the chouans-第7章

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The　words　reached　the　ears　of　the　young　leader　of　the　Chouans　and　his　ferocious　aide…de…camp；　and　the　royalists　made　a　hasty　retrograde　movement；　checked；　however；　by　a　brutal　shout　from　Marche…a…Terre。　After　two　or　three　orders　given　by　the　leader　in　a　low　voice；　and　transmitted　by　Marche…a…Terre　in　the　Breton　dialect；　the　Chouans　made　good　their　retreat　with　a　cleverness　which　disconcerted　the　Republicans　and　even　the　commandant。　At　the　first　word　of　command　they　formed　in　line；　presenting　a　good　front；　behind　which　the　wounded　retreated；　and　the　others　reloaded　their　guns。　Then；　suddenly；　with　the　agility　already　shown　by　Marche…a…Terre；　the　wounded　were　taken　over　the　brow　of　the　eminence　to　the　right　of　the　road；　while　half　the　others　followed　them　slowly　to　occupy　the　summit；　where　nothing　could　be　seen　of　them　by　the　Blues　but　their　bold　heads。　There　they　made　a　rampart　of　the　trees　and　pointed　the　muzzles　of　their　guns　on　the　Republicans；　who　were　rapidly　reformed　under　reiterated　orders　from　Hulot　and　turned　to　face　the　remainder　of　the　Chouans；　who　were　still　before　them　in　the　road。　The　latter　retreated　slowly；　disputing　the　ground　and　wheeling　so　as　to　bring　themselves　under　cover　of　their　comrades'　fire。　When　they　reached　the　broad　ditch　which　bordered　the　road；　they　scaled　the　high　bank　on　the　other　side；　braving　the　fire　of　the　Republicans；　which　was　sufficiently　well…directed　to　fill　the　ditch　with　dead　bodies。　The　Chouans　already　on　the　summit　answered　with　a　fire　that　was　no　less　deadly。　At　that　moment　the　National　Guard　of　Fougeres　reached　the　scene　of　action　at　a　quick　step；　and　its　mere　presence　put　an　end　to　the　affair。　The　Guard　and　some　of　the　soldiers　crossed　the　road　and　began　to　enter　the　woods；　but　the　commandant　called　to　them　in　his　martial　voice；　〃Do　you　want　to　be　annihilated　over　there？〃

The　victory　remained　to　the　Republicans；　though　not　without　heavy　loss。　All　the　battered　old　hats　were　hung　on　the　points　of　the　bayonets　and　the　muskets　held　aloft；　while　the　soldiers　shouted　with　one　voice：　〃Vive　la　Republique！〃　Even　the　wounded；　sitting　by　the　roadside；　shared　in　the　general　enthusiasm；　and　Hulot；　pressing　Gerard's　hand；　exclaimed：

〃Ha；　ha！　those　are　what　I　call　/veterans/！〃

Merle　was　directed　to　bury　the　dead　in　a　ravine；　while　another　party　of　men　attended　to　the　removal　of　the　wounded。　The　carts　and　horses　of　the　neighborhood　were　put　into　requisition；　and　the　suffering　men　were　carefully　laid　on　the　clothing　of　the　dead。　Before　the　little　column　started；　the　National　Guard　of　Fougeres　turned　over　to　Hulot　a　Chouan；　dangerously　wounded；　whom　they　had　captured　at　the　foot　of　the　slope　up　which　his　comrades　had　escaped；　and　where　he　had　fallen　from　weakness。

〃Thanks　for　your　help；　citizens；〃　said　the　commandant。　〃God's　thunder！　if　it　hadn't　been　for　you；　we　should　have　had　a　pretty　bad　quarter　of　an　hour。　Take　care　of　yourselves；　the　war　has　begun。　Adieu；　friends。〃　Then；　turning　to　the　prisoner；　he　asked；　〃What's　the　name　of　your　general？〃

〃The　Gars。〃

〃Who？　Marche…a…Terre？〃

〃No；　the　Gars。〃

〃Where　does　the　Gars　come　from？〃

To　this　question　the　prisoner；　whose　face　was　convulsed　with　suffering；　made　no　reply；　he　took　out　his　beads　and　began　to　say　his　prayers。

〃The　Gars　is　no　doubt　that　young　/ci…devant/　with　the　black　cravat；　sent　by　the　tyrant　and　his　allies　Pitt　and　Coburg。〃

At　that　words　the　Chouan　raised　his　head　proudly　and　said：　〃Sent　by　God　and　the　king！〃　He　uttered　the　words　with　an　energy　which　exhausted　his　strength。　The　commandant　saw　the　difficulty　of　questioning　a　dying　man；　whose　countenance　expressed　his　gloomy　fanaticism；　and　he　turned　away　his　head　with　a　frown。　Two　soldiers；　friends　of　those　whom　Marche…a…Terre　had　so　brutally　killed　with　the　butt　of　his　whip；　stepped　back　a　pace　or　two；　took　aim　at　the　Chouan；　whose　fixed　eyes　did　not　blink　at　the　muzzles　of　their　guns；　fired　at　short　range；　and　brought　him　down。　When　they　approached　the　dead　body　to　strip　it；　the　dying　man　found　strength　to　cry　out　loudly；　〃Vive　le　roi！〃

〃Yes；　yes；　you　canting　hypocrite；〃　cried　Clef…des…Coeurs；　〃go　and　make　your　report　to　that　Virgin　of　yours。　Didn't　he　shout　in　our　faces；　'Vive　le　roi！'　when　we　thought　him　cooked？〃

〃Here　are　his　papers；　commandant；〃　said　Beau…Pied。

〃Ho！　ho！〃　cried　Clef…des…Coeurs。　〃Come；　all　of　you；　and　see　this　minion　of　the　good　God　with　colors　on　his　stomach！〃

Hulot　and　several　soldiers　came　round　the　body；　now　entirely　naked；　and　saw　upon　its　breast　a　blue　tattooing　in　the　form　of　a　swollen　heart。　It　was　the　sign　of　initiation　into　the　brotherhood　of　the　Sacred　Heart。　Above　this　sign　were　the　words；　〃Marie　Lambrequin；〃　no　doubt　the　man's　name。

〃Look　at　that；　Clef…des…Coeurs；〃　said　Beau…Pied；　〃it　would　take　you　a　hundred　years　to　find　out　what　that　accoutrement　is　good　for。〃

〃What　should　I　know　about　the　Pope's　uniform？〃　replied　Clef…des…Coeurs；　scornfully。

〃You　worthless　bog…trotter；　you'll　never　learn　anything；〃　retorted　Beau…Pied。　〃Don't　you　see　that　they've　promised　that　poor　fool　that　he　shall　live　again；　and　he　has　painted　his　gizzard　in　order　to　find　himself？〃

At　this　sallywhich　was　not　without　some　foundationeven　Hulot　joined　in　the　general　hilarity。　At　this　moment　Merle　returned；　and　the　burial　of　the　dead　being　completed　and　the　wounded　placed　more　or　less　comfortably　in　two　carts；　the　rest　of　the　late　escort　formed　into　two　lines　round　the　improvised　ambulances；　and　descended　the　slope　of　the　mountain　towards　Maine；　where　the　beautiful　valley　of　La　Pelerine；　a　rival　to　that　of　Couesnon　lay　before　it。

Hulot　with　his　two　officers　followed　the　troop　slowly；　hoping　to　get　safely　to　Ernee　where　the　wounded　could　be　cared　for。　The　fight　we　have　just　described；　which　was　almost　forgotten　in　the　midst　of　the　greater　events　which　were　soon　to　occur；　was　called　by　the　name　of　the　mountain　on　which　it　took　place。　It　obtained　some　notice　at　the　West；　where　the　inhabitants；　observant　of　this　second　uprising；　noticed　on　this　occasion　a　great　change　in　the　manner　in　which　the　Chouans　now　made　war。　In　earlier　days　they　would　never　have　attacked　so　large　a　detachment。　According　to　Hulot　the　young　royalist　whom　he　had　seen　was　undoubtedly　the　Gars；　the　new　general　sent　to　France　by　the　princes；　who；　following　the　example　of　the　other　royalist　chiefs；　concealed　his　real　name　and　title　under　one　of　those　pseudonyms　called　〃noms　de　guerre。〃　This　circumstance　made　the　commandant　quite　as　uneasy　after　his　melancholy　victory　as　he　had　been　before　it　while　expecting　the　attack。　He　turned　several　times　to　consider　the　table…land　of　La　Pelerine　which　he　was　leaving　behind　him；　across　which　he　could　still　hear　faintly　at　intervals　the　drums　of　the　National　Guard　descending　into　the　valley　of　Couesnon　at　the　same　time　that　the　Blues　were　descending　into　that　of　La　Pelerine。

〃Can　either　of　you；〃　he　said　to　his　two　friends；　〃guess　the　motives　of　that　attack　of　the　Chouans？　To　them；　fighting　is　a　matter　of　business；　and　I　can't　see　what　they　expected　to　gain　by　this　attack。　They　have　lost　at　least　a　hundred　men；　and　we〃he　added；　screwing　up　his　right　cheek　and　winking　by　way　of　a　smile；　〃have　lost　only　sixty。　God's　thunder！　I　don't　understand　that　sort　of　speculation。　The　scoundrels　needn't　have　attacked　us；　we　might　just　as　well　have　been　allowed　to　pass　like　letters　through　the　postNo；　I　don't　see　what　good　it　has　done　them　to　bullet…hole　our　men；〃　he　added；　with　a　sad　shake　of　his　head　toward　the　carts。　〃Perhaps　they　only　intended　to　say　good…day　to　us。〃

〃But　they　carried　off　our　recruits；　commander；〃　said　Merle。

〃The　recruits　could　have　skipped　like　frogs　into　the　woods　at　any　time；　and　we　should　never　have　gone　after　them；　especially　if　those　fellows　had　fired　a　single　volley；〃　returned　Hulot。　〃No；　no；　there's　something　behind　all　this。〃　Again　he　turned　and　looked　at　La　Pelerine。　〃See！〃　he　cried；　〃see　there！〃

Though　they　were　now　at　a　long　distance　from　the　fatal　plateau；　they　could　easily　distinguish　Marche…a…Terre　and　several　Chouans　who　were　again　occupying　it。

〃Double…quick；　march！〃　cried　Hulot　to　his　men；　〃open　your　compasses　and　trot　the　steeds　faster　than　that！　Are　your　legs　frozen？〃

These　words　drove　the　little　troop　into　a　rapid　motion。

〃There's　a　mystery；　and　it's　hard　to　make　out；〃　continued　Hulot；　speaking　to　his　friends。　〃God　grant　it　isn't　explained　by　muskets　at　Ernee。　I'm　very　much　afraid　that　we　shall　find　the　road　to　Mayenne　cut　off　by　the　king's　men。〃

*****

The　strategical　problem　which　troubled　the　commandant　was　causing　quite　as　much　uneasiness　to　the　persons　whom　he　had　just　seen　on　the　summit　of　Mont　Pelerine。　As　soon　as　the　drums　of　the　National　Guard　were　out　of　hearing　and　Marche…a…Terre　had　seen　the　Blues　at　the　foot　of　the　declivity；　he　gave　the　owl's　cry　joyously；　and　the　Chouans　reappeared；　but　their　numbers　were　less。　Some　were　no　doubt　busy　in　taking　care　of　the　wounded　in　the　little　village　of　La　Pelerine；　situated　on　the　side　of　the　mountain　which　looks　toward　the　valley　of　Couesnon。　Two　or　three　chiefs　of　what　were　called　the　〃Chasseurs　du　Roi〃　clustered　about　Marche…a…Terre。　A　few　feet　apart　sat　the　young　noble　called　The　Gars；　on　a　granite　rock；　absorbed　in　thoughts　excited　by　the　difficulties　of　his　enterprise；　which　now　began　to　show　themselves。　Marche…a…Terre　screened　his　forehead　with　his　hand　from　the　rays　of　the　sun；　and　looked　gloomily　at　the　road　by　which　the　Blues　were　crossing　the　valley　of　La　Pelerine。　His　small　black　eyes　could　see　what　was　happening　on　the　hill…slopes　on　the　other　side　of　the　valley。

〃The　Blues　will　intercept　the　messenger；〃　said　the　angry　voice　of　one　of　the　leaders　who　stood　near　him。

〃By　Saint　Anne　of　Auray！〃　exclaimed　another。　〃Why　did　you　make　us　fight？　Was　it　to　save　your　own　skin　from　the　Blues？〃

Marche…a…Terre　darted　a　venomous　look　at　his　questioner　and　struck　the　ground　with　his　heavy　carbine。

〃Am　I　your　leader？〃　he　asked。　Then　after　a　pause　he　added；　pointing　to　the　remains　of　Hulot's　detachment；　〃If　you　had　all　fought　as　I　did；　not　one　of　those　Blues　would　have　escaped；　and　the　coach　could　have　got　here　safely。〃

〃They'd　never　have　thought　of　escorting　it　or　holding　it　back　if　we　had　let　them　go　by　without　a　fight。　No；　you　wanted　to　save　your　precious　skin　and　get　out　of　their　handsHe　has　bled　us　for　the　sake　of　his　own　snout；〃　continued　the　orator；　〃and　made　us　lose　twenty　thousand　francs　in　good　coin。〃

〃Snout　yourself！〃　cried　Marche…a…Terre；　retreating　three　steps　and　aiming　at　his　aggressor。　〃It　isn't　that　you　hate　the　Blues；　but　you　love　the　gold。　Die　without　confession　and　be　damned；　for　you　haven't　taken　the　sacrament　for　a　year。〃

This　insult　so　incensed　the　Chouan　that　he　turned　pale　and　a　low　growl　came　from　his　chest　as　he　aimed　in　turn　at　Marche…a…Terre。　The　young　chief　sprang　between　them　and　struck　their　weapons　from　their　hands　with　the　barrel　of　his　own　carbine；　then　he　demanded　an　explanation　of　the　dispute；　for　the　conversation　had　been　carried　on　in　the　Breton　dialect；　an　idiom　with　which　he　was　not　familiar。

〃Monsieur　le　marquis；〃　said　Marche…a…Terre；　as　he　ended　his　account　of　the　quarrel；　〃it　is　all　the　more　unreasonable　in　them　to　find　fault　with　me　because　I　have　left　Pille…Miche　behind　me；　he'