where　they　could　pick　off　the　Blues　without　risk　to　themselves；　for　in　these　wars　the　Republican　troops　never　knew　where　to　look　for　an　enemy。

These　arrangements；　hastily　made；　gave　confidence　to　the　soldiers；　and　they　advanced　in　silence　upon　the　Chouans。　At　the　end　of　a　few　seconds　each　side　fired；　with　the　loss　of　several　men。　At　this　moment　the　two　wings　of　the　Republicans；　to　whom　the　Chouans　had　nothing　to　oppose；　came　upon　their　flanks；　and；　with　a　close；　quick　volley；　sent　death　and　disorder　among　the　enemy。　This　manoeuvre　very　nearly　equalized　the　numerical　strength　of　the　two　parties。　But　the　Chouan　nature　was　so　intrepid；　their　will　so　firm；　that　they　did　not　give　way；　their　losses　scarcely　staggered　them；　they　simply　closed　up　and　attempted　to　surround　the　dark　and　well…formed　little　party　of　the　Blues；　which　covered　so　little　ground　that　it　looked　from　a　distance　like　a　queen…　bee　surrounded　by　the　swarm。

The　Chouans　might　have　carried　the　day　at　this　moment　if　the　two　wings　commanded　by　Merle　and　Gerard　had　not　succeeded　in　getting　in　two　volleys　which　took　them　diagonally　on　their　rear。　The　Blues　of　the　two　wings　ought　to　have　remained　in　position　and　continued　to　pick　off　in　this　way　their　terrible　enemies；　but　excited　by　the　danger　of　their　little　main　body；　then　completely　surrounded　by　the　Chouans；　they　flung　themselves　headlong　into　the　road　with　fixed　bayonets　and　made　the　battle　even　for　a　few　moments。　Both　sides　fought　with　a　stubbornness　intensified　by　the　cruelty　and　fury　of　the　partisan　spirit　which　made　this　war　exceptional。　Each　man；　observant　of　danger；　was　silent。　The　scene　was　gloomy　and　cold　as　death　itself。　Nothing　was　heard　through　the　clash　of　arms　and　the　grinding　of　the　sand　under　foot　but　the　moans　and　exclamations　of　those　who　fell；　either　dead　or　badly　wounded。　The　twelve　loyal　recruits　in　the　republican　main　body　protected　the　commandant　（who　was　guiding　his　men　and　giving　orders）　with　such　courage　that　more　than　once　several　soldiers　called　out　〃Bravo；　conscripts！〃

Hulot；　imperturbable　and　with　an　eye　to　everything；　presently　remarked　among　the　Chouans　a　man　who；　like　himself；　was　evidently　surrounded　by　picked　men；　and　was　therefore；　no　doubt；　the　leader　of　the　attacking　party。　He　was　eager　to　see　this　man　distinctly；　and　he　made　many　efforts　to　distinguish　his　features；　but　in　vain；　they　were　hidden　by　the　red　caps　and　broad…brimmed　hats　of　those　about　him。　Hulot　did；　however；　see　Marche…a…Terre　beside　this　leader；　repeating　his　orders　in　a　hoarse　voice；　his　own　carbine；　meanwhile；　being　far　from　inactive。　The　commandant　grew　impatient　at　being　thus　baffled。　Waving　his　sword；　he　urged　on　the　recruits　and　charged　the　centre　of　the　Chouans　with　such　fury　that　he　broke　through　their　line　and　came　close　to　their　chief；　whose　face；　however；　was　still　hidden　by　a　broad…　brimmed　felt　hat　with　a　white　cockade。　But　the　invisible　leader；　surprised　at　so　bold　an　attack；　retreated　a　step　or　two　and　raised　his　hat　abruptly；　thus　enabling　Hulot　to　get　a　hasty　idea　of　his　appearance。

He　was　young；Hulot　thought　him　to　be　about　twenty…five；　he　wore　a　hunting…jacket　of　green　cloth；　and　a　white　belt　containing　pistols。　His　heavy　shoes　were　hobnailed　like　those　of　the　Chouans；　leather　leggings　came　to　his　knees　covering　the　ends　of　his　breeches　of　very　coarse　drilling；　and　completing　a　costume　which　showed　off　a　slender　and　well…poised　figure　of　medium　height。　Furious　that　the　Blues　should　thus　have　approached　him；　he　pulled　his　hat　again　over　his　face　and　sprang　towards　them。　But　he　was　instantly　surrounded　by　Marche…a…Terre　and　several　Chouans。　Hulot　thought　he　perceived　between　the　heads　which　clustered　about　this　young　leader；　a　broad　red　ribbon　worn　across　his　chest。　The　eyes　of　the　commandant；　caught　by　this　royal　decoration　（then　almost　forgotten　by　republicans）；　turned　quickly　to　the　young　man's　face；　which；　however；　he　soon　lost　sight　of　under　the　necessity　of　controlling　and　protecting　his　own　little　troop。　Though　he　had　barely　time　to　notice　a　pair　of　brilliant　eyes　（the　color　of　which　escaped　him）；　fair　hair　and　delicate　features　bronzed　by　the　sun；　he　was　much　struck　by　the　dazzling　whiteness　of　the　neck；　relieved　by　a　black　cravat　carelessly　knotted。　The　fiery　attitude　of　the　young　leader　proved　him　to　be　a　soldier　of　the　stamp　of　those　who　bring　a　certain　conventional　poesy　into　battle。　His　well…gloved　hand　waved　above　his　head　a　sword　which　gleamed　in　the　sunlight。　His　whole　person　gave　an　impression　both　of　elegance　and　strength。　An　air　of　passionate　self…devotion；　enhanced　by　the　charms　of　youth　and　distinguished　manners；　made　this　/emigre/　a　graceful　image　of　the　French　/noblesse/。　He　presented　a　strong　contrast　to　Hulot；　who；　ten　feet　distant　from　him；　was　quite　as　vivid　an　image　of　the　vigorous　Republic　for　which　the　old　soldier　was　fighting；　his　stern　face；　his　well…worn　blue　uniform　with　its　shabby　red　facings　and　its　blackened　epaulettes　hanging　back　of　his　shoulders；　being　visible　signs　of　its　needs　and　character。

The　graceful　attitude　and　expression　of　the　young　man　were　not　lost　on　the　commandant；　who　exclaimed　as　he　pressed　towards　him：　〃Come　on；　opera…dancer；　come　on；　and　let　me　crush　you！〃

The　royalist　leader；　provoked　by　his　momentary　disadvantage；　advanced　with　an　angry　movement；　but　at　the　same　moment　the　men　who　were　about　him　rushed　forward　and　flung　themselves　with　fury　on　the　Blues。　Suddenly　a　soft；　clear　voice　was　heard　above　the　din　of　battle　saying：　〃Here　died　Saint…Lescure！　Shall　we　not　avenge　him？〃

At　the　magic　words　the　efforts　of　the　Chouans　became　terrible；　and　the　soldiers　of　the　Republic　had　great　difficulty　in　maintaining　themselves　without　breaking　their　little　line　of　battle。

〃If　he　wasn't　a　young　man；〃　thought　Hulot；　as　he　retreated　step　by　step；　〃we　shouldn't　have　been　attacked　in　this　way。　Who　ever　heard　of　the　Chouans　fighting　an　open　battle？　Well；　all　the　better！　they　won't　shoot　us　off　like　dogs　along　the　road。〃　Then；　raising　his　voice　till　it　echoed　through　the　woods；　he　exclaimed；　〃Come　on；　my　men！　Shall　we　let　ourselves　be　/fooled/　by　those　brigands？〃

The　word　here　given　is　but　a　feeble　equivalent　of　the　one　the　brave　commandant　used；　but　every　veteran　can　substitute　the　real　one；　which　was　far　more　soldierly　in　character。

〃Gerard！　Merle！〃　added　Hulot；　〃call　in　your　men；　form　them　into　a　battalion；　take　the　rear；　fire　upon　those　dogs；　and　let's　make　an　end　of　this！〃

The　order　was　difficult　to　obey；　for　the　young　chief；　hearing　Hulot's　voice；　cried　out：　〃By　Saint　Anne　of　Auray；　don't　let　them　get　away！　Spread　out；　spread　out；　my　lads！〃　and　each　of　the　two　wings　of　the　Blues　was　followed　by　Chouans　who　were　fully　as　obstinate　and　far　superior　in　numbers。　The　Republicans　were　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　the　Goatskins　uttering　their　savage　cries；　which　were　more　like　howls。

〃Hold　your　tongues；　gentlemen；〃　cried　Beau…Pied；　〃we　can't　hear　ourselves　be　killed。〃

This　jest　revived　the　courage　of　the　Blues。　Instead　of　fighting　only　at　one　point；　the　Republicans　spread　themselves　to　three　different　points　on　the　table…land　of　La　Pelerine；　and　the　rattle　of　musketry　woke　all　the　echoes　of　the　valleys；　hitherto　so　peaceful　beneath　it。　Victory　might　have　remained　doubtful　for　many　hours；　or　the　fight　might　have　come　to　an　end　for　want　of　combatants；　for　Blues　and　Chouans　were　equally　brave　and　obstinate。　Each　side　was　growing　more　and　more　incensed；　when　the　sound　of　a　drum　in　the　distance　told　that　the　body　of　men　must　be　crossing　the　valley　of　Couesnon。

〃There's　the　National　Guard　of　Fougeres！〃　cried　Gudin；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃my　man　has　brought　them。〃

The　words　reached　the　ears　of　the　young　leader　of　the　Chouans　and　his　ferocious　aide…de…camp；　and　the　royalists　made　a　hasty　retro