IMAG« EVALUATION
TESi! ARGET (MT-3)

.^/

<- <t'

&
^

1.0

I.I

1.25

^1^ H^
z IS y2.o

2.2

U 11.6

Hiotographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. MSBO

(716) 872-4503

■1>^

^<b

C/u

CIHM
Microfiche
Series
(l\/lonographs)

ICMH

Collection de
microfiches
(monographies)

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techi

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original
copy available for filming. Features of this copy which
may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any
of the images in the reproduction, or which may
significantly change the usual method of filming, are
checked below.

D
D

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

Covers damaged/
Couverture endommagee

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restauree et/ou pelliculee

Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

Coloured maps/

Caites geographiques en couleur

Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations ?n couleur

□ Bound with other material/
Relie avec d'autres documents

Tight t inding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

La retiure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distorsion te long de la marge interieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may appear
within the text. Whenever possible, these have
been omitted from filming/
11 se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas ete filmees.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplementaires;

Various pagings.

This Item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est filme au taux de reduction indique ci-dessous.

'OX UX 1SX

22X

12X

16X

20X

Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques

L'Institut H microfilm^ le meilleur excmplaire qu'il
lui a et6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet
exemplaire qui sont peut-£tre uniques du point de vue
bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image
reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une >oodif ication
dans la methode normale de f ilmage sont indiques
ci-dessous.

□ Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur

n Pages damaged/
Pages endommagees

□ Pages restored and/or laminated/
Pages restaurees et/ou pellicultes

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages decolorees, tachetees ou piquees

I I Pages detached/

Pages detachees

Showthrough/
Transparence

□ Quality of print v<
Qualite inegale de

varies/
gale de I'impression

□ Continuous pagination/
Pagination continue

□ Includes ir
Comprend

index(es)/
Comprend un (des) index

Title on header taken from:/
Le litre de I'en-t6te provient:

□ Title page of issue/
Page de titre de la livraison

□ Caption ot issue/
Titre de depart de la li

vraison

□ Masth
Gener

Masthead/

ique (periodiques) de la liviaison

22X

26 X

30X

20X

24 X

28X

32 X

Tiie copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

National Library of Canada

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with p printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbo! ^^- (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:

ced thanks

ada

L'exemplaire film^ fut reproduit grdce d la
g6n6rosit6 de:

Bibliothdque nationale du Canada

I quality
legibility

li the

Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettet6 de rexemplaim i\\m6, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

are filmed
ing on
>d impres-
te. All
ng on the
npres-
a printed

Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprimde sont filmds en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
dernidre page qui comoorte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la
premidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la dernidre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

iche
"CON-
END"),

Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbole V signifie "FIN".

id at
ge to be
med
, left to
IS as
ate the

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre
film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour gtre
reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir
de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
lllustrent I& m^thode.

.-'^- -/

o Surrender!

» ' I '

lY.I

y^ f\^ . -v •=■•,]

tii"i I

NO SURRENDER!

f.f

^j^L' ij y .

r--' -y 1.,.^

r^. ^ ^ f - u-

^5^

n'E.STl.:KMANN's CAVALRY CHARGE IN-

TO THE STREETS OF DDL.

NO SURRENDER!

A TALE OF
THE RISING IN LA VENDUE

G. A. HENTY

Author of " In the Reign of Terror" " Through Ru„iaa Snows "
The Bravest of the Brave" Ac.

WITH EIGHT lLLVSTRATIO!fS BY STAlfLEY

L. wooa

)F DOL.

LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, Limited

TORONTO

WILLIAM BRIGGS

THE COPP CLARK 00. Limited

1900

H55

PRINTED AT

THE VILLAFIKLD PRESS

GLASGOW

PREFACE.

In the worlds histor, aero i, no more striking example

o hercc bravery a„d firmness than that airo^rd by the

people of the province of Poitou, and more especial^- of

h t po fon of ,t known as La Vendee, in the defene'e of

theu rehg,on and the.r rights as free men. At the eom-

menoement of the struggle they were almc«t unarmed, and

the subsequent battles were fought by the aid of mu kets

and cannon wrested from the enemy. With the exception

defence. It had no mountains such as those which enabled

tuldTr^h^'T'" '"''' '°^^f »"-». no rivers which
vould bar the advance of an enemy, and although the
woods and thickets of the Bocage, as it was called, fa'vu ed
the act,on o the irregular troops, these do not seem to have

mnnth. ,r ^ ^ ™ "P"" ground. For eighteen

tZtd n?r"'; ,''■ ^"'™' '■" "'"'^ <" '"« f-' *^'
enuW th f "'/'""""""g -">- to drill or discipline,

i' ranee could furnish, and which grew after every defeat
.nt,l at length armies numbering in all over two Lndml
thousand men were collected to crush La Vendee T e
losses „„ both sides were enormous. La Vend.e was alm^

PREFACE.

depopuJated, and the Eepublicans paid dearly indeed for

havmg fallen on the.r side. La Vendue was crushed bul
never surrendered. Had the British goverlett hee„
properly .„,„r„ed by its agents of the 'desperar natare

into La Vendue, have changed the whole course of events

have crushed the Republic, given France a monarch ati

hus spared Europe over twenty yea., of devastating Z

W^rofr™"™"-™-"' --"<>''>«

C^. A. HENTY.

indeed for
isand men
ushed, but
lent been
te nature
throwing
id money
af events,
arch, and
ting war-
, and the

CNTY.

CONTENTS

Chap.

I. A Fbench Lugger ^^*

II. The Beginning of Tuoubles 9g

Hi. The First Successes . . . .„

IV. Cathelineau's Scouts ... aa

V. Checking the Enemy g-

VI. The Assault op Chemille iqq

VII. A Short Rest ,„.

VIII. The Capture of Saumur 143

IX. Bad News

162

X. Preparations for a Rescue jgg

XI. The Attack on Nantes

XII. A Series of Victories q^.

XIII. Across the Loire .

*'*'•••••• 2.00

XIV. Le Mans . .

256 .

XV. In Disguise . ,

273

XVI. A Friend at Last 292

XVII. A Grave Risk

XVIII. Home . .

328

ILLUSTRATIONS

Westermann's Cavalrv charge into the Streets of ^'^"
' ' frontispiece. 259

"Follow Me!" he SHOUTED. "xAIake for the Gun!" . u

"At the First Vollev the Colonel of the Dragoous

and many op his Men fell "

"A Scattered Fire broke out from the Dkfeni>i:rs" . 89

"Leigh gave the Word, and leaping up they threw
Themselves on the Traitor". . ,^0

1\)q

" He WAS THE Bearer of Terrible News " 162

"Jean seized one op Them by the Throat" 215

"For Two or Three Minutes Husband and Wipe stood

together "

342

NO SURRENDER!

CHAPTER I.

A FRENCH LUGGER.

Q^wLt'l: l!" r '"', '">"■ ""^ '^ "-^ ""o point

when the weather waa d J 1.™ theTftT :r
pine Wts of Bournemouth a„t Zia^ Churfa T s^I

to the .outh wa. StuCand ^;. tlc'lr H n S
X waTe ""L~ t'' "«^' - a g'-t sheet ^f

. J tey? "" "'"*°'"''' ""'' "^ ■"'«'«™'>' creeke

cor!et™Tl' "" ""^ "" """"'^ "'"' "-y "ook- and

^™on^.t^prret:e:---:tt^=.2-^

NO surrender!

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 Stans-
field 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 mam of cocks to be fought, or a prize-fight to come oflf,
withm a day's ride of Netherstock. Gradually farm after
farm lad been parted with, and the estate now was smaller
by half than it had been at the beginning of the century.

James Stansfield had, howeve-, done nothing further to
diminish it. He had a large fan ily, 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-buiit 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

A FRENCH LUGGER.

tutor declared that he was the quickest and most intelli-
gent 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 thty 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 Avas called in courtesy, Captain Whiffler, the officer
m commiindof 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 miportance of his duties, mingled with a regret that
these duties did not afford him full scope for proving his

"Smuggling has almost ceased to exist along here," he
would say. " I do not say that across the harbour some-
thing 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

NO surrender!

sharp look-out that no boat enters by the passage nnufh .t
the .land without being searched. Of courofe hears a

better, and I believe they are only set on foot to put our
officers from Swanage westward, and beyond Christ Churoh
down to Hurst Castle, oflF their guard " ^

^gree. St 11, I fancy that although times are not what

asioTallVn " /'" '7'''' ^^ '"^ ^ ^^^ ^^ brandy
pIklTty ^' ' '" '"'^ '' ''''' °^ ^^^«' ^^^^ h-- never

run'I'ir t°"^' °^*f f "'-^"y «ome small craft manages to
run a few kegs or bales, and unfortunately the gentr;
nstead of aiding his majesty's representatives kefpth^
thing ahve by purchasing spirits and so on from those who
have been concerned in their landing " ^°

J'7'^} ^'" ^T"' ^'P'^"'" ^^'^^ffler, human nature is

and fa -lals, and offers them to the girls at half the price at
which they could buy them down at Poole, you canTrdly
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 .ny sort. I should, if you will allow me to say so
be more inchned, were you not a justice of the peac^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."

way I will not say that I should refuse to buy a good
artic^ a he price I should pay for a bad one in the town "
lour tobacco is good too, squire."

A FRENCH LUGGER, j.

"Yes, I am particular about my tobacco an,! r ™. .
say that I think government lays too hTri. f,
in had the making of the law,, HX X^^^^IZ »
bad tobacco, and a low duty on a good article fhlt^u
encourage the importation 'of good w-hok^m;': ;""'?

n"Cg^rf:b^-ht::r^f"oVrrt?. - ---

smecuro. The irennetle came into Poole thismorninl b„f
we never trouble about her. She i, a fa,r t™! ^'j
-ell known at every port between Pr 1 rh:;dPir

wtrraick^rc-^^^^

men with her into Poole r«^h:;; ™':;"'' ■'' ?™f '« »'
consigned to well-known me cWs at n r""'™^''
enter, and eons,,., of winer r hU ; ^t ^'^ t'
does oc^sionally bring in brandy H Ta fine fo
Mow the skipper, Jean Martin/ 1 bel eve his fith '*
a large wine merchant at Nantes. I sunpo,! vo^ l" "
kim, squire?" suppose you know

"Ve.% I have met him several times down in (!,» .
and mdeed have bought many a barrel o7wie of hZ'

* e^ t iTytr *'t" T; '- ' "- -M ^^'-

or spirits t;,erm7k: « 'T^^:fvi -■"?

ray girls like to have a chat wlh hi k T J «'"''■ ""^

Trainee where thi ''"""P^'" »? "•<»'Wo» in the west of
Betwee'utdUlT.Zr.l^.!!-.",' *- ■■"■'ee-'ng

s that there is in other

parts.

NO surrender!

The dei)arturc i •» Captain Whiffler was always followed
by a broad smile on the faces of the elder boys, breaking
occasionally into a hearty langh, in which the squiie joined.
"I call him an insufferable ass," linlph 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
admn-ably suited for his position.

"That is so, Kalph; 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. Per-
sonally, 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 whe.v* 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, -md the Henriette
has only to anchor half a mile outside ih(> entrance. We
know when she is coming, and have lu^ t;, ;;».(',;' a light
directly she makes her signal and the boats will put out
from Eadhorn 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
•her^ they have been warned to assemble by the time the
boPfv come along with the kegs, and everything is miles

(H572)

A FRENCH r,UGGER. jy

away in hiding before morning. If it is a dark night the
mnnette makes off again and comes boI.Uy i,. the n xt

btudland happens to come across her before she gets ud
anchor, there she is-the crew are all asleep wfth the
exception of a man on watch; she is simply waiting to come
.m when there is light enough to enable her to make he
way up the passage."

James Stansfield was in fact the organizer o- the
smugghng busmess carried on at Poole and the adj. en
tt '^ There was not a farmhouse among the h L to
h south of the great sheet of water with which he Z
not m communication. Winter was the season at wh .h
the trade was most busy, for the short summer nigh s
were altogether unsuitod for the work; and wherthe ci
weather drove the wild-fowl in for shelter there was splend d

mel :ih"b ^^' '^"! '^'" ^^'^'-^ ''''' '^ combine':.:!
ment .v.th business and to keep the larder well stocked

Th night signals were made from a cleft in the sand-hHls

t ould not be seen from Brownsea Island, though visible

he h iT rV ? .'' "'^ ''''"^ ^^"^'^"d -ght away Zl
the hdls to Corfe Castle, even to Wareham ^

Fo1Z:!T: 't ''' '''' ' "'""^^ J"^"^ - ^he bells of

wL ex^ ted T "'"• ^' '"'-'' ^^"'•' ^^^«" ^he lugger
was exi,eoted there was a look-out at the door of everv
farmhouse, and the moment tbp Urri^f ^

were made for fl,« i T , ^^ '^''' '^^"' P^-eparations

been eiven bv ? '' '^' 'P^' ""^ ''^^"^^ "«^i^e l^ad

been g.ven by one or other of the boys on the previous

n fsehl di n T '''^ ''''''' ^'^ '^^'^ would'put o"
on V at 1^ T-.^ u""" ""^^ ^''"^'"^ '° ^^^' '^'^' for it was
only at high tides that the shallows were covered Thev

would gather in the channel south of Brownserwherlt^I

NO surrender!

boys, and often their father, would be in their boats in

where tt ^^'' '.^^ ''"^^' "'^^ ^« ^^<^" ^''^"^ the spot
ciatt and then- readiness to discharge cargo

It was exciting work and profitable, and so well was it

managed that, although it had been carried on for le

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 m.s obliged 'to

make her appearance frequently at other ports, to maintain

her character as a trader, and was as such w 11 known aU

aon th It was only a year since the //..n./;h"

taken the place of another lugger that had previously

coast. She had been the property of the same owner, or

fir t mal %""^ 'r' '°^ ^^^^" ^^-^-' ^^o had b en
fi St mate on board the other craft, had invested some of
h s own money m the ffenriette and asstm.ed the command
It was noticed at Poole that the ffenrieUe used that port
more frequently than her predecessor had done, and indeed
she not mfrequently came in in the daytime with he ho d
as full as when she had left Nantes. It was on one of the e

had a long talk with the squire.

"So you want my daughter Patsey!" the latter said
when h , t„ h„j ^„y ^.^ ,^^ .^ te a d

a Frenchman. I don't say that I have not heard my boy,
tnakmg a aly joke more than onco when the Ilcnie Z
seen comn,g m and I have seen the eolour flying up into "C

I don t aay that I am averse to your suit. Wo may be saki

A FRENCH LUGGER.

to b» partners ,„ h„ trade of y„„rs, And „ both owe each
other a good deal. During the last eight years yo.rst
have run something like forty cargoes and never los a ke.

always being .ucky'l^dontlra;: , t^tn;"

ir, ^d I ,:t:id:^ttiv:rht-:,;;— ■•-""

whispered as .nch as alordTthfr "p LT' '"^i"

accidents will take place sometimes Y„m ,Tl, '

have done .oil with L trade, an,?: have"' 'TZ;:^
I Will leave it in Putsey's hands T }>..v„ u ^

and to spare. And. of fouit , u wil^^e .bleTo b 'Y"
over sometimes to pay us a visit Wo T h ° ^""^ ^'''

•di,

souvered,

NO surrender!

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
intolernbly 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 ner-essary 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, bu'. 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 Avould consent to her going away with
him, but she had no fear on the subject. In his quiet,
easy-going way he was fond of his children, and would
scarcely put himself out to oppose vehemently anything on

s ever present
) her brothers
egarded as a
^es would be
regarded the
yone on that
s a game in
)itted against

hough many
3 indignation
y smuggling,
necessary to
cident a keg
rime tobacco
had suffered
imagination,
henever she
ly at night.
1 built many
bought that
in the way
sant to her.
k he Avould
, from time
ess, but she
thing would

oubt as to
away with
1 his quiet,
and would
mything on

A FRENCH LUGGER. £1

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 M-ell to have other homes where some of them could
be received.

"Patsey has consented," Jean Martin said joyously as
he rejomed 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 ])rought up."

"I would in no way press her, sir. We have Protes-
tants 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 Henrktte returned. In her came
Monsieur Martin, whose presence as a witness of the cere-
mony 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.
Ihe maniago was solemnized there at a small Catholic
ciiapel, and ii, was repeated at the parish church at Poole

NO surrender!

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, learn-
ing 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 mid-day 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 progi-ess. Louise and her mother
were constantly running across to the little pavilion on

A FRENCH LUGGER.

It was two
)ole. When
lly, to whom
ion to come
T found her
was in the

the end of
little house
lode of aged
"or an eldest
leen handed

united the
Iness of the
se excellent
iiliness and
1 haphazard
e felt dull
1 garden for
and in the
time at the
irtin, learn-
d applying

squire was
le one spare
ilion going
jr.

their visit.
9 favourite
jouise was
id already
ler mother
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 south-east 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 in-
dependence of the people, and the absence of all ceremony
uiterested and pleased her. She did not understand a
smgle 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. Hero 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

NO surrender!

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, fortu-
nately 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
m other matters they differ widely. Jacques is always
tal ang 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; mv 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

3
'I

'^MWMWiMny

A FRENCH LUGGER.

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 Hen-
riette, 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 dis-
approved 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 infal-
lible, 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 diflferent
set, and spent most of his time at the clubs, which, in imita-
tion 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 shout-
ing 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."

NO surrender!

"And is that good?"

ml^'i^' ^^r '' "° "^^"^^ ^^^^ <^^'"g« are not as well
managed as they might be, and that there is a great deal o

ation has bean very heavy, and the extravagance of the

fault of the present king, who is a quiet fellow, and does
not ca,-e for show or pageants, but it is rather the fault o
the k,ngs who preceded him, especially of Louis XIV
who was a great monarch, no doubt, but a very expensive
one to h. subjects, and whose wars cost an enoLou's Z
You see, it is not in France as it is with you. The noblTs
hei-e have great power. Their tenants and serfs-foi th l
are still nothing but serfs-are at the mercy of their loi7
who may flog them and throw them into pdson almos at
he r 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 yourLmt ^

IZT:"J.:' ''•' " ''"^ '^''^^^"^' '"^^y -^^ -^h their
an? L 1 ^ "• 'T''' ^" '^'"^^ '^'y S° *° ^heir f^tes,
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 urg ^ fo

town?' t "°'"' " ''"^ ^^^"^ ^°-«' ^"^ ^-- the
towns. There were two writers, Voltaire and Eousseau,

thn. )r .T T'r''' ''''''^''^- ^^^h «f them perceived
that the state of things was wrong, but they went to ex-

ofT T ':""' ''' ^^""'^' ^"^ ^"-'^^d ^""^titutions
Ik. ° 1 T^'\'' ratings are read by everyone, and have
shaken people's faith in God and in all things as ihey are.

A FRENCH LUGGER.

not as well
great deal of
nee the tax-
?ance of the
It is not the
)vv, and does

the fault of
Louis XIV.,
y expensive
)rmous sum.

The nobles

fs — for they

their lords,

n almost at

lit of them

they are in
)ur country
: with their
their fetes,
s they live

few weeks
}ir time on
r that the
urgent for

from the
Eousseau,

perceived
3nt to ex-
istitutions

and have
hey 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
band 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 hkes-must yet bow to the voice of parliament I
think that that is reasonable; but when it comes to a parlia-
ment, 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 thiuK 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 sortc, 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 prisonerm 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 m Nantes there is, as you see. a feeling of excite-
ment and unrest, and though as yet there has been no
vioence, no one could venture to predict what may take
place If the moderate men in the Assembly are outvoted

NO SURRENDER?

long run. I relX? °" '"""' ''"' P™™" '" the

shall have the satisfaction „fT ... ''"'''' ""'' "''" ™
oow the leaders o the Z„/p °° ° "°""''™'^' ''•■° -«
they deserve. HoweveTL if ,™' ''°'"™ ""' P'""='-™t
- uneasiness ,„r iiZZ^^::: ^^"f ' '""^
retire to my chateau in th. fi,-7 T '^''■'^^'' ^^ can

of La Vendl, .re th^t^t^t^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^
ever rise against their masters." ^'^''"'' ^^"

CHAPTER II.

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES.

T™f J,? ^^^^^"^ ™°- -d more serious, Patsey "

said Jean one evening, "i dnn'f tn f ^'

come of it thp Pvr.,-fnrv, ^ • -^ ^ont know what will

he no doJb? haTt rim r^^'"* "'"■ "" *- »"
long- The greater „17- ,1 '""'' "'"'"" "-""We^ ere

AssLh,y,?„r:;r °o" " n'Wrtc"^" ^^^ ""^ "-^

priests and the nerLn(in„ „f u T ^ "^^'n't the

what has taken';; rrp2:.^^7/'~- ^™ '="""
repeated here. We are ™l„ ""'' .V"' ""at it will be

-an, thinks tb^tl:Z!':ZtZ\lTl '^' ^""^
to express no opinion .vbZ I '"' *"•"'"«» and

that tt storm ZZlwr T' ?"''"'= "«•'"". and

- .>. ,* .-".5- «Xftt ~

the hands of the
'ill prevail in the
porary madness,
ses, and that we
mdrels, who are
thr! punishment
>n-^« rned I have
■Nantes we can
>st wooded part
le peasants will

ous, Patsey,"
)w what will
and there can
troubles ere
are Avith the
against the
• You know
It it will be
', dear good
business and
affairs, and
My brother
say, as far
Is the cause
le cause of

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 29

revolution, of confiscation, of irreligion, and abomination

.:^rrr:f7r^:.::::::::^^---nedin

trary to the public imn,l I k ? , opinions con-
n.i.,e„-„s thfre fh ' tim Z' U^ ^' '""' ^'™"- "'
that in a case like this iTV " 8°' "P ""'' ™<1

patriot. p,ace ^'Z^Zr:^!']^-" ''^" 1™=
affected to speak mildly i„ ^ ^Z bit S ""' r'"
doing me as much harm as h^ coul ' I blve Z' """
.s capab e of denouncing his own father F Ithe b-
I hear that the whole country is in confusioi Th T

of course, side with their nrie,,, • ,L , ^'"' P""?'"'

are naturally royalisto aifd ! ' J " "' ""'' '""^-owners
!>« held in whaf H;; M I T' """ "•" ""'"S »'>»»W
degree, and wht, ItC^I V':-':^" '' """ "' '""
men amone them h-ive ,1 ^^ ' '"""' "''"'0"s

gradually g',nt';„!::™ ;*:,rr;;7 """"""'^ '-■"»

knJXXn^er'':^;?^""'"^"^ peasants
tat this persecution of f^ *' "' ''° " ''' ""'•« "™e;

and if, asl saitZe^i tl b^rl-^lfr /^^ «-'^;
and to drag men away from thei, bf^ I r" "" """y'
to go or not, you :nay "esire b ^^ 7^"'^"'' ""^ '"'^
trouble there. Now you s det l"' "« ''"•'' '"'" ''^
character. At sea I L r 1 4 ™ " ™'' "' double
trader with, a, ; , Low hft ^t- ^"""' •■" """"''""

laws of your country o'n'hVotTi '" ^^ ''=™"-
am Monsieur Jean Martin ri». i "''■ '" ^ ^"'"^^^ I

terms with all the nob™' ^ ''P™''"°""---'"'^»"f™ndly

It « evident that I^nnot^T^ '" "^ "^^'■•'""■■""d

, part; already great nurr'ofrrhr t' '"'' ""'""«
I -nd the prisons are half.full T h ar tha^ " ™'' ''■'"•
I A uear tHat a commissioner

NO SURRKNDER!

from the Assembly is cx,>cctol here shortly to trv .,h„..
-sp™'». as they .are ealled, „„d f„„, ,vh f ■. „ knot aT
re dy we m,.y be sure that there .viil bo little mercy Zv„

subsZe: t: 7'e::i:h''''''Tf """°^"' *" "»" °'

«I.nii 1 1 icmain here I have no doubt that T

to Jsngland and leave jou there with yonr father until fhll

n-Cir :her::i7„?-^ ■" "'"''™' ---■ - > »

"Certainly I Avill go down with you Jean Tt i= ,

no hi .of , h r " "^""^ *" ^° '" ^"^''""> ""d t° know
nothing of what is passu.g hero and what danger might

wor e l::"' 71 '''' '"* ■=""■ »*- for'bette
mo e it wm b ^ «'""""• *''«'"■ 3""> -""y 1"= in. the

very hlnv d!l "^T 'u '^ '^ ^'"" '"«■ ' ='«'»« b=
been herfwftb v / """"' """^ '^PP^ '^^ ' '-e
be vir! ^ /°'' ™™ """^ P^'- '»'■ °« »nnot but

be very anxious when one sees one's f.iond. thrown ilZ

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 31

" Very well .vifo, so be it. I am sure that there at least
we shall be safe. It ,s only i„ the towns that these rascals
are dangerous, and ,n a country like ours there is little fear
hat he kr,aves w,ll ve.iture 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 he frontier, and they will have their hands fidl ere ion.
And now about Leigh. My brother has always shown ''a
di.sl.ke 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 F.ench like a native now, and
though he has often told me that he would never Settle
m France-for naturally he is as horrified as I am with the
doings in Pans and the other great towns-still, I am sure
tha he wou d choose to remain with us now. You se he
.s strong and active, and has made so many trips with you
that he IS almost a sailor. He is within a few monthso

wou d hke to go some long voyages and have some adven^

"lI\h!'fi'V^'f' ''^'' ^^"^ "^^'^ "^'" J«'^" «-^l heartily,
[life and t T\ ." ' ''^ ""'''' "^ ^^^" '^--t' ^-^^ 't

P t in tf; f f '"^^ '''■"'-" ^"°"S^ *° ^-k« his own
.part, in the next place, although I hope for the best a man

en never say exactly what will take place. I may be awav

NO surrender!

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 head-
quarters, and taking what freights he can get between that
toM'n 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 pur-
chase 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, 1 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 Fiance, 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 di-eadful, 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

:, my mate, is a
all appoint him
jnce and employ
rdeaux his head-
jet between that
I this coast,
might even take

Charente. He
.re at peace with
ing would be for

or three weeks,

I have a great
lave the lugger
ipt for her pur-
B learn that she

prove that she
st should come,

will be a means
be sailing there

francs lying in
by Lefaux, and
im to the bank
ount. Then if
ive that to fall
;ourse, transfer
that we should
' am preparing

^ should be in

gs have by no

Leigh ! After

Father. I have

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 33

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 annoy-
ances. Many of the others were inclined to follow his
^ ead, and would have done so more openly, were it not
that they held in respect Leigh's strength, and readiness
Im the science they called le hoxe.

I The talk that there might be troubles in La Vendue

Iheightened his satisfaction at leaving Nantes and going

Jdown to stay in the country. The thought of a life spent

at Foole or Weymouth as a wine merchant and agent of

the house of Martin had for some time past been unpleasant

fo him. The feeling of general unrest that prevailed in

France had communicated itself to him, and he thought

^^ossibly that something might occur which would change

^he current of his life and lead to one more suited to his

"Tiatural activity and energy.

i "J'''' ^^^ ^^^^"^ P^'^k up quietly to-morrow," Jean said

r \^'ll!. ''^^*''" ^'' ''®^"'" *'^'*^n^ fa'« father's; "if there

NO surrender!

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 doAvn 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 goef.
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 thai, 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 to-morrow 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

f going away it
^et the lugger's

I shall come up
the hand-carts

II arrange for a
I the other side

:annot persuade
olitics, and goes
inger. He has,
for the present
I far as possible,
es it, across to
ings get worse,
mised him that
I see thai, they
He would not
ae club when I
Ithough himself
annoyed at the
lere was at least
coming here he
iir being in any
question that I
greed not only
from his caisse,
id francs of his
icques knowing
[ I have both a
[Q management
> that is settled
Q club does not
demand being

* ts

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES.

made by it for my arrest to-morrow. I have a friend who
belongs to it-not, I think, because he at all ag ees with
|ts v.ews, but because, like many others, he deems ft pTuIent
to appear to do so. It was from him that I heard what tn
passed there, and he promised to give me warnL of

to the lugger early, and remain on board all day seeing to Z
stowage of the cargo we are taking on board ToTh?^
Pi^oncanarisethatlamthinking^fl^^^^^^^^

sJet ZZ:2 th^" ''''''' '' nnfre,nenL
cto lui me quay, the nurse carrying tho ohihi ^

I r.a months o,d. The boxes had gone h,^f a„ ho 'tC

here „a» a ferryac™ to a m /T^-^ " P™"' ^'"'™
tf La Vendue »71 , u "" '""^'"S »"' "-o heart
»aitiL Th^ " «'" "86°" ^"<> '' triage were

Ue in char^'rr hltX s^td'o^h^ '"^'"
M arrived at the chateau It niCtck in thT ""'""''

Sht L way throthTh "°"""« *"' °' "" ''™y '»

he»% ^r^t^'srerthChe'XiiTv-r " '-^

NO surrender!

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. To-morrow,
Leigh, we will ride over and call upon some of our neigh-
bours, 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 hiis been issued to
raise thirty thousand men throughout France, and that

wn, and that he

spread rapidly,

of the tenants

irriving without

poultry, butter,

stand a siege,"
tve have a good

ants are in any
[ways willing to
r deals in both,

I have not sent
ars, and, as you
d. To-morrow,
le of our neigh-
3 is as far away
5 of France, and
ig on here."

He had only
only for a day
lanes, its thick

II new to him,
as for the most
ts carried guns
iistomed to use

artin remarked,
how disturbed

rhey know that

it any moment;
been issued to

ance, and that

THE SEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 37

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 fracas between the peasants
and the military," he said, "over the attempts of the latter
to arrest the priesta 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
^ariy part in the matter, for we should be risking not only
hfe 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 mur-

Cer ''''"^"'''"''^ "' ^^'''' ""' ^'' ^''^^'^^' '''^^"^ ^^^
"If the peasants would fight," Jean Martin said, "it
^tnight not be a bad i.^ng 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

wnl . T" ''"^' "' ""'''"'^y «^ '^' '^^^ rank, each
ould have Ins 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
ytre an open country it would be necessary, to give us a
™^£achanofl of success that o^w, i. r , "b'^^ "» <*

- J. success, that some sort of discipline should be

NO SURRENDER 1

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 1 say it, and as I don't think well of
what is being done in Paris, I have not been in the habit
of saymg 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 h;..d 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 V
"Assuredly; I had only the choice open tome of sending
her across to England, and of making my home there, or
of commg here. If there had been no prospect of trouble
here I might have joined the army of our countrymen who
are m 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 destroy-
ing the whole of the aristocracy of France, of wiping out
the middle classes, and dividing the law} and all else among
the scum of the towns."

asants to submit

I a country like
•ortance; and it
at the peasants
t to be dragged
all never keep

We must hope
oes it will take

ieur Martin?"
in Nantes. If
think well of
sn in the habit
ere. In fact I
oom for a few

II placed at my
re hours, so I
till there was

II?"

me of sending
lome there, or
lect of trouble
intrymen who
dee was ready
>artly because,
Id have been
strike a blow
it on destroy-
•f wiping out
ill else among

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 39

Three or four months passed quietly. There were occa-
sional 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 wore 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 thf 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
tiiou- way down to the coast and succeeded in obtaining a
passage m smuggling craft, or even in fishing-boats, to
i-.-igland. 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

NO surrender!

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 emi-
grants 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 accom-
panied 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

Wolves had
;hree years the
part had been
3SS. One day,
been received,
siness, brought
th England,
difference to
'd the lugger,
all legitimate
1 managed to
t brandy and
is at an end,
lave no doubt,
carrying emi-
'^ould be very
I the revenue
if, now every

lerally accom-
d as beaters,
and to some
the houses of
nly welcomed
I came to like
'h spirits, his
d his talk to
ater.

the drawing
voxild not be
lay, the tenth
id as the day
e determined

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 41

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

S1166p.

"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
eader. 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
r mained hei^ on his estates. Then, too, you have many
^th^ mditary officers who have served. There is Monsieur

11 ^rt'""^.' '"'"'"' ^'^^^^^' "»^ Monsieur Dommaigne,
11 of whom have served in the army. If the insurrection
becomes general, I shall head my own tenants and join the
IsTir. " T' '"7" --"zander, but I shall not appear

airs but were it known in Nantes that I was prominent
the rising, they would undoubtedly avenge themselves
ipon my relations there." tuemseives

jLroZn7:i T "''f7 ^"' ^^"^™- '^^d been
rthered ,n all the towns of La Vendee. Two days before

»all ride to-morrow to the castle of Clisson. I know
„..,..es now at his house. I shall be able to learn from

NO surrjsnder!

him whether his intention is to take part in the insur-
rection. It is a long ride, and I shall not return until
to-morrow; if you like, you can ride north to St. 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 preparation? 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 wa,r, it is thc'r 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 t^gainsfc the dis-
turbance 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 then.
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 ear-
nest, 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 Con-
vention 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 St. 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

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 43

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 excite-
ment, but for the present we have to act as spectators."

It was a ride of fifteen miles to St. 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 und 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 ho 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. St. 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 towns-
people 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 oiico 1 "

NO surrender!

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.

" 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 gieatly out-
numbered, 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 Rend For^t, 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 thetn in the centre of the
square; then, Avithout harming any. ne or doing the slightest
mischief, they Tt the town and scattered to their homes
M 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-
hve years old, with a quiet manner, broad forehead, and
intelligent face, stepped up to him.

"Pardon, monsieur," he said, "but you have come from
ot. l^lorent?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Has aught happened there?"

;ng up to one
rrest you in

o the one he
fficer to the

;un!"
verthrowing

authorities,
leels in the
leen loaded,
greatly out-
asants with

scattering,
was a more
leir leader,
ent to the
sion of the
could find,
ntre of the
lie slightest
lieir homes

he cabaret
ig through
me thirty-
sheaid, and

some from

FOLLOW me:" HKsnOLTED. '. MAKE

E FOR THE GUN!"

n
b

la
m

fo:
th
ex
de

has

pea

mi^

told
i<

mar
wha
men

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. «

"Yes the peasants attacked the gendarmes, who fled
leaving their cannon behind them. The peasant^ t"„k what
rin "' :r ': "^ ""-"-I-'i'y. -/made a iTflre „

"They have done well," the man said, "they have made
a beginning. My name, monsieur, is Cathelinelu mv
business, so far, has been that of a ha4er; I am wel,T„„:^
.n this part of the country. Maybe, sir, you wufhear mv
name again, for henceforth I am an insurgent. wthZ
borne thi, tyranny of the butchers in Paris too W and

or die. You belong to another class, but methinks that
when you see that we are in earnest, y;u will join "u^ '""'

lad Jef bn r . \r *!"■" ^'^^ ™<'- "I -» but a

my ^rl» ^^° ' '"'™ ""^ '■"■« """"^ ' *"" do

The man lifted his bat and moved off, and Leigh rode

e ml^r- h? ™: ''™* ^""- ">^ --' -nnefo
tne man He had spoken calmly and without excitement
expressed himself well, and had the nir of a man wht^ng
de ermmed upon a thing, would carry it through ^

" A iTlt \1'"'" '""" "' "■" "8™'" '■^ ™d to himself

A man ike that, travelling round the country, no doubt

has a deal of influence; he is just the sort o man the

™™„,dfo,,ow,indeod,asitseemstome,tLr:yot

« Zi!:: :rrh:t":i*". -^ -''"^ '- -'

"I am not surprised, Leigh," she said. "If I were a
2 I would take up arms too. There must be anind to
w^t IS going on. Thousand, have been murdered in Pari^
men and women, and at least as many more in the „2

NO surrender!

great towns. If this goes on, not only the nobles and
gentry, but the middle class of France will all disappear,
and these blood-stained 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 altogethar 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 uaeful 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

e nobles and
all disappear,
lose, set to to
igh, and it is
that the only
ige, but of all
ned by those
destroy them
:'ned in these

eigh laughed.
), and though
3o all that I
i beasts who
odds to me
11 are French
lling."
3ut with me,

i3r that you
in the next
I would not
ides, I have
the business
ing common
3 finest from
d. All that
rchant. At
"^etherstock,
little more

and got a

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLES. 47

commission in the army or a midshipman's berth in the
navy I might have been killed, and if I had my choice I
wouW much rather be killed in fighting against p.ople who
murder women and children who have committed no c -ime
whatever than in fighting soldiers or sailors of another
nation, who may be just as honest fellows as we are "

to you I sh.-iH blame myself all my life." & ii^ «

"T^,t^■ouId be foolish," Leigh said. « It is funny what
fooh :. ., .s women have. You obuld not have foreseen
what was commg when you came over here, and you thought
hat It would be a good thing for me to accompany you
or a tune. You did what you thought was best, and which
I thmk was best. Well, if it doesn't turn out just what
we expected, you cannot blame yourself for that. Whv if
I you were to ask me to come for a walk, and a tree fell on
j me as we were going along and killed me. you would hardly
bL-^me yourself because you asked me to come; and thi^
13 just the same. At any rate, if I do get killed which I
don't mean to be if 1 can help it, there fs no one'eL who

ar pWv nf"t? "'"\'' ""'''' ''''^' ^--«lf- There
lare plei.ty of them at home, and now that I have been

I" YoVtTlfr ^"1 ". T ^''^''^ ^'y" ^'"'^y '^^ g-'^vely.
I you talk a great deal too much nonsense."

fvery word hat you have said applies equally well to your

|ome to such a dangerous place as this. Now I hone thaf
|upper ,s ready, for I am as hungry as a hunter!" '

_iM.

NO surrender!

CHAPTER III.

THE FIRST SUCCESSES.

TEE 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 Mache-
coul, 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 seco u place I have resided here so small a por-
tion of my time that I am scarcely known save to my own
tenants. After our meal we will ride round and see Low

artin reached

om his horse.
be leadership
e joined also,
be better not
];in that the
ng count was
is a splendid
io avenge the
. A peasant
age from his
irought news
tenant in the
;he massacres
near Mache-
asants in his
I accepted it,
! that it was
u would not

ed to join as
that I should

of affairs in
;hing of war,

small a por-
e to my own
and see Low

-X

THE FIRST SUCCESSES. 49

they are off for arms and powder, that is our great weak
ness. I am afraid, taking the whole country found that
not one man in twenty possesses a gun "

th Jtit f '''' ^'' ^'""^' '" ^'' '^' '''' ^ f-^ «« those on
the estate were concerned; the men themselves, howeve
seemed to thmk little of this. "">vevei,

''We will take them from the Blues," several of them

said confidently. " I, does not matter a bit; they will only

have time to fire one volley in these lanes of our^ and th n

e shall be among them, and a p.Ke or pitchfork is tst

as good at close quarters as a bayonet "

facf thaf !,!^"'' country was astir was evident from the
tact that the sound of the church bells rose from the
^^-oodsm all directions. All work was suspend d. all the
peasants flocked into the little villages to'hear he new
hat was brought m from several directions. Cathelin el,
had m the course of the night gathered a party of twentJ
«even men, who at daybreak had started ou Worn Pn'
^ng the church bells ringing in the villages Xourh
^vh, h they passed, until a hundred men, armed for he
hr 'TL:tiT'' ^1 ''-''-' ^ad'gathefedi:^^

them a cannon. This was fi ed W t [\ ^"^"^ "^''^
the. pants' heads and :^t^:tl.:::^^^^^^

of fireals some ho". ''""^"" '^^^"^« P«d
cannon ' '''"' '"^' '^ '^''^' ^'^^^ delight, a

onc^e^g^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ -ment, but marched at

as the'm flocked tl^^ '' "'"^ "^"^"^

Chemill. two Sred ^^l^T ^'"^. ^^^^ ^^
(M672) suiuiers with diree guns, but some

NO surrender!

of the fugitives from Tallais had already arrived there
bringing news of the desperate fury with which the pea-
sants 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 cainion,
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 c;.ptured Tallais and
Chemille, and was in p ssession of a quantity of arms and
four cannon.

From St. Florent came the news that early in the
morning a party of Eepublican 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 ChoUet 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, M'ho
was in charge of the estate, had served sixteen years in
the army. lie 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

' arrived there
which the pea-
. of the throng
le garrison lost
three cannon,
f their muskets
edible rapidity,
vere despatched
en on by fresh
[or thirty miles
ed Tallais and
ity of arms and

b early in the
id endeavoured
evious day, but
ch, and, setting

force and had
him. Close by
)llet had visited
or was absent,

had been kept
is Stofflet, who
ixtcen years in
,h, courage, and
laster's cannon,
I already at the

tin said as they
know what is
les of us, but if
tou and Anjou,
short time the

THE FIRST SUCCESSES.

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 Vendue there k no broad line between the seigneurs,
the tenants, and the peasantry; at all rustic fetes they
mix on i.qual terms. The seigneurs set the example by
dancing with the peasant girls, and their wives and
daughters do not disdain to do the same - ith tenants or
peasantry; they attend the marriages and all holiday fes-
tivities are foremost in giving aid, and in showing kindness
in cases of distress or illness; and I feel sure that if they
found in ci 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
to-morrow morning. If Cathelineau is defeated wo shall
have the Eepublicans 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
Iwretches. I know that no mercy will bo shown by them
lif they concpier us. But you will not take Leigh with vou
|8urely?" "^ '

Leigh uttered an exclamation.

" Leigh nuust choose for himself," Jean said quietly " He
Is not French, and would have no concern in the matter
^eyond that of n-imanity were it not that you are here-
out at present our home is his, your life and his also are

NO surrender!

vTh kI ''T ^'"''"' "^ ^^ ^'^""S *° %ht. but there
vill doubtless be muny others no oluer and probably much

less strong than he is. Moreover, if I should be killed

^ IS he who must bear you the news, and must arrange

with you your plans ane act as your protector. I do not

S f 1 T. ir '"" ^'"' ^'^''"^ "^« "^^^''-^'^ directly,
but ,f the Eepubhcans come this way it will be no place fo^

you. and I should say that it would be vastly betL tha

you should at once endeavour to cross to EngLd. There

vorth three or four times their value in assignats, and
should. If you can gan the coast, be amply sufficient to
procure a passage for you to England. Do not weep, deai
It IS necessary to leave you, on an undertaking of thfs kind'
prepared or whatever may happen. At presLt the risk ^

Ziri " "' '"" '^^^^'' '""^ '^'y « '^b« P— ts h
stn k such consternation into the National Guards and

newly-raised soldiers that they will not await their onslaught

of he really serious nature of the storm they have raised
hat there wUll. any hard fighting. Still, even in a pet y
skirmish men fail, and it is right that before I go we shou d
rr .r ^V^^'\« you had best pursue in case 1
my death. From the first, when we came here we did so

shouirif '^'' '^'"' l^ "' ^'^ ""'"''^y ««"ght safety we
should have gone to England. We came here partly be-

mrtlVl" "' '""'' "f *'^"'^^^ "^^ P-P- P'-«. -d

cutioners of Pans, every man of honour and loyalty should
aid in the good cause." ^ "y snouia

II I know, Jean, and I would not keep you back."

T« V T "^^'', ^'' '''^""' ^"^ '^ ^^' Kepublicans conquer
La Vendue, we know how awful will be the persecutions

» fight, but there
i probably much
should be killed
id must arrange
jctor. I do not
bateau directly,
I be no place for
stiy better that
ngland. There
reau, which are
assignats, and
)ly sufficient to
not weep, dear,
ig of this kind,
sent the risk is
le peasants has
il Guards and
heir onslaught,
)ecomes aware
iy have raised
ven in a petty
f go we should
sue in case of
ere we did so
;ht safety we
ire partly be-
•er place, and
ist these exe-
jyalty should

ack."

cans conquer

persecutions,

THE FIRST SUCCESSES. 53

What thousands of victims wih be slaughtered Our n 7
hope is m vicf nru- ar,rt „*. "fe'ii'Cjeu. uur only

into the ha„dlfth;T„;' '"'*'•'"" "'* '''"^ "h" ^
" You wish to go, Leigh !"
"Certainly I do," the lad said. " I .hi„k ,t,.
strong enough to carry arms in La V.™!. """, '™''y°"e
and do his best. I canThoot h I u °"^'" '° '"'"
peasantry, not one in ZlZ ^tT\'"' ""^' "' "'"^
i" his hands, and I am .^huT " "'" '""' " «""

them. Besides if I had IT . i "' '"'""g "^ ""»' »'

has begun, hav'e r edt ! fe !?• ^''°'""' "°" "■" ^'^
ftencWl mean the peoXholT'T" "'"' '" "«'" ">«
a"d iu fighting them here?, * .''^'■"'"■'"" ?««""-
of EnglisLen^wiuTe ttg 2::^^^" ''""' "■°-"^'

--i:^:i':f,'nr;rrtfr'* '^r"- ' *^"

wounded or ill the other ciriook T u-' '" """ « »"" '^
h^e. I shall do the be.^Tea„ tl^": '"™ """ ''""8 >>'">

"I think that « shall soon bT b7°" "^ '"™^'-"
shall be constantly see.nl vou M -T'"' ""'' ""■■" "'^

sure that the peLZlJ \ f '""'■ "^'"'^ "ay h"
gather and figh't ^d .I^" " o ,1" "^ "'"' T^^/-™
'heir homes fg,a'in unt heeh ^'eh 2,;"" ,^" ^^'^"^ '»
■■epel a fresh attack of the enemv t, '• ' "'°"' ™' '"
ness, there will never be nn, l— ',- '^ "^ "■"■•'' «alc-
»'•■»■ K all the pealt in' he ''l'"'' ""'"" ""^ »"""»"
effort and march on Paris j ,1™ ?"" '"'" '" " g™at
'ho departments thro.^h which u™ "'° "'"■■""■■y »'

;™uH only be the Na;;! .^ro Ir :^ f^ -M i°in «s; it

--very member ?tt^rL'„n:r:h?-;!

NO SUKItKNDERl

never do it; it will be a war of defence only, and a war
so carried out must in the lung run bo ai, unsuccessful
one. However, the nisult will be that we shall never bo
very far away fiora 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. Frangois 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 hei-
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

nly, and a war
ii unsuccessful
shall never bo
turn for a few
jthes and your
ur's notice you
:• on receiving
, or if you get
rapidly in this
in the stables
i will be your
IS, and tell us
ourse we shall
affairs become
mce whatever
try for weeks,

started early;
} of pistols in
had recovered
ing, and hei-
. cheerful face
ces that there
lad somewhat

ng us about,
"but unless
airy we shall
on foot; the
,s they would
nd fought as
lanage to get
I have great

THE FIRST SUCCESSES. 55

doubts about it. The peasantry of La Vendee are an inde
pendent race; they are respectful to the.r seigneurs and are
always ready to listen to their advice, but it Is respect and
not obedience fancy from what I have read of vour

Scottish Highlanders that the feeling here closely resenbles
that among the clans. They , ,ard their seigneurs a hr
na ural h.uls, and would probably die for thfm in the d
but in other matters each goes his own way, and the ch f^
I-ovv better than to strain their power be;ond a ce ai

StI t t: '"" T '''' ''"' ^''^'^'y ^'-- own leader!-
Stofflet the gamekeeper, Foret the wood-cutter, and CatL
Lneau a small peddling wool merchant. Doubtless mlnv
men of rank and family will join them, and w 1 na .3
rom t e. ,uperio. knowledge, take their place as oS
but I doubt whether they will displace the men who havJ
from the beginning taken the matter in hand I Tm 1 i
that , .Hould be so; the peasants understLd men oTtS
own lass, and will, I believe, follow them better than thel
would men above them in rank. They wir^t let h ^

Hr;;:r r: 'It---' ''- --gtif jti;;;;: ;^

At ten o'clock they arrived at Cathelineau's eami, Tn,f

hundred „ all of 1' "^ "' """ '"^ "' "•'°"'»
They had raXtltn ?™ '"•"""' *'"' '»''«'""'■

biers IZ ■^ ,?; °';""'« '"'^^"■^ "•« 'i"'e town of Her-

ranged then,s ^a ^h ^h "r I" 7' V^" '°™ '"«'

defeat^d the ■^^^t^':;i:^t;L:z::-::'^

No SURRENDER!

sufficien supply of muskets to arm themselves. As Jean
or IXnr" " ''^"'^"^ ''^''-' ''-' -'^^^' ^

vnl l"" ^T.""'" r""'"^ ^^^^i^g^y, Monsieur Martin. There
you have the advantage of me, for these good fellows made
n.e and my nephew co..e with them a. ^their ad! s and

we ha already made uo our minds to join the movem nt.»
I come H.h„gly enough, Monsieur Sapinaud. If I had
r^nd"; :T ' ^'^"" '"'^ '^^" ^""'^^"-^ '^v t^is
would, on the first opportunity, do a little fighting before I
was put an end to. This is my hrother-in-lal, he\as been
out here now nearly two years, and has seen Jnou^h of h
domgs^ the murderers at Nantes to hate them as much

made'hif r?^ '^" '^"'' "'"'^^^ ''^^'^ Cathelineau had
made his head-quarters were thronged with men; through

nZ vh Z ™""^''' ^"^'^^'"^" '"^^^ ^heir wly slo"^y
until, when they came to the church, they saw three men
standmg apart from the others. ^ inree men

Leightid!' ^''^''"•''"' '^'' °"^ «*^"^'"g in the middle,"

"We have come to place ourselves under your orders "
Monsieur Sapinaud said as they rode up to him and t
named himself and his companions ^ ' ^ ^'

•'Ylu'aTet^ f r' 'V" ^'°"' ^^■"'" Cathelineau said.
fh VtI \''^ gentlemen who have joined us here
though I hear that farther south some have already declared
themselves; we M-ant you badly. One of you I have s en
already;" and he smiled at Leigh

"I told you that you would hear of me, young sir, and

nselves. As Jean
they saluted each

r Martin. There
;ood fellows made
their leaders, and
)ut drew us into
lad intended, for
I the movement."
)inaud. If I had
lillotined by this
'eft there that I
fighting before I
law, he has been
sn enough of the
3 them as much

^athelineau had
1 men; through
lieir way slowly
saw three men

in the middle,"

f your orders,"
him, and he

thelineau said.
)ined us here,
ready declared
u I have seen

oung sir, and

THK FIRST SUCCESSES

you see I have kept mv word Ti,oo« -^u

. u ^ -^ *^"™' inese with me nm ^tr^m ^

striking the «„t ^Zut fC;.''° ''"' "'" """""- "<

to fight under y„„r „rd, ,, I L, ,1 ' ," ' T ^""^ """"'
with me, and 4 have .^.VZ^l' '"""'™'l »>-
account, for we k,t nigh, tp t, JT' "^ "\°"'' °™
defended h, two eo.^ies :itr l-ttr T.""'
f gamed a sufficient number of musket., „ti '"""'

-. " H I do not offer to gi™! theT T i""' ^•''>'"

Monsieur de ia Verrie,-X.ttll :,^ "X'.^t'" T"'
no desire on mv nait tn Iv. , , g™'e]y, it ,s from

k"o.v„ to the Za, t^v ^, '°"""''"<'«i '">t I am widely
perhaps beeausfnulrs^aMT T"" '■°'""' ^'"' -"'^
haveconfidenee in n" a^d , Id " thiT/ u™ """'■ '"^^

-^agent,e„,an,ik;your::i;^'rm':;;';7rt

choose their own leaders V , "* ' ""'" ""^^ ^""'"'d

lave already their eonfldence n'udt ^T '7° ""^P""'"'^
"hould be their leaders 1 1..V V" "'' ^^"" ""« V™
join you will be TLiI 1 "™ "" »"■«■■ gentlemen who
am sure that the oTh^I,: ,■:, T '° '°"°" J'°"> ""<' I
>avely expose hims* "h V ' "u '" '"'"' ""'« "><»'
i "I thank yo„ " r » cLT , "' ""^ ™™y-"
--% that i' ma y re^ltT" l''"' . "' ''^"-^ -
•kould have their ownTeS W *"' ""^ ■^"^'^

--e^rAirriirt^f^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

--omakea„W:/rm:t/-?hatSLr

NO surrender!

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 St. Florent and Chemill^."

He now ordered the bell to be rung, and, as soon as its
notes peeled out. started, followed at once by the crowd in
the village, without any sort of order or regularity. Jean
and Leigh co .tinned 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 thej
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
lour hundred National Guards. The Vendeans now fell
into some sort of order. A short council of war was held.

ly as men could
it to discipline,
to their homes,
hat is the only
We are on the
liere the people
n. At the last

any pretext, a
rmed into the
ihes have been
/h being hostile
at the murder
an impression
r four hundred
7 called in the
though scarce

them. Your
h muskets will
r susi)ect that
d before your
selves through

as soon as its
' the crowd in
darity. Jean
la Verrio and
two o'clock in
the way they
villages they
led the town
by three or
ans now fell
\^ar was held.

"AT THE FIKST VOI I FV tu,- ..

AM. MANV OK ,„s mkn ,^,'^ '''""

)ONS

THE FIRST SUCCESSES. 59

It was arranged that Monsieur de la Verrie with his hun
dred musketeers, and For6t with as many more, should
advance against the dragoons, while Cathelinoau and Stofflet
with a hundred musketeers and the main body of peasants
with their pitchforks, should attack the National Guards

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 m 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
tor a league, and then returned exultant to ChoUet

Here the leading revolutionists were thrown in prison
but with the exception of the National Guards who at^
tempted resistance after reaching the town, no lives were
fpllT; ^J'Y^^^"^"^ity «^ ^rms, money, and ammunition

jgatheedm ChoUet, than the news arrived thai the National
j'^uard of Saumur were marching against them, and Cathe-
lineau requested Monsieur de la Verrie and For6t with their
ifol owing to go out to meet them. They marched away at
)nce. and met the enemy at Vihiers. Unprepared for an
■tt ck th, National Guard at once broke and fled, throwing
-^ ^heir arms and abandoning their cannon Among
.he,e was one taken from the Chateau de iliohelieu. U

NO surrender!

had been given by Louis XIII. 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 frr home as soon as
the National Guards of Saumur were defeated, Jean Martin
at Lathelineau'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 mp- ^ don't know
what ,t may come to presently, but juoi no. ' can hardly
be called fighting. The sight of peasants running on seems
to strike these heroes with a panic at once, and they are off-
helter-skelter, throwing away their guns and ammunition "

W-

cardinal. On the
ered, the peasants
lage of the Virgin,
ihese trophies the

le army dispersed,
homes in order to
vith only a small
messengers were
d Dommaigne, all
had retired when
offered to share
hem to give their
the cause. All
antage from this
sn who knew the
home as soon as
ted, Jean Martin,
him in order to
t day arrived, in
ng them to join

the house. The
ithout loss, had
felt no alarm at
^ft taken Chollet
lards."

It the guards of
^ don't know
>. ■ can hardly
I. lung on seems
md they are off
I ammunition."

THE FIRST SUCCESSES. gj

whose name I foro ffo wV ' '"" ^"^^^er officer

the comma^^l htrtht he n' Vn " "^^^'"^^"^^ '"

.and that thev wi 1 act" « ht ''- ''^" ''"''^" ^' ^'^^'^'

Columns." • ^'' '"""^'"^^« ^"d in command of

"More than 'ZT'"^ '' r""'' "^"^ '« -"^^^^ ^"
more tnan confirmed Jpan o..,m *i,-

,«. ■- a born leader of „",', While I ' T?"* """ >"
Excitement and confusir! h, ™""'' '""' ""<"■" «

>ere alone. He i" eWj nM '^ ""''" ""'' '''™'"' '"' « ^e
.ileal and thought ; dt'^.\„7" '^'° "" """ » «'"«'
«e influence he hat «il,i ' T" ''""* ""deratand

■{.eighhourhood, and haf H? T I'" ^"""""''y '" ^'^
:|efcr all dispuC to W , t ffl7 •"*'" ,'"'" "«"■» 'o

fiii^ixrtrThtrT^rr'''-''^''''^'---''

ie Blue, he is su,e to Ltr ';,"•■"'."»' P^"^"" "8 ™»t

'■•y difforent chaste ° but '„ °7"«- ™''>' "" "■™<'

peasant leaders ™' "' "" "' "■»■» """ ""ed to act

I" And mil Jean be a lead

ler?'

Not a leader, Vatney, that

is to

say certainly not a

NO surrender!

general, he docs not want it liimsolf; but }> « \»'il( no doubt
lead the peasants on the estate, antl perhaps those in the
neighbourhood. You know that ho would not have the
church bell rung ^. i.en he s»anod, because he did not wish
the tenants to join until he had seen the rosult of tho first
fight, but when he ccmes horn 3 ho vill snniinon those who
like to go with him,"

^es, 1 have had to explain that ovor and over again.
Yosteiday and to-day almost all the men have been up
hero to ask why Jean did not take them. I told them
that •■«;:f,t waK one reason, and another <as that had they
st-ui ;d on foot when you did, they would not have arrived
in time to take part in the fight at Chollef "

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 Avell, 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 mis-
taking 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 r "^P-.p, for every-
thing must have gone down before them hi. ■ -iy charged.
There was no sort of order among '^s; tl^ ijcn were not
formed i».'<. companies, there was r -i;', mpt to direct

THE FIRST SrCCESSES.

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 bettor 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 ho 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 con-
scription in La Vendee, and to leave us to ourselves.
There can be no doubt that that would bo 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,

NO surrender!

including the spectators who fill the galleries and howl for

" Well, you see, Leigh, as Guy Fawkes and the other
conspirators faded 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
c rtainly I should not be able to get enough powder to
b ow a b,g buddmg up if I could. No; I was only saying
hat ,f Guy Fawkes hated the Parliament as much as I hat!
the Convention, there is some excuse to be made for him
IMow, 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
o the peasants would be coming back if possible for Easter

" 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
hfty thousand men can be called to arms in the course
of a few hours by the ringing of the church bells. We
nave 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 ncar,^ than

THE FIRST SUCCESSES.

es and howl for

and the other

afraid there is

ry out the plan

egretfully. " I
he vaults, and
ugh powder to
'as only saying
much as I hate
made for him.

she said. "I
d Jean would
ure that most
ible for Easter
did come you

& i" he asked,

has gathered
itou, and that
s. There are

-^ell at present,
I ground, and
n the course
h belle. We
rovisions; we
id, the Blues
lave no large
! ncar0j 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 Vendue. 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 t' air freedom;
while the enemy will only fight 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
then- 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 --stance away, he thinks it best that you
should reserve yourselves for some great occasion; unless,
mdeed,^t^o Blues endeavour to penetrate the Socage, when,

NO surrender!

I have no doubt, you will know how to deal witMhem
when they are entangl'^d ia \n. lanes and woods."

"Wo 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 hy the women. I think that with
them it would be regarded as a war for thou religion,
while with the men it is the conscription that has chiefly
dixven them to take up arms."

CHAPTER IV.

r-ATHEI EAU'S SCOUTS.

■pOR some days nothing happened. The insurrection
-■- spreH-I ];':e wildfire in Poitou ai, 1 Anjou, and every-
where the poasants were suc^^essful, the authorities, ?oldiors,
and gendarmes for the most rv,rt flying without tv siting for
an attack. The news that .til La Vendee was in insurrec-
tion astonished ani^ r'un ed the ConvrMtion, which at
once took steps to ^ .pre it. On the second of April a
military commission -vas appointed, with po-er to execute
all peasants taken with arms in their hands, ar.d all who
should be denounced as suspicious persons. General
Berruyer was sent down to take the command. The

larffo ,arm\7 that had bf"«r! raieor! — in-si-r"- ' •'

„. ^ .iiau iitxn ^(t?vn raisea, piincipauy irom tne mob

il with them
ods."

the peasants
isiasm by the
re Leigh and
vd and make

and eager to
ice, too, that
believe that
they would
nk that with
leu religion,
t has chiefly

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS.

insurrection
and every-
ies, soldiers,
waiting for
in insurrec-
1, which at
I of April a
to execute
.lid all who
General
and. The
m ihe mob

of r^8 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 .... quiet as if profound peace
reigned. Jean Martin had returned home. Two days after
arriving he had called all the tenants r-n the estate together,
and had endeavoured to rouse them to the necessity of ac-
quiring 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 Cathelinaau had allowed
him to carry them off, in order that the peasantry in the
.jsighbourhood of the chateau should be provided with a
proportion of guns when the day of action arrived. The
peas;i gladly received the firearms, but could not be
persuadod to endeavour to fight in any sort of order.

" They did not do it at Chollet or elsewhere," they ex-
claimed, "and yet they beat the Blues easily. What good
did discipline do to the enemy? None. Whr then,
should we bother ourselves about it? When thu enemy
comes we will rush upon them when they are tanglesl h\
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 houf^ to house talking
with them, he succeeded in getting some twenty boys to
agree to follow him. He md been nominated an officer by
the three generals, wl,o had picked out, without reference
to rank or age, those who they thought would, either from

NO SURRENDER!

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 m the crowd. The men will rush forward in front
y^u will all be in the rear. You want to serve your country.'
Well, you can serve it much better by watching the move-
ments of the enemy and carrying word of it to the com-
mander. 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." gciieidi

"But we shall have no musquets 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

thicket. And besides, ,f 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 head-quarters, and were to
say to him, 'We have come here, sir, to act as scouts for
you, to bring you in news of the r ovements of the enemy
and to do anything i„ our power to prevent you from

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS. gg

being surprised '. he would be more pleased than if 1 had
brought him a hundred men armed with muskets "

T ^'\'TT^ ^"^ '""^''''''^ *^«'> willingness to eo
Leigh asked Jean, who had warmly entered into the t)kn'
to speak to the fathers of the iads a'nd get thenTto eon t
to their going with him. i-onsent

He accoz-dingly called them together for that purpose.

masttr '"' """ '''^^ '''' ^^" '^ ™y ^4ther,
" 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, a^d by having scouts watching the enemy you wi
get early news of their coming and have time fo drive""
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 to^ far off fTthat
™y brother will buy bread for them. In cases whr hev
cannot well be spared, I will remit a portion of y„, Z
s long as they are away; but this «.ill not be forTng fo
I can see that ere many weeks ar,- past the Blues wSl be
warmmg round in such numbers that there will b "tie
tae for work on your land, and you will all havelo
™ake great sacnflces. You must remember that the less
here is ,„ your barns the more difficult it will be for an
enemy to .nvade you, for if they can find noth L here
they will have to bring everything with them, and everv

tnat one of the things he means to do is to break m th..
roads when he finds out by which line the Bl es are ^

Z:^^ '7.'-- P-P- I «• serve out IT my
Store c..:.c. a picK or an axe to each of the band."

NO surrender!

''■> I

Itlfj

At last all difficulties were gor, over, and twenty lads
were enrolled. Another three weeks passed; the peasants
ot loitou and Anjou thought but little of the storm that
was gathering round them. General Berruyer had arrived
from Pans with his army. A portion of the army from Brest
moved down to Nantes, and were in concert with the army
of i.a Eochelle to sweep that part of La Vendue bordering
on the coast. General Canclaus woe 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 St. Gilles. Bressuire was occupied by General
Quetnieau with three thousand men. Lcigonyer, with
troni four to five thousand men, occupied Vihiers, while
ht. 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
^uard. Thus that part of upper Poitou where the risin-
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 .aid to Leigh that it was certain that it must come
soon, and that if ho 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 1 dont hke going away from home. While mv
corr^pany are scattered near Chollet, for instance, the
iil'ies 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

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS. 71

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
lov the present I have ..0 fear whatever of their coming
here, we are well away from any of the roads that they are
hkeb^ to march by. I don't say that any of the roads are
good, but they will assuredly keep on the principal lines
and „ot 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'
\Ve may be quite sure that if, contrary to my anticipation,
any column should try to make its way through this neigh-
bourhood. It would le hotly opposed, and she will have
ample t;me to take to the woods, where she and the
child will find shelter in any of the foresters' cottages

bhe IS going to have peasant dresses m.de 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

he 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 ^pot

nxod on and give you directions how to find it "

In order to add to Leigh's influence and authority,
Mai in persuaded the village cur6. who was a man of much
intelligence and perceived that real good mi.^ht be done by

NO SURRENDER!

this party of lads, to have a farewell service in the church
Accordingly on tlje morning on which they were to start
all attended the church, which was filled by their friends
and We he addressed the boy, telling them that the service
m which they were about to engage was one that would be

Is rr/"'""" '" '^'''' ^°""'^^' ^"^ '^^' ^' ^-ouid

them n f 1 "' "T^' '"^ '''''''^'''- «« ^''«» -ked
them to take an oath to carrj- out all orders they might

r ce,ve from their leader, the seigneur's brother, who would

h im e,f ,hare m their work and the many hardships they

might nave 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 okecutio'ers If

tbeir king, these enemies of the church, so much that he is

ready to leave his home and all his comforts and to risk his

lin J w' ""T ^^^"'«"^^«'' tJ'^^<^ y"» 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 m La Vendee who ,s not prepared to give his life if

or more.'' '""''' '"^ ^'"" "' ^'""'^ ''""y ^^" ^° ^« "^"^^

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

he cure pronounced his blessing upon them, and the service

thP nn rf''"''^' ™^"''"''^' ''''^' ''^'^' ^«d *''^J<en place
the little band marched out from the church surrounded
by heir fnends. Jean Martin then presented hatch o

ht d';f ''■ r''/"' '' ^''''■''''' ^" -^^'^^ *he tools
should be earned. As a rule the peasants carried leathern
belts over the shoulders, in which a sword, hatchet, or other

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS. ng

weapon was slung; but Jean thought the wai.st-belt wouid
be much more convenient for gettin.r ra.mllv V.
hedges or thickets, and it had afso ho n i ^^ T^^'

long knife, constituting n 1^ a ',-^1^^' '''' '
could also be carried ir. tt. ^^'"^^^lable weapon,

Patsey presented them each with a l,.,f r.t u- i
supply had been obtained from .^ FlL ' tJ '
of the kind ordinarily worn by the pear' in h T."

stinor matorul. &|,e had Iwiijrht those to oive a cmf,;,,
mn „,.m,ty to the band, of whom some .}J,yZt^
of th,8 k,nd, others long knitted stockin- can, whrn.hl
.^an, were bareheaded. She added a ,,,4 Ig „ rfbCn
round each hat; Leigh objected to thil on thef ro,md tte
they might sometimes have to enter town, and 1 ,t
badge of this sort would be speedily notSdbu' T
-d, they would only have to Le them ff the: l" d"
m such servce. A quarter of an hour after leawrfhe
church they marched away amid the acclamatioro? thei
r.ends, each boy feeling a sensation of pride in the work

froS:;l;?.tst::d ;\::,""' v ""™ "''^ "™^

you had betteVf„: i"l:; *;"«:""«"" '°°™ body,
-p. It .-J no more di^Utt^rt^ IT;;: tl

ou cidv f I "f ""'"«" """ ^™ ""' "«' "'"^l- mom
tWder t"" : r """"^ •Woaching, and I gave
wouU „„; ?" «" f" ,""= "«'" "'"I '™ go to the left!- you

Tu Lm . T " '"'V"''" '" S"- =^°" "-!■ four of vou
n I fo m a section, and the order into which you fall ,f„ "

you wdl always observe. Then if I say, ■ First' ,"„ ttom

NO SURRENDER!

I'M

M i

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
gettmg 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 head-quarters,
as It had been necessary, in view of the threatening circle
of the various columns of the enemy, to remove the head-
quarters 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 sur-
prise. Cathelineau was standing at the door of the house
he occupied, conversing with MM. Bonchamp and d'Elb^e.

"Ah, Monsieur Stansficid," 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
M'ork we have come tc do drill will not be necessary. I
have raised this band on Jean Martin'3 estate, sir, and with
your permission I propose to call them 'Cathelineau's scouts'.

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS. 75

llZTf 'T^ ^'"'^'' '"^ "^^^^^^ '^'' y°" ^^'--ly need
couts o inform you of the movements of the enemy

the roads by wbch they are approaching, their force arfd
order. I have theretore raised this little body of lads of
my own age. They will remain with me permanently a
long as the occasion needs. They will go on any special
mission with w ich you may charge themfand wilUt othe
tun s watch all the roads by which an enemy would be
likely to advance." ^

"If they will do that, Monsieur Stansficld, they vill be
vah.blen.deed; that is just what I cannot get the'peasant!
to do ^\hen 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 areTro
posing to carry out, consequently ];: is only by chance that

obtain any news of the enemy's movement! I .ish we
nad htty such parties."

sair^'^Th'^'w- ^'" ^"^''''^^' '"^^•^'''" ^f°"«'*^"^ d'Elbee
said. The obstinacy of the peasantry is maddening. How
do you propose to feed your men ?"

hn "J?'^ 7t T ''^^^''' ''"'^ ""^ ^^'''' ho"^e«. two will go

aw ?sh,n "•'•'" ''^ ^^''°^^^ ^^^^- -« - ^- f!
away, 1 shall buy it m one of the villa^res "

.Z^^^T ^°"r'' ""''^"^ '''''^ °' niyTiead-quarters, wher-

ver that may be, you have only to send in Ld they shall

have the loaves ..rv^d out to them the same as the band

^0 remain her. W. are not short of money, thanks to

t::tZj '''''''''' ^--^—e of your band

"No. sir; .Joan Martin would have let me have some of

he muskets he brought f.-om here, but it seemed to me

that they would be an eneumbrance. Wo may have to

NO surrender!

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 diflference, 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 re-
member 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

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS. 77

undertaking arduous and fatiguing work which is not with-
out Its dangers. I was glad to see that you marched in
here m 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 Sup-
posing the enemy's cavalry had been charging down upon
you, that two minutes lost would have made all the differ-
ence 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 some-
one 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

-Id. " 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
gweral, the r»oys foil into their formatioT> and followed
MoMieur Bonchaap and Leigh. They were at a loss at
first to comprehend the instructions given them, but by the
end of an hour ther had fairly mastered the very simple
movement.

♦^That wm do," Monsieur Bonchamp said. "Of ^ourse
you are im perfect jet, but with a quarter of an hour's

drill by your ''oiaHiaj"ia" s— -r— j . .» _ .

'' " "" """^^ -^c^j ■-'•*7> ao zae cuu oi a week

NO surrender!

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 CatheJineau, 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 Cathe-
lineau and asked for orders.

"I cannot say exactly the line the Blues are likely to
take. I should say that you had better make Chemill^
your head-quarters. Berruyer, who is their new commander
has arrived at St. Lambert. There is a strong force at
Thouars, being a portion of the army from St. 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 hkely to come. Doubtless other columns will come
from the north, but we shall hear of their having crossed
the Loire m time to oppose them, and with so small a
band as yours, you will be amply employed in watching
Ihouars. There are many roads, all more or less bad. bv

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS. 79

set the bells ringing, promise that aid will soon arri f
Z ' f ™ "'""■«'''' "■'"> '■•■"■^"'g 'he country Lectin

village that we are marching towards Tours in anoth,^r
n a Z r.r""" '" *» -ghbourhood o'st Florent

ode menttt*^''" '"=" ''^ "^'^^ '» """ "
Nantt Z T, *? "'' '" °'»°^" "'<' 'o"-™ ">n,i„g from
1 ? wh,ch has already taken Clisson, and carried mZ

this lew tt l,r- '° ''" 't" """*-'"■■=■ ^"■' ">« " -ish
tais news to be given to the BJuos if they should come

here, or ,f questioned they would tell thorn sLeth ' eZ

w^-: ::tte' biI:tl- r ::! ^itf '"'■ t

that these are the answers to be given t„n^ 7.1
who may enter the village." ^ °' """"

" -. e only thing, sir, is that thej ma,, and the villages

NO surrender!

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 cany out your orders, sir, and
shall start to-morrow morning as soon as we get our pistols."

As soon as the little band was well away from the town
the j>ktx)\s were loaded, and each of the lads in tun. fired
thive ;-hf-ts at the trunk of a tree at a distance of ten yards,
urui'.r 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, Avho 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 Cathe-
lineau'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

CATHELINEAU'S SCOUTS. 81

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 v party away
every day to fetch bread from Cathelinea ,„p "

^'1 1 will see what can be done; it will not be for long?"
No, It may possibly be or.ly 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
halt 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 ^read 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 h -If an hour's drill, and then Leigh led the
party to the Miod, to which four or five bundles of straw
had by this time been brought.

"Now," he said, "before we d , anything else we must
choose two sub-officers. At fimes 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 ther Remember it is not size
and strength that are of mosi importance, it is quickness
and intelligence. You know your comrades better than I
do, and I shall be quitq content to abide by your choice. I

\ H 672 )

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

a Hi

^ 1^ 12.0

\\M IIIIIM III 1.6

^ .<^k..

f/.

ll X-

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y, 14580

(716) 872-4503

i-\

•^

<^\^^

^\^ ,.. 4Ls

i/.A

NO surrender!

will go outside for a quarter of an hour while you talk it
over. I doti'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 i^^^ 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
Andr^ 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 Avill 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

ou talk it

mdrin."
icigh said,
ielected."
intelligent
md it was
the others

No doubt
s. When
readily as
I to carry
divide in
the third
ir Andre's
wo of the
ihe second
s to be on
for there
our lanes
I scouting
s to carry
3rm other

bole band

le of the
by which
likely to

ilaced two
to show

id if they

cathelinp:au'.s scouts. §3

saw any body of troops coming along, were at once to
bring news to him, his own point beh.g on the principal
road. Andre and Pierre were to leave their arms and belts
behnul them, to make a long detour, and to e.iter the town
from the other side. They wer'c to saunter about the place
l.ste,, to what was being said, and gather as much news as
possible. Each was pro\ idcd with two francs, and if (,ues-
tioned 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
wel 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 ou their hands for asking
questions. Be sure before you enter the town that you
hnd 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 yon will
find troops quartered in all the villages beyond the town
which could hardly accommodate so large a number as
are there. Kemember you must try to look absoluteJv
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
baumur, 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 "

NO surrender!

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 ar*^ no signs of any bodies
being gathered to oppose their advance. It is quite true
that M'e 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 ha,ve gathered
they will march through La Vendee without opposition— and
they would adopt such precautions as 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 Ave 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 wo '^o 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 tae spot
where the lads were hidden.

'It is rll 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.

ly enough

see that
iny bodies
luite true
h patrols,
n escaped
)ads were
doubtless
gathered

:ion — and
far more
r advance
to watch,
This is a
d behind
the road,
)t be the
but keep

ry parties
have any
rork they
venturing
(lem, and
men and

1 the spot

lid, "but
dting the
e to fight
done no
object to
)olitician,

CHECKING THE ENEMY. 35

and I don't care a snap for the doings of the Assembly in
Pans_I am a soldier, and have learned to obey orders
whatever t^ey are-but I don't like this job we\ 1 .
hand, which m„,d you, is bound to be a good deal h.ard
than most of you expect. It is true that they say tier!

them the oth3rs are either National Guards or newK
m sed levies, or those blackguards from the slums of Pa.t

they twtr tr^^^^ ' ''-''' ^^^' '■^'' -"^'^ '^^

CHAPTER V.

CHECKING THE ENEMY.

you see," Leigh said when the patrol had ridden on,
.^1 A , '""""^ ''" "<" "ke the work they are

t^uard, or m the new levies. It will P,ake all the difference
n then, own fightn.g when they know that they cannot r,
upon some of the troops workina with t.hpn, T T '
douht that what they Ly of theVJioL Guards sT™:
th y have had to come ont becanse they are sllTd'
but they can have no 'nterest in the war a..unst ,rr„d
doubtless many of them hate the government PaS 1 st

agam with their homes and families. It is jnst as hard

NO surrender!

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 con-
sidered 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 diffi-
culty. The troops in the villages on the other side of the
town did not even glance at us as we went through, sup-
posing, 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 for-
ward movement to-morrow, 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. Tvfo or three
oflScers, 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

Ij'<

CHECKING THE ENEMY. oj

h.-s band „ere out before daybreak, and, making their way

and trumpets sounding. There was no doubt that th!
force there was getting into motion. The band to
dispersed, carrymg the news not only to every vilh. e
a^ong the road warning the women and'lhildrr ^ tak to

he woods, and the men to prepare for the passage of the
enemy, but to all the villages within two or'thref miL of

he road, ordering the ehurch bells to be sounded to al
the peasants to arms; while two lads started to earry the
news to Cathelineau and d'Elbfe ^

When once the bells of the churches near the road were
«e ringing, they were speedily echoed by those of thT
villages beyond, until the entire district knew tha the

had kept a sharp look-out for points where an enemv
ni^ht be checked, and had fixed upon one about ha f.Z
between the two towns. A stream some four feet in deZ

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 sot his band to work to dest^rt
bridge As groups of peasants came (locking alon/ and
^w what was intended, they at once Joined t„ the^ivrk
As soon as ,t was done, Leigh led them to the spot where

th^rto trL:r ""'^ '"'- -^ '^^ -■"■ -" -'

malfofT ™* *°, """''■' "" """" ■■'«™«'omed, and as
many of them carried axes, the trees nearest to the road

tieam they were cut so as to fall down the slope, and
» form .an abattis. Before the work was finished to a
distance of two or three hundred yards on each side of

NO surrender!

the road, several hundred peasants had come up; of these
about a third were armed with muskets. Seeing the advan-
tage of the position, and that in case it Avas forced the
forest oflfered 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 Cathe-
lineau'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.

X o/ J

A SCATTKKKl) KIKK ISROKK ()

I'T FROM TIIK I)|:i KNlil.;

RS.

CHECKING THE ENEMY.

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. 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 in-
visible 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 uay up to the trees, a..d until
then they were to remain as a first reserve. Exposed
as they were to the steady fire of the peasants, the as-
sailants suffei-ed 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

NO surrender!

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 1)ehind, 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 pass-
ing 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 uj) the hill, pursued by the
Blues with exulting shouts. Pnit 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 sur-
prise when they believed that victory was won, the two or
three hundred men Avho 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 jgin, as they
believed, in the slaughter of those who bad 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

CHECKING THE ENEMY.

river. The horn again sounded, a.id in accordance with
the stnct orders that they had received they ran back
ngani to then- shelter, a few dropping hvni tlu.. scattered
hre that the troops on the other side of the stream ope,.cd
ugan,st them, as soon as the fugiti^ es ha<l cleared awav from
the.r front. Scarcely had the pe.vsants gained the Shelter
when SIX pieces of cannon, that had been pi ice.l on the oppo-
site slope while the fight was going on, opened against them,
i^eigh at once ordered the main b.uly back to their former
positio.!, scattering his hundred men with guns along the
whole hne 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 yanls apart, and sheltering behind the
trees, suffered but little either from the artillery or nmsketry
fire, while men dropped fast in the ranks of the Blues The
cannon were principally directed against the trees block-
ing 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 com-
menced to do so. Leigh called up the men with muskets
from each flank, and sent word to the main body to descend
the hil again, as the cannonade would cease as soon as the
attack began.

Three times the assault M-as made and repulsed the
peasants fighting with a fury that the Blues, already dis-
heartened with their heavy losses, could not withstand. As
they fell back for the third tin>e, Leigh thought that enough
had been done, and ordered the peasants at once to make
through the woods and to proceed by lanes and by-ways
to join Cathehneau, who, he doubted not, would by this
time have gathered a considerable force at Chemille By

ill

NO surrender!

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 propor-
tion 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 Berruytr 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 ex-
pected," Berruyer said. "I certainly imagined that, with
such forces as we have gathered round La Vendue, the cam-
paign would be little more than a military promenade. I
see, however, that I was entirely mistaken. These men
have to-day 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

CHECKINO THE ENEMY. 93

routed by the peasant, on the tenth of March, „„« severely

an they deserve. I rode forward to enco n-age tht,t

at the,r last attack. I never ..w soldiers flghfw th ,"ch

t oiruk 't r "^"''- ''"'y ""-" «>c4eiv:: ,

tioops like t.gcrs, ,„ many cases ivrcsting their arms from
t em and braining them with their own ml.skcts Even „°™
best soldiers seemed cowed by the fierceness with whi h
hey were attoeked, and as for the men of the new 1 "s
hey were worse than nseless, and their eflbrts to f^rce
their way to the rear blocked ti •.,„„(,i. . ■* '" '"rce
who were t,-„i„ .1, u t ^ °' ""^ '"'"forcements,

.no were tiy,„g, though I must own not very vigoronslv
to get to the front The peasants were wcIlL "oo afd'
»cfng on an excellent plan of defence; they must h"^
been sheltered altogether from our fire, f;r amL^t e deJd
I d.d no see one who had been killed by a cannon-blll
The country must possess hundreds of points eonallv w!n

herd « this has been, it will take even more than fittv
thousand men to suppress the insurrection." ^

I he Convention is going to work the wron» way"
Berruyer said. "The commissioners have orders to Z'l,
every peasant found in arms and everv susnlct tb t ,^
say virtually every one in La VendTe ^ woS h .
infinitely better for them to have t ed a ™ l,""

Zkin r- *""''"'' '"'■ ""^ '"""■"' "> «<"•«"'« their
work m their respective parishes without interruption and
hat for a year at least this part of France sZiM be
exempt from conscription. AVhy, if this campaign go s on
a far larger force will be employed here than thefumW
of troops which the district was called upon to contrluTe
to say nothing of the enormous expense and loss of men

It :

NO surrender!

would

a hideous business altogether, to my mind,
give all I ijossess 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 Chemillo. They had been
preceded by many of the peasants, who had already carried
the hews of the fight, and that tho 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 every-
thing was due. He was cutting down the bridge when we
came up, and it was by his oiders that we felled the trees
and blocked the road and made a sort of hedge that took
them so long to get through. AVe 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
cowhorn, 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 sav that

CHECKING THE ENEMY. 95

it was written down as he read it; but if you did not send
hirn God nnast have done so."

nffl"^^ 'I ;''''''-'' Bonchanip," Cathelineau said to that

thor'^/ r//"'""^^ ''''' "«^ --' -'yo'-- I neve
thought of defending the passage of that stream How

ever, whoever it is who has comn.anded, has done us great"

make all the difference ; they carn.ot arrive now until after
dark and will not attack before morning, and by IZ t me
our force will have doubled." ^ ^

ciaZraT'\"' fr' """"'"'" ^'^« i---'t ex-
it r. rf ''^''^ ^'^ i''''y «'"^^« down the street

,.-nn p ^' i " ^^'''^^"' ^^""g brother-in-law t" Mon

leur Bonchamp exclaimed; and, raising his voice he c aH od
to Jean, who was talking to a group of othL nffl
Jean ran up. ^ ^ '' "'^''^''^ "«''^^-

hasTeldtr """'•"' i" " ^°"^ ^^""^ ^"S^-hman who
Has held Berruyer in check for three hours ^ee how thl
peasants are cheering him!" ^

Cathelineau advanced to meet Leigh, who halfpd h;.
band and saluted the -eneral Tlio uf T f . '

o«^ t , ^ ''"ts e,enerai, ^ no latter stepped forward
and returned the salute by lifting his hat.

Monseur Stansfield," he said. "I salute you as th„
-«our of our position here. H,«i Berruyer a'rivM thi
ate noon „.e must have retired, for we arc not yet t
ufficent foree to withstand his attack. T„-m„rr„w , "
"hall I hope be strong enough to beat him. I have been
wondering who this officer could be who with bult ree
or four hundred men held the principal force of „ r tl
l;d.'V hLrr.fr-f '»'; ■•". «--.^'- '-ree hot:

as I hear, killed three hundred of his best troop:

IS of hUf. f.Kirt., ..f T . . "

a loss of but thirty of

ours,

>s, with

I ought to have thought of

NO surrender!

you when they said that you read them an order saying
that you were acting in my name."

" It was great presumptiori 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 sec 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
comn>ander, have to-day played the chief part in checking
the advance of an army of five thousand men. I shall
publish an order to-day caying 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 afiiiir, 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 forti-
fying the church."

" I am going to look after my boys, Jean; they have had

CHECKING THE ENEMY. 97

nothing to eat this morning except a mouthful or two of

d vthT Do T "" ''"" "" ''"'' "™ •""- ''^fo"'

to night;- ^°'' ""° """ ""^ ^'""^ "■'" ""' "'teck

"Yes, I thinl< so; after the lesson you have given
Berruyer of the fighting qualities of the peasants T i

discrragjir:'"'" ' '''' '"" "■•^' --« --'>•

That evening news came in from several quarters
Le,gonyer had marched from Vihiers by three roadT
dn.ct,ug his course towards Corou. Two o^f the co , „„ '
had been attacked by the peasants, and being largely om
posed of new levies had at once lost heart fnd fetLted
he central column, in which were the regular troop ,71'

d^lredThrr"" ^'r r "■ "^ '«""''- -•»-

had crossed the Lo.re and taken St. Florent without a^v
very heavy flghtu,g, and Quetineau had advanced f,^m
Br,ssu,re to Aub.ers without meeting with resistance. Th"

'hTtrf '" "r ,^5-'^ '''"*"'°'-^' I» ■••■«' ^0- feared
that the force at V.h.ers would march north and join that

ttianTLge't^r" '"" '""' ''^"'^" *- ^"^''^

There was disappointment that St. Florent had been

recaptured, but none that Quetineau had advanced without

h tTrt "'"■"•. '" "■" "'■"'^ °' *e peasantry f^m
that locality were with Cathelineau. In point „f f„ct

foHr T """''^ *' '°™ »' ^'■'■-- '» "»«h
ru Z' ™.*V°""''"''>'' '"" ''"<' '"'ended, after capturing
Chemdld „h.ch he expected to do without serious troubfe
to march south and effect a junction with Leigonver a^
Coron.^ He halted tour miles from Cheraiiy, harangued

NO surrender!

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 of 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 to-morrow."

"Who is that man?" Leigh asked sharply, going up to
the others. The scarf that he wore showed him to be an
oflacer, and the peasants removed their hats.

"It is Jacques Bruno, monsieur. He is in charge of

CHECKING THE ENEMY. 99

Leigh moved away. This fellow was half-drunk b„t
not too drunk to know what he was saying "hat d
he mean by declaring that he would soo^ be rich! T e

Zest"r:;'%e;c t m-i^t r •"""'"■" "•-"" "^

treachery P ,tt , ' 1? , ,? *-'" *"= '"""'*"« •■•" »«' "f
nIH .„T • ' ,^^ '''' "*<"■ ™nsiderations, ho as an

•'^0, you had better lie down with f^n * u
-e w,h you, and s,eo„ til, lello t 'l™^; Z: ^
that hour We will say one o'clock instead o " eZ f^r

trnt.r„i;:"'*^-'^^''^"'-^--"':vt:

Oorng out again. Leigh i„c,uired where the cannon had

100

NO surrender!

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 oif 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 sky-line, 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 avouM 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 ai* eye upon the fellow to-night,
and if we are not posted in any particular spot to-morrow,
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." Pres-
ently, 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,

CHECKING THE ENEMY. jqj

and Jean Martin has just ridden out: he is goin. a counle
of nules along the road, and will give the alarm"? he h

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

t::::. rriiiinrtr %~ ^^ ^^ -

and even Cathelmeau could not move them. It is heart
breaking 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^iJof

comes, and then to make a rush upon them, and when

iTn'ed a f,! T°' ^^ " ^^'^ '»"'"«"«'-. -d have
gamed a ..ctle d.sciphne, we shall suffer some terrible
disaster from the obstinacy of the peasantry "

Vy.th a word of adieu Leigh turned off the road and
made h,s way half-way up the eminence. Here The' /uns
oonid be plainly made out. Leaving Andrfa^d h s^tvo

that the artilleryman was still there. Had he missed h,l
he wa, determined to go at once to Catheleau™ nd st ™
h. suspicions, and his belief that Bruno had goTe „fft
inform Berrayer that if he advanced he would find tht

I "•fi°"''" ''°, '*'''■ " "«^™ « "o «™ion for us all to watch
I with one of the others will keep a look-out fo thlnet

r otS-''"'' " ''" "'"' " '-- "- "'" -- yould

102

NO SURRENDER!

Leigh's watch had passed off quietly, there was no move-
ment 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, AndrtV he said. Over-
come 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 Ai.dri^.

" 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," Andr6 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 lattel- carried hia
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 scoun-
drel is going to draw the charges," he said, "and fill up
the cannon with the earth that he has brought up." Andr^

but

•LEIGH GAVE THE WOK,,, AN,, ..KAHNG r. THEV Ti,K
lll£.Mi,ELVES ON THE TRAJTOK."'

E\V

CHECKINQ THE E..EMY.

103

would have leapt to hia feet as he uttered an exclamation
of I'age.

"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 u
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, Andr^; 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."

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

104

NO surrender!

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 sus-
picions 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 ov.n
class. Monsieur Pourcet, do you go out and awaken the
first twelve peasants you come to."

In a minute or two the officer retiirned with the peasants,
M'ho 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 a'l repeated indig-
nantly the word "traitor!"

CHECKING THE ENEMY.

105

"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 1"

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 con-
firmed Leigh's statement.

"Before you return a verdict, my friends," Cathelineau
said quietly, "it is but right that we should go up to the
bat ery 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 eye-witnesses 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 gnn

and those with him tested by ourselves examining the guns.

tliti o7n:r' ""'' ''^"'^' ''' '''' "-" ^-'^ p--^ ^

'•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
siUc ot the liver and shoot him."

liUl

106

NO surrender!

Three minutes later four musket-shots rang out.

"Thus die all traitors!" Cathelineau said.

Bruno, however, was the sole Vend^an who during the
course of the war turned traitor to his comrades and his
country.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILL^.

T^EW words were spoken as the gi'oup of officers returned
J- to the town. When they reached Cathelineau'e
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 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 suflFer 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

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILLt 107

7£ '^tI ■"" ""f °™""^ "" inestimAle service to the
cause. There are few indeed who, on hearing the bragga-
docio a drunken man, would have given the matter a
momenta thought, still less have undertaken a nigl^ o?
watchfulness ator a day of the heaviest work morl to
est the truth of a slightly.founded suspicion that Jgl^
have occurred to them. It is not too much to say tha
had not th,s act of treachery been discovered our defea
to-morrow would have been well-nigh certain. You know

IZZ Z '^°''' "■'* "' '""'' S"™' -<> if. "hen the
%ht began, the cannon had been silent instead of pouring
the,r contents into the ranks of the enemy, they would

on.ouMj^,r«eirJrt::r:;.:^::r

I thank you w.th all my heart. I shall add to my ord
respecfng your fight of yesterday a statement of wL has
taken place to-night, and I shall beg that all ofBcers read i
aloud to the parties that follow them."

"I agree most cordially with the general's words," M
Bonchamp sa,d. ..Yo„r defence yesterday would have
been a credit to any miliury man, L this discovery ha
«aved US from ruin to-morrow, or rather to-day 7wm
venture to say that not one man in five hundred wou d
have taken the trouble to go out of his way to ascertan
.vl,^^her the words of a drunken man rested on any fouX

inJflX'T.*'"'" ^''■''■■'/°"''<>~«o„ as to the approach-
malt th..nhT"! "' """" '''"' " ™^'='' ™ ""■^t
Zl ,. ^'" ''"""'^"'d. o»'ing to the fact

effect of retaunng the peasants of the various localities for
tl.o defence of their own homes. Leigh learned that a

5 H

108

NO surrender!

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 be 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, Andrd," 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 bathe, 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 gettin» all the

THE A.SSAULT OF CHEMILLE. 109

credit of the campaign. Really I feel (pute proud of you
and vve sha be havi,)g you starting as a rival leader to
Lathelineau.
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 agani if the war goes on for a year. Where are
yougomgtobe to-day?"

•|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 alto-
gether, 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 Cathehneau assigns you some post I should keep out
of It. Your httle 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 thmk that wo shall hold the place, but it will be stiff
nghtmg.

It was not until noon that Berruyer's force was seen
approachmg. 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 hr.ve placed his band with the rest, had not
Cathehneau 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,

I" I

110

NO SURRENDER 1

Monsieur Stansfield. Your force is so small that it can
make no possible diiference 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 some-
what 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 oflf 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 tha^i 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'Elb(?e 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 uost in the
belfry of the village church that Catheliiftau 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.

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILLK. m

Leigh could see that the defenders' guns had been some-
what 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 com-
menced with deadly eflfect.

The Blues halted, and Leigh could make out that a con-
siderable 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
Hats 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 fi4-
arms in the peasants' hands, and the Blues pressed on until
]ust before they reached the foot of the slope, the peasants
charged them with fury. The regular troops and a regi-
ment 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 vam 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, aud the Blues resumed their advance
Ihree times Cathelineau induced his followers to renew the
attack, but each time it was unsuccessful. The Blues

112

NO SURRENnEIl!

mounted the hill, the cjinnoii were captured, and the
Vendeiins fell back into the town. Hero 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 li\es, they
again and iigain 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 eflForts of the peasants
an entrance was forced into the town. Every street, lane,
and house was defended with desi)erate energy, but dis-
cipline 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

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILLi::. ijg

number of the defenrlera «.r,f i.n.i * i.-

tented himself for th t me l .1 '.^'^ ^""'^ ^"^ ^°"-

of its defenders Th . ^ "'^ ^^'^ '''^ ""^ *h« town

rallied hvr!r ' ''°"''"'''' '' '^'^y '««"«! out were

rallied by C.-itheiir.eau and his ofticers. Thev assnr J\r
peasants that the day wis unt v„f i . ""f-^ ''^^"'^^^^ <^he
would hold nnf f { ^'^'^ ^°'^' ^^^^ ^^e church

of the fire of fho If i ""^ '^'''' "'^ •'^'^atement

i-nc ijie or the defenders, an ncpssTnf fir-,,* i

~is, ■:: r^ '^-^ '^-'™""'- ""-

cx^ij' wiiiuow in the houses around I'f a*- i *. l i
that d'Elbee's force was bnf . / r '^ ^' ^'^'^

of battle. "^=P«'-"">ly. ll»lf-madde„cd with the sound

t.e x^ ir:\rdr^ r oi t^ "™r

feuss }ou will be able to undprisfanri +u^ x •

tion." unaerstand the exact situa-

n-.-^TheT'hT.f/r"™',"'"™^'' '" '™ -'-
eastern corne^f tL Lwn ''°™ '°™^' '"^ »°'"*-

o/twf, r ^"^""^ *"' '''''"*'' ™ elose at hand, sent
t« .acssengers to Cathelineau f. iufo™ him of the

114

NO surrender!

fact, and he now sent off another stating the direction in
which the reinforcement waa marching.

" I am going to attack at that corner instead of in the
rear," Monsieur d'Elbeo said to him; for, now that the
duty assigned to him had been performed, Leigh thought
that he would be justified in joining ir. the attack with what
remained of his band. "If I were to get directly in their
rear they would, on finding their retreat cut ofT, fight so
fiercely that I might be overpowered — oven the most
cowardly troops will fight under these 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 "ining 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 churchr by a side door and
joined in the fray. Berruyer saw that all was lost. By
great eflforts 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 (rf

TIIK ASSAULT OF CIIKMILLi::. US

Whom were overtaken and killed. Benuyer cor.tinued hiB
retreat all rught and entered St. Lambert before morning
haymg lost the whole of his canr.on and three thousand me!
m 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 h.d died for their country and their God
as all of them were ready to do. and how could men do more \
On the Kepubhcan side General Duhaus had been very
dangerously wounded, and most of Berruyer's principal
officers kined. A council of war was held the next mornL
at Chemilld 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
then- stock of powder and ball was quite exhausted. Already
the peasantry were leaving in large numbers for their homes
Borruyer might return reinforced at any time and effect a
junc ion with Leigonyer. while the column that had cap-
tured St. Florent would doubtless advance. It was there-
fore 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 thn armv had
melted away, and on the following morning the feaders

116

NO surrender!

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 de-
fenders since the day they marched away.

On the other hand, Quetineau had, on the thirteenth, been
attacked it 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 Eoche-
jaquelein. 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 main-
tained. The young count was too energetic and too en-
thusiastic to be seriously moved, and rode back to the
residence of an aunt at St. Aubin. There he learned that
Aubiers had been taken by the enemy. The peasantry
around w^ere 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 Eochejaquelein 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. Eochejaquelein was very
anxious to capture this town, as his friends, the Lescurcs,

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILL^ II7

had been brought from Clisson and imprisoned there, but he
saw that ,t was of primary importance to curry assistance
to Cathehncau and he accordingly marched to TiflUuges.
The church bells again rang out their summons, and CaUie-
Iineau 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 Kochejaquelein said when, as heL^
into Tiffivuges at the head of his newly raised force, he met
Jean m the street, "and here I am. you see. I am only

Chimin?' '"' '"' '"'' '" ''^' ^''' '" '^' ^'"'''^ «gh^ ^'

"Eight glad are we to see you. count." Jean replied.

rhis ,s my wife's brother of whom I was speaking to you

at Chsson. Cathelineau will tell you that he has been dis-

tinguishing himself rarely."

Henri held out his hand to Leigh and said warmly, "I

am gad to know you; it would be a shame indeed were

any Venddans to remain at home when a young Englishman

"I shall be glad indeed to be so," Leigh replied with
equal warmth, for he was greatly struck with the appear-
ance of the young soldier.

ol^^rif "^l ^^ 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 appear-
ance 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

118

NO surrender!

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 Ber-
ruyer'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 ISIonsieur 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 h\mk 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 bo
their first operation, and it was resolved that Leigonyer
should be attacked at once before he could make a complete

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILLt ng

junction with Berruver '?h^ ^„ *
the whole force moved off Th ""T® "' '^'^^'"'^

for Berruyer had 1!^ 7 ? "■"■' ""'>' J"'' >'" «««,

advance to Beaup^, n! '"'' '"P'""^ «*• ^"'o-^. to
and he himself tlLaX "" 'r° "™'' '° ^'^'-'
On the previa,,, even, TCi hall°'"af* f."'"" '' *'''^-
of the council reo„c„p5 T ,? '. '^^ ""^ t^^ination

hou.e where L^^h "d hi. Mo*?" *" '"'^ '"" '° ">«
"I havp !>»„„ t , ''""y ''■«■''' quartered.

than myself should h^vIT ' ' ^°"' ^'^^''^ >^«»"ger

family Lfiuel L r ? '° "^"'^' ^^"^ I' ^^^^ all my

nothing btThisri^rro'uttf" A r- ^^^ 'r ^-'

that you, who have hnrl T? *^ '^"^'^''- ^^^ ^^ it

conceLd th:idt:fte:ir;;ra:er^^^ "'"'' "-«
"'^ur tvLr^ '™ "^ tie;rdred?™r -"'

tance that Chemille shall ;"' °' *' '"■"°»' ™I»--
received reintefe mfnf A t^f h^?"" ?" ^""''"'
doing more than breaking dmvn 1 1 f "" *°"8'" »'
checking the advanced c^vIT hj! i"'*?' r"" "' ^^''^P^
peasants who came .Z ^' ' '™'"' "">' the

-emed to me ZthllJ"^'""'' '"""« *» -d- it
block the ro^d and mal'r,! "^r™ *° "•'"='■ 'o "« '»

to cause the eremrct id , t rdX" ' 7 h""'^dl' 'l ""'?
to succeed in holding? ont «. i ^' ^^"""^'^ ^°Pe^

-pon him as Z tTlT:! ''u^^' '"^ '-
military knowledge whatever 2i " ™ "°' "\»'" any
tempted it had 1 nr,,:T !l ! , ""''' """ '"« at-
should be abl to retl The ' '"""t' '° '"" ^°^-'' -"
barricade of fdlXr." " '°"" "" '°"8^^ >■«" ">e

120

NO surrender!

"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 scout-
ing,

"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 iu case the other should be shot!
and I shall be glad if you will ride it to-morrow, and until
yours arrives; but I would not send for one until after to-
morrow for incely enough we may make some captures before
nigh fall. We are to march at three in the morning and to
attack Leigonyer. The great thing that we need is powder
Cathehneau 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 to-morrow we shall be
able to obtain a supply from the enemy."

Before the hour for starting the force had swelled con-
siderably. 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

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILLt igi

from all the country round flnot ^ •
started in the mornin.thr„>7^ '"' ^"^ ^^^^ they
twenty thousand™: 1 "so "l'^' ^"^"^ ^^ --
him, Leigh sent oft" all his bind IT .' f ""^ ''^""^ ^^^^^
orders to proceed towa.Ive^t to" ""'"""^■^' ^^^^
I^e^gonyer had made, and the Z'iH /?"" '^' P^'^^^^^^
send back news to Lim jlf "u °^ ^'^ ^^^^««' -"d to
one of the boys returned, and s'id thl'''"'^ "'' ''''''''^'
cavalry and a detachmen of Info . t f ^"''^ "^ ^^^^^^
chateau of CriUoire Leilh . '^ ^T^ ''''' ^"^«^'«d the

-ho sent off a hundred tnd IT " ""'^ Cathelineau,
place. They ..re ord^d ' 11"?^^' "^^"''^ ''^
speed, and Jean Martin was in J ^' '°P ^^ ^h^^^

The expedition was'rorn d ^7" '' ''^"•

w^o had been stationed irl^^tlriu 7] '"f "^^^'
Their commandant Villpm,.t t ■ ™'«JU, fled at once.

*e Vend^ans Jb1^rm:tT':''''''''''''''^''e^-i
received with a volley T« „,? "'™'''^- ^e waa
ke himself and nine of his ,„e,! „ ' ■""" """" ''"''^<'' ^"^
aged, however, to bur. th o^h ZVT"'^- «' »»"■
toko his flj-ing i„f„„t ™ s he ,!n rV"'^ '» °'^■-
the chateau, which he found Z , f"^ '""> 'ed back to
"« captured the pit and 1:::^ t ?^'"' ^' ^°°" -
gone oirwith his men to join he I! I *' ""''"■J'' •""^
"1» started early and ,1 « T ''"'^- ''"■■ruyer had
where he expected Leil te t^ ""'"'' "»" '» "ay,
before he r^ched th?" Z he V™J" " '''' '">"-■ >>"'

advanced^guardofthelat,^ " eal^Thfr "'"*^'' ""=
companies of grenadiers tL J ' !, '' ™™""ed of two

threw themsekes toothe ehl '^ » '°''«'' "^"^ ^^^
"'g fifteen hundred men to surro . ^""-Groleau. Leav-

*e main army preTrd forwTrd J."' """"""^ "'^'™.

the disaster, sent forwardT™1hou r^"'' '""'"^ "'

— t»o thousand men to succour

122

NO surrender!

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 ap-
proach, 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 there-
fore fell back to May and Beauprdau. The garrison that
defended the chateau of Bois-Groleau, repulsed the re-
peated 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 Chemill^,
where he had left his magazines. On hearing, however,
that Leigonyer on his arrival at V'ihiers 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 Dou6, Berruyer wrote to him to endeavour to
gather his forces together again and to return to Chemill^.
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

123

THE ASSAULT OF CHEMILL^. ,.,.^

greatly dispirited at the tl^ a d or^'n ."^ '°™ "'
tance to the fierce assault Ct>^ '""''''"'»'»■

tie to„-„ with th C" thi fi "^ "■■' """" <»" »f
pursued to St Flo eut „ ? ™""°"' ""-^ »'<'™ iotly

numbers on the«r ' ' "'' '"■°''°'''°'' "' *-^

ie'i;::^ ir if-- --need Be.„,er that
treated with his whole f„ ce t k ^ . ''°™'^'"S'^ ""
wrote to the Convention T ,l , i""^'"' "'"'"'== '^
doing anything wlthlT I. ". ""= '"P^iWiity „f

troops, as no denTndlV?! ™"forcements of regular
tie National aZ^Z ^Z Z^X'"''' '^"
;.arched against him, he wouM be oM' ., '"'"S""''
Ponts-de-W in order tn 1 ! ^''^"^ '» ui^rch to
the inhatttants :t\2Z ^"'"^' """" *^ ^■'™ "f

a.t^rhotet:;That:or a'rr '"t^™-'^- '^"»<^

by the Bines along hHl?^'' '""' '"""' ^^'"^
»«™ted by the iie™ a !n t^ ';°''"' "■" '™P^ ''^ng
tended them. Qt'tii auh'd'b '"'"f- '""''''''"» ''^'i -'
and,agreatprop„ rn'fjtlo':!^^^^ '""■ ^"'"•--
Bressuire with so feeble a , ! ?,, ? . « '"'''"■""'■ ''«' heW
himself if attacked Se3r°f"°"°«""™
ceased to exist as had tW T . .'"■'"^ '""' practically
Florent. Berru™ had w t t^ "''™"^^'' '-■" ^t
hack again at thrpoinf frnt *t -'^ ?T"<^ ■»«". ™d "as

guillotine. ''°'' ""'' "'■■'■owly escaped the

As soon as Eerruyer retired, CathCineau advanced

124

NO surrender!

against Bressuire. News of his coming at once scared
the Blues from the town, and they retreated to Thouara.
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 Eochejaquelein
arrived and acquainted them with the general facts of the
insurrection.

" Cathelineau's army," he said, " consists of twenty thou-
sand 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 Eochejaquelein
to Bressuire, and the Marquis of Donnissan, Madame Les-
cure'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 VIL

A SHORT REST.

T EIGH STANSFIELD had ridden with Eochejaquelein
»^ 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 gentle-
men into the streets of Vezms, and who had thrown himself
with reckless bravery upo . the retreating infantry, and as
the peasants came up, had led them to the attack several

A SHORT BEST. ,,

times, until Cathelincau's orders that ,1,.

pushed no farther, reached him '""'™" ''■°'"<' '"'

fellows shouM es ;« " "? '"«"' *"' "'^^« ^-^e
can oall it a batUe"^ „T'j ? " 7" *" •"""»' » ■>'"=
the others hav W '^e shZ" n,° T '''"' ""^ ^"
defend their guns At lew !""/''"« 'oS<"ker and
Mien since thTv eft ft t " '"""''■•='' "' "«"> have

that numhertTdtud ,„r:',::: r '"^ '"'' ■'"""^
we finally overcame their ols'ttn ","7,^™ "''"^
the Eepublic were comn„»TT u' "" ""^ ''™"'«' »f

I fear that our chLceo Tel 'di^ uT "d ""' "«™^"''
would be small indeed '• °"'"*°« ^ ^™dee successfully

cai°nVotthllr?uif He""' T' "="""« "'' -^ '"^

" 4r the d fe t of ' °""' "'''""°'' "' '''^'i™-
Berruyerwill noting be ^trt? ^"^ l"'" -« that
Chemim,"hesaid-"and„h i. l ™'^'" ""'"'^'f "t
'hat he ;ill ret re at one! oVh'e "ir f ° ■""• ' '^"'^
fat it will be useless frkm tt^: 1' T Ml^Tf
were to come down on our rear ^,Z a f ' '' ^^
have a bad effect unm, Z advanced, it would

to avoid %h 1 Cle^ '?""''.' '""^ " "■" -""«■• better
ajmost s„re^t:'^ve":s :-c:'ot 'ZTT: I'l '''

wecertainij::r:t;:i::a;r::rfK:r"'C^

tSetriChavTn:^::'™^ ^- >--£test
general wonfd bT fod eZlT ■";""' "^P^^'' ">^ »»
where they would be at !h. / °™"'^ into places

same ti J ^ust ol ll.T'y "' "" ""«^» '"• At the
- -me, i must own that I regretted to-day that we had

126

NO surrender!

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 firine a
shot." ®

The day after the capture of Bressuire the Vend^ans
marched against Thouars, to which town Quetineau had
retreated with his force. Thouars was the only town in
La Vendue which was still walled. The fortifications were
in a dilapidated condition, but nevertheless offered a con-
siderable 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 succes-
sive defeats that had been inflicted on the troops of the
Republic by the Vendeans had entirely destroyed their
moral, 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 use-
less, 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 re-

A SHORT REST.

127

up a hivy flfauT r,"'""^' '''"'^« "'* keeping
other ,rferf ^"^ """'' P^'P"'"^ "» ^''"'k from

ca.^e:a"d't:'lral't"" ?' """^^ "«'■-'' "'^
gaee, thereby cut«L off* '" *° ™" "'^^ ""= ^ ^™
At five o'clock a triu-^ f "'^ """^"^ "' '•^'■•«"-
an attack on the bridge arv-'"""''^/" ■"""'=<> '"
seeing the storm That wf °'' ""'' "= '"'''"'Jers,

-en ^.eu^-e ,^rd -tlltrefSr-^t

re^irjsaj-^rrt '" t »"

points. To avoid n «, ^^3^/"to the town at several

L-sted th!"whT:irortirs Ts' *'"""^^"

in the northern portfon of Lrv;nre th „ °°"™"'

r;ri4:r^rerBr=-

was afterward, t.ke„thr„4trta:'l::'°^''' " ''^^ *"»'
made w",ld 3^; h m fTT T "^ '''"" """ h' ^

128

NO surrender!

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 Ven-
deans either to march against Leigonyer— the remnant of
whose army was in a state of insubordination at Dou^, 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 thr atened by the presence of
the Blues at Fontenay, Parthei.ay, and Chataigneraie, we-e
so strongly in favour of the (fther 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 con-
tinued 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 Re-
publicans were strong in cavalry, and a portion of these fell
on the flank of the Vendeans, while the remainder charged

A SHORT REST. j .,g

them in re<ir Th f ii •

cavalry capt'ured a po,- il 'TJ""'\ »' "-"• ■''"•l 'he

lican infancy, ^ee.nf h" ll ^ th" ■'^- , '''"' '''^P"'"
»toutly and i„ g„„5 o^""* °' the.r cavalry, advanced

Vc„doa„sstr„ve®to,-e.a,t';.i •™'" ""• '°""^'-"" "-e
'o charge the e^^^^'Zl^^^T^'fJ"""'' *=■»

f"gitive8 scattering i„ ^u7rT,- ^ ."""" " ""■>' »'
tbem sixteen cannon ami all '■""'^ '""""« '-''■""i

captured. ' ""' """"«ons of war they had

i^a Eochejaiiueloin, who after !,„ i, i • ■ ,
«t Chsson. had rejoined th ty vith a Z^'' ,^''""'
men, covered the retreat whh i ^ '^ °' Scntie-

'be enen,y's cavalrv!tl , '''T'"'' "'«"■. charging
back, allowing tb^ J : ""'V''^™"' »""■ ^^'-^ Minf
the woods, Ihc tos "f ° ^ ''1 '° 8'™ ""^ shelter of
fact that the pain ,;:';"? "'°"'°" '"">"■ '"" "•«
almost irresistible I the „„.""?: '" '"' '■''«»'■''«'' as
defeated, raised the Bl , T^^'?"?"- ""^ - easily
"ito which they had falln H . ''"''"' °' depression
'be Vend^ans ^'::r^:^^ ^^'^ ^^-<^ "Pon

leaders showed so t?d a"! f "' """ •■'■'■- 'heir
parties of the Blues went '7 Z''''™''™'- reconnoitring
troops were JZgl'JTJr ^""T^' *''^' «•'
heart, while the generals wU 1, !?I ''*^'"" '"'«"" '° '^e
at Fo„ten,ay ^ZT'^l^tf'T ''l '"^ ™'"^-^

of again joining the armv r \iv ^^^ necessity

(H572) ^ '""^ ™^- Cathelmeau himself made a

130

NO surrender!

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 forte 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
Eepublicans.

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 Vend^ans
first moved. Chalbos, who had occupied his time in issu-
ing 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 i ontenay. Here the
troops lay down to sleep, feeling certain that there could
be no attack that day l)y the enemy. At one o'clock, how-
ever, the Vendeans issued from the woods on to tfio plain,
and the troopi were hastily called to arms.

The Royi Catholic Army, as it now called itself, ad-
vanced 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 ol)eyed, the rest turned and fled.
The infantry offered but a feeble resistance, and in ten
minutes after the first gun was fired the Eepublican army

;■!

■

A SHORT REST

131
was a mob of f natives Fn...

pleased the peasant eve i mor tT J Tf ''^'^"' ^"^'' ^^^^
Jeanne, was recaptured hWh^ ^°''^ '^''^""°"' M-"«
for^t, who With i hand^,: fe, :::/'r--^V young
that were covering the retveJTT "'^"^ ^^^ ^^^^^^y
hands. After thfs v.'^^^orv 1 '"''^ '' '' ^''"^ '^''^

^or the most part to Somes'"""'^ " "^"^^ ^^^^^^

As there was no probabih'ty of furfh... a »,.•
moment, Jean Martin and t/» . ^^^*"'^ »* the

They had first askerCaThelinefuiflr"' ''' ^^^ ^^^^-«-

"For the moment yes r ^^ '^""^^^ '^^ ^P'-^^^^'-
by the Count de Lesc'ufe „ ■ ' ^" T'' "' ^'^^" ^^ i^"-^
be one of our general He l^ "" ""' ^' ^^"'' ^^ ^^"rse,
peasantry, and ,7 ho : l,ut 1 ^uX'.' "'""^" ^^^^^ ^^«
ar'ns for a time ., will IC^IT "' ^^ ^^"^^in under
d'Elb^e and Bonci.am ' LT f m """^- ^^^--s
gentlemen with me a e nf ^' '''^ ^'^^^^^ ^f the

successful in the end it ' T^ '^'' ^^ '^'^ ^''^ to be
and nurching Igains V^ 's" ^^ '' '^''"^ ^^« ^^--e
get Monsieur Charette to "o w,U '^ '"'^u '^'' ^« ^'^^"Jd
the Loire, rouse all B ittanv «n^ T"'"" ^'' ^^"^y- ^^^ss
tho. and strong against pS '"' ''^" "^''^-^ ''^ hundred

" They say that although we hnv. i
this tmie, and repulsed the Zl ] " ""^'^ successful

the coast, they Jn come ' T ? «^'«'y where except on

ti" they overpowe r^tX fi;;^" ""'''' ^^^^-^'r-
'-^nd Henri de la RochejaqfeTe „ fi/ ^'""■""' '' ^^^--^
and authority, we might' if th""'' their influence
better to make one grelt eZ^ ^ u ^'^^''^^^^ ^hat it is
^•t. than to be constat ej^d f' ' ^-'^ '^^^ ^^^ -^h
the Blues are in suffic ent ' "T '^''' ^°"^«« ^^henever
^ell them, too, that ff eX^^^ ^? "^^'^ - We shall
the Blue- "Mil ^^ the two repulses thev lia-c s-jff.r ?

"■'' ^'^^ ""^^ ^"'i ■»- -ago, a;,d to .t::;^

132

NO surrender!

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 Cathe-

lineau 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

A SHORT REST.

133

Leigh

" You are not joking, jZr "«"" '" °" *™-"

li P^poHion of th. pisa„;:trfo!;r:r»'°""' ^ '"^^^

11 _ Ridiculous, Jean!" Leigh exclaimed hotly

them the most fortunate If h.T T ^^P^^'' ^^

don't like, or thev do 1:^ '' ""^'^^"^ ^^^^ ^^^^

him so. L^hllfeneet^Thrr '' '"' •^^^"' ^^^^ ^^"
army created a feel Lrnf 1 ''"'" "«"^"'' ^^^'^^^^'^
verify helieve ^!^.:^;72:Z'^^^^^ ^"V
cannon useless was regarded bvfl,! , ''™''*'' *'=

Superstitious and imo^t l^L T^"""' ™I»'-"»'"™1-
always ready to r,!!'.?-''''''''''''^"^' '^3''''' ''>><>»',

and which aL gl; " 7? ''"' ""''' """»'■''-"<'
position of ProvSence T ' l"™"' "' " =1^™' '"^'■
acted upon siX;" t. I """ ^"""'^ '° '"y "«" I'«i«h
neau, wl ia llTu ly" tX^cf 'oft ^™ ^''"■'^■■■

SCd^S,^"-'"~'-~^^^^

134

NO surrender!

'' 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 cinnot
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 Venddan 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 sup-
plies 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 wa's 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 in-
fluence 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 Ahh6 Bernier, a man of great
energy and intellect, with a commanding person, ready

A SHORT REST.

135

pen, and a splendid voice, but who was altogether without
pnuc,plo. and throw himself into the caul for purely
eelfish and ambitious motives. ^ ^

It was on the sixteenth of May that Fontenay was won
and on the third of June the church bolls again calwThe

more than a 1 the representations of their generals to rouse
e Convenfon. Seven battalions of regular troo^ arr 3

mcl 1 Nio^t '''-■pointed commander-in-chfef,'

read, I Niort and assumed the command. He wrote at
.-to the muuster of war to say that he found co„
.-^.0 impossible to describe; there was an absence of anv
organization whatever, the town was crowded w th , gi i^ef
rto, having distinguished themselves by the violte of
heir opinions and the severity of their mLuresTefo e the
reckon broke out, were forced to take refuge" he
s mbiv^l «"""?','•'?"'«' ">at he had caused the as-
a t"n h It 'Z'f "«""' '"'' "«"■"' "'"■»"' "■»■■« than
suml„r °°^' •"^"^ "■» '''e^^' heed to the

The army was without cavalry, without waggons for
trying supplies, without an ambulance traiuT fact
It was nothing but a half-a.med mob. Biron h m elf wa^

ate bvthe ^'■n'?' ^"" '"'=" '^ '" '"" '-" '» -
fate by the guillotine, openly declared himself to be one-

ag nst tZ'r;'""'''"\'^'^''""»'^'™"'8''>ecommaid
S delt ^«;"i7«-»"> ch he had only accepted after a

When sending the order for the bells to ring on the first
of June, the superior council „f the Vendcans fssued I prl

^ "f-'l

136

NO surrender!

clamation, 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 gi\ en 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 arniy 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 Vendue.
These lands were for the time to be administered for the
good of the cause by the paiish 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 wc this time mounted, in order that he
might at times ride with la Rochejaquelein, while at others
he went out scouting with his party.

A SHORT REST.

137

I am hearfly glad to see you back again, my friend "

"T„r wirr' r'- *"''"« ''™ "™'^ ^-y *« hand.

ll™™ ^ '' ""° S*^' '^ *« Senerak, and even

Leseure, are so senons and solemn that I feel afraid to
make a joke. You see, in the cavalry we have 1 tie po„
s b,l ty except „, an actual battle. In an open country we
should scout ahead and have affairs with tL enemvW
posts, but m this land of woods, where one can seldom see
more than twenty yards ahead, there is little use for Z
B^.des, „,th the exception o: a score or two of gent emet
have no troops to command, and having health and IZ
jnts, and enjoyu,g life. I cannot go about a. if the ct^

i a t:i W Zr t?""t- ^°" brother.in.law Marti,
Lf "^P"!' !'"»"■ I"", wft a wife and child, he cannot
eel so hght-hearted as I do, though next to yo .rself he is

tX^Tuf' "r '"" " "^ '""«'■• Sailors -emlwi;
to be I,ght.hearted and he certainly is no exception." "
He IS a splendid fellow, count."
"Yes, he is a fine follow; but you see he is seven or
e.ght years older than I am, while I feel with you thi y^u
are about my own age. By the way, it is high tim thit
we dropped calling each other by our surnames, peciX

Leigh to each o her. Most of the peasants call me Henri."

■■ tnd wLfrrn ^ '•"'"' f ^°" "' '""' ^'•'"''" Wh said,
..nd wo dd follow you through fire and water, I think

the Vendeans are, as a whole, serious people, and thev

adm„e you al, the more because you are'so^u-dike theZ

mtLorlT,. ""' '"":f '"'■ ^^"'« »»• y" «»™d »"

Z. r , f ° T"« '^"S''* "'""•"^ I "'"l to -eet at
i^oole than of Frenchmen."

FrZr- ^ '"'"" °^^'" ''''" '"'^ '^""^ ^ ^"^ ™<^r« English than
French m appearance, and perhaps in manner; for In France

138

NO surrender!

most men have forgotten for the past four years what it is
to smile, and I question whether a laugh would not be con-
sidered 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 head-qtuirters 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 Dord
Leigonyer, who commande. here, had with him four good
regiments, and occupied several strong positions on the
nght bank of the river Layon, and also a post called
Rochette on the left bank. The fact that the Vend^ans
were advancing against them was already known to Lei-
gonyer, for, confident as they now felt, the Vendeans made
no secret of their destination, and the news was speedily
earned by the adherents of the Convention, who every-
where 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
m 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 Dou^.

A SHORT REST.

139

But the Vendeans pressed forward with such eagerness that

or the most part throwing away their arms, fled precip -
tate y, carrying the reserve with them to Eou Ian a strX

As his men had fled too mpiMy to be overtaken ,h.
numerical loss was not ureat H„ L ,,''.°™*«". "><!
the fi^hi ,. 1 1 . ^ ™ himself, in his report of

used by the French to excuse their defeats, namely that it
was dne to treachery: for minv „f ti,. ""'"eij, mat it
directly (h. .„,,■ I ■'^ ""^ """ '"'*e and fled

directly the action began, and these, he avowed, could haye
been none other than Vendeans who had disguised them
selves, and enlisted for the purpose of causin°g d sco ment"

they met the enemy. Since the commencement of the
ryfonst He """■" '°, *^ P"'' """ '■^ "-P-d

Lphej:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Smerre::e-^^^^^^^^^^^
appomted to succeed him.

Co^vTnT''^ ^°' i^''^'"^'''' ''^^ <^ommissioners of the

enerth,Vr 1 ""' '^^""^^^^^ ^^ ^^« -^-ity and
energy that he had personally shown, and although he

was accused of treachery in the Assembly, this report
saved him from the guillotine. ^

140

NO surrender!

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 Siiumur. 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 ..f Saumur, and as he has,
m 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 to-morrow 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 knov 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 regi-
ment are off on an adventure again, Leigh ?"

A SHORT REST.

141

" Yes, we are going to Match 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."

Andr6 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.
Ihe 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 to-morrow 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 Andr^ 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 aflSr-
mative.

" Do you think that you could swim across the Loire?"
All of them expressed great doubt of being able to do so.

142

NO surrender!

A\ ell, at any rate I must take you with me." he said,
lo 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 gam such support as will enable you to get across,
^ow, Pierre, you must for the present remain here To-
morrow 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
m hat case, ci-oss 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 to-morrow 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 ^o the spot I shall appoint. I see there is
another village a mile below us. I shall go there with my
three followers to-night, 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

THK CAPTURE OF SAUMUR.

143

your instructions. Even if I find that at the village above
they are divided in opinion, I shall surely be able to dis-
cover 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 b,n,k down till he does so."

"At any rate, Pierre, liere 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 VIII.

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR.

mHE arrangements being now completed, Leigh and his
-L 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 ^vindow. They found
that three or four boats were lying by the bank. Leigh
chose the smallest of these, and, loosening the head-rope
from a post to which it was fastened, took his place in her
with the others. Accustomed as be 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 west-

" 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
ou will at once strike across country and make

cominf

144

NO surrender!

your way (l(»wn 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. Hf>. will send another messenger on
with the news to Cathelineau, and you will reniain with
him until I arrive. If he is not there, you will follow the
bank of the river down to the other villas <>. You will give a
shout as you pass the spot where we halted. If no answer
comes, you will probal)ly find Pierre and the boat some-
where below. You will Mot miss him, for I have ordered
him to post t;vvo 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.."
"Yesi 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
diflSculty 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

ti,

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUa I45

Leigonyer and the prospect of an attack by the Vendear.s

Leigh felt confident that three country lads ran no risk

of ben,g questioned. However, he took the precaution of

earning the name of t^e village he passed through s.x miles

from the town, s. .hat .:' any one should happen to ask

where they came r.m and v-hat they were doing, he could

give the name of -, .iilage, vnd say that they had merely

come in from curios; . '.oaring that there was likely to be

a battle; assuredly many country pe-ple would be coming

tor the same purpose. *

They entered the town at six o'clock. It was already
astir. The citizens, with anxious faces, were talking to-
gether in httle 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 un-
heeded. But a week before, a denunciation by any of these
men would have been sufficient to ensure the arrest arid
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 towns-
people. 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

hattf. f f" ''"'''^"^' "'^ '''''' "-^S b'^PP- 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 com-
manders of the Blues had inflicted in the Vendean villagl

„._d ^y ,hc Blues -the brigands". Would they

146

NO surrender!

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 Dou6 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 Chemill^, 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 hunch 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 norses' hesds 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

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR.

147

losing not a moment of time. It is all-important that he
should arnve here to-night, for to-morrow morning we may
be attacked. Take your troopers with yr,< "

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 court-yard and proceeded
down the street, followed by their escort. Then he got up
stretched himself, and walked slowly .. 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 awaitmg 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

sight of the town till six in the afternoon. If by that
hour the troops there have not set out, they will not arrive
unti after we have captured Saumur. Saunter alon^
quietly, there is no hurry." ^

After they had set out bo, too, strolled out of the town
kept along the road for another half-mile, and then struck

Zr^l I" ^"^^' '''"''^' '^' '^''- ^^"-«d there, he
took off his heavy country shoes, tied them round his waist,
and waded out into the river. He had but some thirt;
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 •

HZvet. ^''^ ' ^'"'' '""^ ""'' ^'' ''""^^"« >■" ^^°"t «f
"Bo you want to earn two crowns?" he asked the man.

148

NO SURRENDER!

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 jour-
ney off until to-morrow."

"I want you to carry me to Dou^," he said, "at the best
speed at 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 Dou^ 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 any-

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR 149

thing, and I should be ashamed inrlp^^^ f^ * 1

fr™ a„,e .ho have been "X^ tr tre^m "l

you say they will advance to.morro,v 1 will w»7t, !

7^^Ti7 ",' '"" •« -""^ a„V::Lr »; :; ■
we";:ai:xi:::uv:" ™^ ~ -■»

;'No one can enter, the general is in council "
Do you not know me? I am Captain Stansfield."

way of Loud™ w *:*":: ZTT^!°' ^'■""-™' "^

"■atandy into &umur and tha^h , ""™ '° """■°''

s:.ui^rorrf-'---^

150

NO surrender!

"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 Avell; 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 dis-
cipline of the regiment of gendarmes who will no doubt
accompany him."

"I quite approve of that plan, monsieur," Cathelineau
said. " Are >ou all of the same opinion, gentlemen?"
There v/as 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 grea*- va^ 'e if Menou
comes out. You have rendeied us anc i ^ ^.ood service,
Monsieur Stansfield. If Salomon had tb^owp , other four
thousand men into Saumur, including h> -egiment of gen-
darmes, it would have been a serious business to take the
place, whereas with the troops Menou has, half of whom

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR. I51

^^^'^' '"^''""' ' "^ "^^ ^"^^^^P^*« -y great

toth/^'^i 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 to-morrow, as perhaps he migi^t be useful in carrying
stores. He expressed the greatest iesire to see you "

Certau.y I will speak to him," Cathelineau -.id, as he

hor!::: ir "'"^ '^ ''' ^^^^'^^ ^^"^ ^^ -^ -^ ^^«

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
kles '''''"^'^'''''" ^''''^ °^ ^'' ^^t and dropped on his

"Get up, my g. ' fellow," Cathelineau said; "I am but
a Venddan peasant like yourself. I thank you for the
good service that you have rendered by bringing Monsieur
Stansfidd so quickly to us. The time it has saved may
make all the difference to us, and in the future vou wiU
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
Ihe peasants had encamp.d in the fields round the town
and at the summons caught up their aru.s and ran in
th«! r/i "^ T '^'' '^' "'^"^^"" ^^ important, as

morning^ Ihe divisions commanded by Monsieur de Les-
cure and General Bonchamp speedily gathered round the
distinguishing flags of those officers. Other leaders joined

152

NO surrender!

them with their followers, until some tou thousand men
were gathered outside tht town.

Leigh had clu.nged bis clothes and mounted his horse,
Monsieur de Lescure having invited hjn; to ride with him.'
As they were about to start, o lo of Andrp'i: roessei.gors
arrived Avith the news that an officer .;:id three troopers had
arrived at the town, and that ten minutes later the trum-
petij wore sounding the assembly.

** It is well that we got your news first," Monsieur de
hi Mure said to Leigh, "for otherwise we could hardly have
got our fcM«es together and been rea^iy for a start until it
was too late to intercept Salomon."

The route of the column was by a, by-road between
Dout5 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 m 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 ^oth
flanks. The regiment of gendarmes which led the couimn
shov/ed great coolness, and, animated by their example,
the whole force remained steady. Dar :V gg came on, but
It was not until eleven o'clock that th as any change

in th« ==ituation. Owing to th^ dar- ,,ss in the forest
neithe. . le was able to distingui- .t .oes, the men fired
only ao the flashes of the musl.o . Lescure then sent

men

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR.

153

round four /or five hundred men, who suddenly fell upon
the baggage train of the enemy. The guard were com-
pletely taken by suri)rise. 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 began 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 Yendeans 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
earned 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.

Andr^ 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 Done giving an account of
the progress of the enemy. As soon as the firing broke out
ni the wood, Andre, with the twelve who still remained with
Inm, joined the combatants, and, finding that Leigh was with
Monsieur de Lescure, was not long in discovering him.

154

NO SURREi\DER!

" 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 eifort, and, fi.iding 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. '* Thev 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 concejn 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 in-
formed." *

"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 to-morrow. 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 ?"

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR.

155

" 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
sufTering 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 ami.-n-
mtion and provisions for the march fell into the peasants'
hands, the latter presiding 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 accom-
panied 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 att^ i
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 disci-
pline in the garrison showed that it could not be relied upon
for h^rd fighting, and as it was certain that the failure of
baJ-.. ,n to get through to its assistance would be known
m .:3aumur early in the day, it could not but add to the
dismay produced by the advance against the town This

156

NO surrender!

was indeed the case. As artillery had not been employed
on either side, the sound of the conflict did not reach the
town. However, a^' ♦': -, who had taken the order to
Ihouars returned at seven o'clock, saying that Salomon
was preparing to march and ^^ould assuredly arrive some
time in the evening, the anxiety increased houi- 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 nearMontreuil against a large force of the enemy
and that another coliii ,n of these having fallen on his rear'
he found it necessary to retire, as a panic v. a. spreading
among the National Guard, and a serious disaster would
nave happened had he contiimed his attempts to push on
In the evening Generals Coustard and Eerthier, who had
been sent by Biron to act under Menou's orders, arrived in
the town, and Santerre, the brewer of Paris, who uad been
the leader of tne mwb there and was now a general, arrived
next morning. Cath. ineau's army was astir early; the
leader nad Loen gladucned by the arrival at five o'clork of
a messenger from Pierre, saying that one of his messengers
had come \v from Tours, and that up to seven o'clock in
the evening no troops h..' left that city. It was, therefore,
certain that the garrison of Saumur coula receive nc assis-
tance from that quarter.

Breakfast was er i, an : the arm.y tho.. formed up in its
divisions. Mass . . c .rated, and it then set out for
Saumur. In that . ,rn 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

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR.

157

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 volunt^ ■«, and eighty horse, lu.der 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 NantiUy, and Coustard
the troops who occuped the height-* of Bourlan.

At four o'clock the skirmishers on both sides were hotly
engaged. The Vendeans advanc*id in three columns— the
central one against the post occupied by Berthier the left
against NantiUy, 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
nd then poured a storm of grape into it from a battery
that he had established. Lescure, who Avas in command
was badly wounded. The head of the column fell into con-
fusion, and Berthier at once attacked them with his two
regiments of the line, and for a time pre. cd the .olumn
back. His little body of cavalry, whom he had *>c.u,red to
charge, fell back as soon as the Vendeans opeiu d 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. Cathelincau sent reinforcements to his troops
and these pressed ou so hotly that Berthier, who had had
a horse shot under him, was obl.^-ed to fall back, and the
orFenS '"'^'"^ ^"''''^'"^ ^'nd carried the faubourg

Dommaifirnfi. with hi« ''p^-^Itt?' '-'^-■r a +' • •

„ n„ -rf-.,,iry, unarmed tue cuirassiers and

158

NO surrender!

the German Legion. There was a sharp fight; Dommaigne
was killed, and the colonel of the German Legion despe-
rately wounded ; but a body of the Vendean infantry, coming
up, took the cuirassiers in flunk with their fire, and they
fell back into Saumur. General Wenou 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 Vend^ans 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 " Trea-
son!" and galloped back to the town.

The line regiments and gendarmes, pressed more and
more hotly, and finding themselves without support, with-
drew 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 hand-
ful of cavalry was to ride to almost certain death, Weissen

THE CAPTURE OF SAT'MtTR. 159

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 cavalrv were
almost annihilated, and Weissen was desperately wounded,
two or three o his men alone riding back. The main force
of Coustards 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 Eochejaquelein. by whose side
Leigh and a small party of gentlemen rode, had made a
succession of desperate charges into the midst of the fugi-
tives; and he now said to Leigh and three other gentle-

tTwn " T? 7^""" '''" '"' ^^'' '^'y ^'^ d«i"g i" the
Tr V, I ' '^'"^ ^"'^''^'•^ ^' ^'^" «P^«d' they passed
through the gate, entered the main street, and found that it
contained a battalion of infantry retreatin^r

allnlTTf r'\'^^^^ '^''' 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

owed fh. Z T ^T^'"' '''''^'^""'' '^' ^y'^'S Republicans
owed their safety to the piety of the peasants, who, instead

of pursuing at once, rushed into the churches, where the

cur^s, who had accompanied ihem, returned thanks for the

ZTVlTu ''''" ^""^'^' ^"^ ^h-^^ l««t the half-hour
of dayhght that would have been invaluable. Cathelineau

thaTitTn f '" 7''^ ^'^^"^" ^"'^ ^°"^^^-P' decided
that It wouhl be useless to attempt a pursuit in the dark

Berthier's battalion ..as, too, unbroken. The genemls

finding that there was no pursuit, might have rallie^d a on

siderable 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 L stores of

160

NO SURRENDER!

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 hope-
essly scattered, and continued their flight all night, some
towards Tours, others to Angevs, 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 cMteau, crying to their friends to surrender, and assert-
ing 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 nope of relief, he surrendered. In the morning the

THE CAPTURE OF SAUMUR.

161

garrison marched out; the officers were allowed to retain
their side-arms 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 indis-
pensable that one man should be appointed commander-
m-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 Eochejaquelein, d'Elbee, Bon-
champ, 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
wou d have been chosen. He was the largest landed pro-
prietor, 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 respon-
sible 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, Bon-
champ, or dElbee were chosen, jealousies mi^ht arise
cause

(M672)

sutter. His choice was felt by all to be a good

162

NO surrender!

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 peosant, than such
a choice made by men so greatly his superior in rank and

CHAPTER IX.

BAD NEWS.

1\TEITHER Leigh nor Jean Martin was at Sanm.ir 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 Eariy 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
Ihey had made straight for the chateau, without .o\L
mto the village. Beyond the fact that they belonged to
the force operatmg 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, hao placed her in their midst, set fire to the chateau,
arid 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, "^^^hat
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."

l£.

ed to the
ever paid

than such
rank and

nur when
ight that
who was
been left
bearer of
>p of the
ly ridden
the way.
lit going
3nged to
ute they
•est Jean
)ized his
chateau,
oppose
news.
" ^^'hat

ig to do

present

ise, find

done to

""'0 HAS THK DKAKKK ..K IKKKllll.K NKWi

BAD NEWS.

163

"Certainly that is the best thing, Leigh. Let as 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 St. 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 steadr,
'It is terrible, Jean, but we n.ust 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 nude no reply, and Leigh, fcding that it would be
best to leave him to himself for the present, went downstairs.
Ihe lad who had brought the message was seated against
the wall holding the horse's bridle in his hand. Bein" a
stranger in the place, he did not know where to go.

"Come with mo, Philippe, the others are all in the great
square a hundred yards away. They got their bread yester-
day 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 no'o hear, captain. My mother ran into the house
crying, r.d ,sa:d, 'The Blues have come, and have set fire to
the chat'^HU and carried madame away prisoner. Take the
horse an.:' ride .o 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, .vid
Etarted. I should have been here in the middle of the

*t I

164

NO surrender!

day, but I lost my way in the hvnes last night, and had to

stop till daylight, and even then rod. 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 uas not long in findinir
his own band He roused Andre and Tiorre with some
difficu ty, for, having both been up all the previous rnVht
they slept heavily. *' '

^'Come with me." Leigh said as soon as they were suffi-
ciently 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. Patsev
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 \o supply
dain y 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
01 their seigneur.

"How was it that there was no defence?" Andrt^ asked
"I know that most of the men were away, but surely
enough might have been gathered to keep tho Blues back
until niadame 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 hurr^ fn K^ ^

nd had to
me ill the

le square,
lumber of
n finding
•ith some
'US uiglit,

rere suffi-
to them,
id news,"
rs: "the
it down,

Patsey
te, made
, Avhose
s found
3 supply
chateau
enantry
Q aifairs

'i asked.

surely

es back

re soon
pose to
A'as not
■ fire to
be of.

BAD NEWS.

165

Here is Philippe Rehan, who has brought the news He
only knows what I have told you, as he mounted and rode
oil at once.

"I suppose they have taken our young lord too^'

" Philippe does not know about that. He says thev

came from the direction of Nantes, and no doubt my sister

has been taken there."

"What is to be done, captain?" Arulre asked, as he
i!i'oI.bir"'' '^ '"'^ '''^'' ^''^^'^'"'^^ ^" ^^^^ ^^ *'"«

"Monsieur Martin and I are going to leave at once. We
don t know what we are going to do yet, but we shall cer-
tainly 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
dotie we shall do it. Now, I am sure that we can relv
upon your assistance." ^

sai!i^"w'" :?,V'"'^'^""^'" ^''^I'-^^-^^l-i^^ed; while Pierre
said, We will be cut to pieces for vou, captain "

"A^tter-"'^^^^^" "I-sureofit,"hesaid.

for "^I'7/"' r V^°'' "' ^'""'^ ""' ^''' ''' ««"W answer
or Andr^ replied. "And I believe that the others can
^^trusted too. They all esteem it a high honour to h ::
heen received into the band of Cathelineau's scouts

a«l that they must be prepared to die for the cause. Al
would ceitamly be faithful; there would be no fear about

vou \o^r. T. '^" ^'"'' ^^'' '' P''^^"'^ '''^''' I «ball want

^re that you must meet us. We shall ride off in an

mo-Pmpnf '\\ *'" '^'^''' '^^^^^ ^'''' "'*"'*^ '^ ^ general

mo.ement, the« ,ou can tell them what has happened.

166

NO SURRENDER]

y1 ^^^\«^y or^lers are that you shall march home at once.
You can be there by to-morrow night, can you not?"

captain." '''° ^'"^' '"'"""^'"' ^"' ''' ^^" ^« '^''''

haZlpf '" "°'^. ^"'^ ^'^"''^ ^°"- ^^ ^'^'^'^ t™« ^-e «hall
shall be able to give you instructions, which will probably

t n rj "1 '" """'' "' '"' ''''' I^^'"^ ^- -i" -range,
just outside the town. Of course you will not go in a

body, but singly or in pairs, crossing the river at various

ponits and travelling by different roads. Enter the town a

f you belonged to villages round. I will ask Monsieur de

a Rochejaquelem to let you have another pistol each

before you eave. Of course you will hide your arms

to use force; of course, at first we shall try bribery At
ZiT tT ""' '°'' '^ ""^ "^^^"^ "^ obtaining'^infor-
Martm by sight, and a few who know me. Possibly
some o 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 heai^ nothing of what is passing in Xantes for
^any weeks, and as they have sent troops to arrest
Monsieur MarUn it is possible that his fatLr may so
b arrested. If he is at liberty he would be sure to know
wnere 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 Eochejaquelein's room, having been
chatting with him till late the evening before. The youn^.
count sat up in bed as he opened tho do-r °

BAD NEWS.

167

"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 ti'avelled 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."

" 1 am sorry indeed to hear your news," Rochejaquelein
said warmly. "A curse upon the Blues! Vhy can't they
content themselves with making war on men, without per-
secuting 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 car 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 ^ure,
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 ad- euture after my own heart:

168

but private friendship ....
I hope, Leigh, that it will

NO SURRRNDEK

must y

not

and that I may hear that you have been

ive way to our country's needs.
be long ])efore we meet again,

Half an hour 1

successful.

l.,.f. ' « . ■^''■'=^ '''"'^ ^^'"' ^^''^'ti'i started The

n the .h Id. I was now nearly fifteen months old, but in
he terrible shock caused by the news of his M-ife hav L"

lerthrrm."' '"-'' '-' -' ^'-^'^ ^^ ^^ ^^'^ ^^^

"The child is as nothing to me," he said when Leish h-uJ
told hnn that the messenger had heard nothing o t^ <<lt
would have been some day but so fir 'fi« . 1
narPfl tr. Pnf t , ^' "^ ^^^ ^^ nothing com

paied to Patsey. It slept with the nurse, and may possibly
W escaped, tmless, indeed, I>atsey wish^l to taSS

_'l do not think that she would d<, that," Leigh .aid

iiu but she would have known that ,ts chances of life

Tc tied ^'1^ 't'Tf ''" ^^"^' -'' ^'^ ^^^^
concealed it, ,f possible, before sl.c was seized "

Ihey leachal tlio luiiis of tl.e chateau at noon next dav

having stopped for the night at Cheniille, in orde, to t t

hen- horses and keej, them in condition 'foi- ano e , "

nde If necessary. The outliouse had been left standing

FiaiHois came out on bearing the sound of the hote?

^u^tr^C''"' "'''•'"''''""''' '^'- "I"-

th J Rh,? ""'f ' ""' *'",'■""' ="''"' '■'■ '^^'h'^" ""'dame heard

nn in'.::*,";.™' '°°''''' °'" ■''"' '•™ *-• ™if»™'
"he ran into Jlarthe's room and said, 'Hide the child

BAD NEWS,

169

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 ho cs back again, I

have left little Louis for him. I 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 heai-d
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 moi-e. 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 windoAvs of the
chateau. I'hen 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 - 'hem. As soon as they had gone the women all
ran out from their houses. We tried our best to i)ut 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 l..id been saved \voll-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 earch for it, she opened the
drawers, seized them all, and ran down and put them and
the chil-.l into the kitchen eu^iboard as her mistress had

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)

f/.

1.0

I.I

£ Iffi 12.0

11:25 ■ 1.4

I.M

1.6

%:^

Sdences
Corporation

33 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

€3

^'\J^ ^^

^ .<!(

„*•

V^^

.^ 4r

ik*!.'

170

NO surrender!

..ae nousc. hhe hurried on her clothes vnd went on ^
They were searching all over the chateau Th? V
came up to her with a pistol in his halci: "^'^ '"^"^

^^ Where is your master?' he said.

"*I do not know,' she renlip^l « w-. « j

-rfaVn ' 'v"' ^'™'' ""'^'^^^^ ''^"< he said,

swear on the cross that it is so. ' ^

Prr^!i''r''^ ''''^ ^"^''^' ^"^ ^"'-"ed away from her
P esently the mistress came down under a .Lrd of tT
soldiers, and as she p.ssed she said : ^ '^ '^'

"'Good-bye, Marthe! Tell your master th«f t
thankful indeed that he was not here ' ""^

"Then the officers told the men to set fire to the house in

2t;.tn;:;:;:7::=t.:Ti-r":3

had not searched the kitchen much as thev }nd 7

BAD NEWS.

171

"Thank God the child has been spared!" Jean Martin
said reverently. "We will go to the cure's; the boys will
all be back to-night. Give the horses a good feed; we
shall set out perhaps to-night, perhaps to-morrow nior-

ning.

" Ah, Mojisieur Martin," the cure said as they entered
his house, "this is a sad home-coming for you! If we had
known that the Blues were coming but a quarter of an
hour before they arrived, wc 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

172

NO SURRENDER!

"Thank yoTZi/^^'r'''.''y°''>'''^g''o<ihdy.'-
Nantes .„ ie'/f a^^eutnt'd '"" ' "' «°'"^ ">

travfil s ngly. If of „n „,!, ° , ' """'''^ ">ey nil]

-k questroJis than r ? 1""' *^^ '"" "-^ ^^'te,- aWe .„
farm to see my h„y and to Zfl? 7"" """ '" '^'^I'a"'^

over yesterday to see the oh H ? f "" "'"'■ " ' "ent
its escape had'heen contri '' ui" T" ""' "^ ""'^
the part: of its mother „d L '' ^'^ thought on

But before you go yT; l"! f": r.:!:?'?' " °'" """■
you must want it " •^'' ^ "^"^ s"re that

-.Xr^tl^rX?- ■■«''«^^. "'-™ have

'",fS:t"":otrte':r"-r-t"^

village that the seigneur had n.ri! T ""'""S'" ">«

°f toe priest, the^:';e 'C ", ' I ^^ "' ">^ ''»-
dozen eggs, a fowl, or some tron 1,1/^ Tt P'^^^'^-a
'he hoys in the stream tltl"!!!' 'o ''''" ^""g"" V
women volunteered to ass',t t ,e * ■ - "' '"" "' ">»
fowls were hastily nlucke ' eut "T' """""■ ^hree
'he fire. As soo,! th „ T ,"■' """^ K''"''' °«r

placed in ,,.„„t of Z tl t^^ T'^''"'^ ""=^ «'«
took their place. The rILt , '!",''■ '''^"' "'» "-out

'"■Weda,!ditw.ase::EX:lr'"^'-'^

"«.ve n:d:tt"/;^.';,,\7''. /-he,.. "-"" -".

take a more hopefu view „ T ""' ' =''••'" ''e "Me to
■neal will be th,„w„ a^!^! ! "f "-^ '" that respect the

'he brightest vie^of "^X ^ •/» "e always takes

e>eo thing, and has never ceased to.

BAD NEWS.

173

assure me that we are rmre 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 -ood
deal of faith in him. I should be as hopeful as he if I
knew that the Ilenridte was in the river at Nantes, and
chat 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, thev
returned to the village.

"We will go over to the chateau. Leigh, before we do
anythmg else. I want to see how hot the ruins are "

"I should think that they must be pretty cool by this
tmie, 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
va ue; I have here four thousand in gold, which I brought
with me from Nantes as soon as the troubles began I
buned It one day under the hearth-stone of the kitchen,
thinking It possible that the Blues might come here. The
money is ol 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 hre among the mass of debris.

"We must quench it before we can do anything, Jean.
I have no doubt that the women will help."

174

NO surrender!

I ;(

Fran9ois was at once sent round anH in n i, ...
the w„™e„ in the pWe were Zlw J^^ .^ "^^ »»
and iran^oi, ,v„,.ked the windlass of the wlr he wl
earned pju s of wator i,»l T • u .l ' ® women

time steam h.-rf ceased to rlo «''*"' ''-'' "'""'■

thJir t:'itr„::t'" t" t^:" ^'" «"'-'■

by that, time and »-illT„l ^'^ , ^'"'' "'" ^ hero

beam, and tUel TtCZ'X^'"' "'."-^^ ''"'^^
-a„o. stuff „„t and ^elltte'ZpJe """ "'^" ■""^ "■"

At eight o'clock the band arrived Io^"h«-e„f^
«poke to them, and thanked them for tl! 7

they had made. He had durin. ,Z 1 « "'''"''''"'

eirk™ :^:: tt^ ""^^"" '°^ "■^•■^ "«-' pCi !„::

talk with he ure !; d l^ ^7- T"' " "™P'' "' ''"•"■^ '"
I-sed since hey Id ef The H ™ "". ^™'^ *"' ''»<'

->ed to the ~;:fha/t:;:;s::tr' ':?r

work that afternoon had been heavy thevhT^rT ,

the night the f^^ ::^ ^i::^:^ ^"-t

"Now, Leigh,- he said, ..y„„ had better have a talk

BAD NEWS.

175

With your boys and arrange where they are to meet you
I should not press any of them who are unwilling to go
This 13 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 be-
cause they are furious at the chateau being burnt down •
as to the others, I shall put it to them that they are per-
fectly 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 in 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 consideral)lc 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 thev
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,"

1 70

NO SURRKNr»K|{!

'< r fi. I ^ fin let) to so L',,,), ., I .,

i thank yo.Mv.d, all ...v l.riH " J . •^•" .
yo" fairly i h.tt I .xpeoto.l su,- . • '^^ ' '''"'• " ^ ^«"

«hown such ooun,, , TZ "r""- '''''"'^" "■'•^> ''-o

others." ' "' ^"" ^^'^"io I spoak to the

Thero w.-is ji niovonuMit '.n,] fi.-, *

'ocon,!!,- ,,„/, u,i, i , „ ■ ; , '"™ »;"' >"o «. lo„«, „„,,

'Iocs „„t co„c,.,„ ,1,„ e,.„s„ f,„. „,, ' , Z ■""«""« '" »'»•■'
Pnvato l,„.sino,s. ,u„l ti.ero i,, , ''«'"'"«! ''' '" "

■■'■>'""« ,-on-olvos, or r," „■ H ""'""' '" '■'""« -■ o«L,-

"'0 «.-,„l,„„,„ „r,h l,i V '" '" '""I'"- '"■■ J-ou a„,„„jj

'«' answc- ,„ half „„ |,t„;, .,""■""'' •"'•' «""» an,l gave „,„

o"o"'lCaR '""■'■'''"•"»'■■■'" '•••-'o.io.eap.ai,,,"

" Th.-it I can hardly do for T ,h^ „^f i

ever, I think it probable tl. '" "'^^'^^'^- I^^-"

^-ci .ould renin out^de J tr';?'^^^^^ ''^

down by the river-side where von i ''^ '"'' '^"P^^^

you were wanted. Po 1 b Iv v " , ''"'' ^" ^''^^^^^^^ ""^i'

-»» possibly you nn^!l^be I '" "1" '"' '^ ^^''"'^-^ ^^

desporato a„ „„te,,,.,,e .,3 s.„..2g I 'tf tl!" "" "

t> one ot the prisons.

I»AI> NKWH.

177

'I.-... No>v^„,,,„,; ■,/-;, '^j;- ■ion,,,™ t,

It wanted f,v,, ni,„uto8 of M,o tin,. wl„.„ »«-n ,fa ,

'hat ,11 „,.„ .,.v,;;;:^'t '-•;';; : i:'"'"" "■\^"»" '™'

ym. All U,„.,„ „f ,„„. o,v,^... „ " ''^"".l-en with

•■' «.cat .,„„„,„.. ..;,„„ if :: ',' *^ ;:':7 7"r "-
couw „„t „„ » ,,,.„ ,,„ „„ ,.y;. : v:^:, w • "•"

•■"id our comrales when vnii »,„■„ ..I 7. " ^""

p-iio„s ...vice. .,. „.i.T: ;: ,.ti " ";;;:'::,rt" "'•?

remain with voii 'ind h. f ii i " ^'*^''^"'« t'^

™.^dioi„::;::::;:jt:jt™™-^''''"'"^'™'-^

I-o.gli .shook tl,„m ,va„„|y |,j, n,„ I ,1

HiHvely siiKl, :m,i I thank yon l„.artilv 7 ,„
™y ™nt8, an,l .am glad to see that „ v f , .'"■'""' "'
well founded. CalUhc othli^ !!; » ' '""'"'"'" '" ^"" ''

thel"" "■""""« '""^ "'■'"■ '-•«" -'"-»■ the whole of

.o.:':; 4:;i«::;: rtef;:;:::: '^" -'■'' -*

villages on the bird. .rh. ^^'"''' ^'"^ "^'"T

to "u i/ut, oanK where von mn fi.wi i . >

take you across TV^vn. f , ^ *'' ''^'^^ that will

n.«/ai,' rrthe ; nirsT" '"^ '-^f "^- ^""

bolt, behind, and hide •„;"„;'' ,7" •■""■ '«-« J™-
you, renlv that i-m, ." '.'^ 1"™"- " 'I'lestions are asked

you h"„ds and tf T^ '° «°' "■"* "* N""'-. »•'>"«
(.L, ■ ""'• *'"'^ ^'"" "■■'= »'™d to stay in your

178

NO SURRENDER t

on the 4f VZJbZ ITV .° "'" ""'• ""'^ <°^
rivc-andtheothe, von trtv I tt '' °" ""'' «"'« "' «>o
the fioWs. ^ '•""' "'"""■ •'J' hj'-l"""' or throngh

Pierre are likelv to .?,l 7 ^°" «°' ""="• ^-"^'i or

ont foryon The' «„ ot ""!' "'r' "■■" ''» ™ ">« look-

ordera Jhen nil: ,",:,? 1*7™ ""," ^■■"•8 you

in daily^to bny food f„ the ,1'' °' ""■"• "' y™

beyond that. No,v I ho,!- T \ l, *'™ ^'"'^ "° '"'''''■■*

days' time at yonrLdoz™. P °"'"/°" "" "' *™«
on the evening after v„, '^"'™ «"'' Andr^ yon will,

the river bank Y™ ,wn ?"' ""'" ^^"""^^ '""owing

face, the river S^^ d« 1^" " °"^ *" " ''"" "'■''™ » «'>''■■»*

the clock strikes'L'" ,™ rar'n"";; "•'"' "" "' """'
come back the next evenincr T( ,"■'• "''""■■" ="">

will know that some bad h,?k hi 7 T,", '"" ""' '^'''' y"
will then disperse'nd yo wi, Un'f 'I,"™ "'• """ «>« ''-<'
I ahould ad4e y'on allT tr e ^t'Tv^ "" "T"-

-o;r:::stt:d..'"''-™-°"-»-X^

PHe::^.''TearMS'srdy'tir"i'°'^'

guises, and had narppH fV, ' ''^"^'''''^^ ^^^^^ed over their dis-
'hem„stapprtSrb1;t:tiX:^^^^^^^ ^

;7p,:tr;:x:i- ■■- - '--"^ ",r:

-p^^t-X5--^^^ear,.ea.
would go against the grain to put ^ rag .„,"

RAn NEWS.

179

Martin .aid; "but yonr idea is a good one and I „ n
.lre» np as a general of the Hues, oL IZ^, \Z^

peo,„e, and ^t.e vd^l^U'lS'::',; ifdttatr ^
any questions." ™ '" "»'< '«

After di„i„g ,„ith eh„ ,„,^ ^^ ^^^^^^^_|

Chsson, arnvmg there at live o'Hock in the afteZol

f'LTd:;tr'°'"»^-°''^» '--'-. -i.oTra

"It will not matter about that," Martin said- "and -.t
« are all Z1T,T' '*"':''™™''<'"-. I'kase, that although

inZ:":^zz Ttf^ ' r ^™'' '"" - «-

morerooSr/ar^alfo""'''"'-' '""" '^'''' *"" «"'
"I will remember," the other laughed "Just Irt m. „

-rriTi-'nrr"^^^^^^^^^^^^^

the waist and leg." ^''^ "''"'"^^ ^'^ ^«""d

180

NO surrender!

j»,t,:' ""^ '" ™"'™"'' -"■ »- oi hi, .e„ carrying two

h«e ; ken off h' '"' ""''"' '" " ='°™. ""d >■»-> to

fo.' us and ,h„nl u " S^' feheimcn's clothos

bit aLd „:J "" '"'™ "• ""^ *='» -^ "me, l.nv a

our dav tr r'T "■"' °," ^■'"' '°"'"' '» «' ''"<-'y -ell. In
our days the shoit-ivaisted coats with their Ion/ t„l= ,

'aisrct :: ir'*'"«.r'"v° -■-. "oX'' t:

u„nar,ie, hut as it was then the fashion amons the midrll»
lasses, and especially the KepuHieans, Jean faw n™h" I

mount da^x i-;t : -^::', -
thciot';::!: SThe^'tT '°°v'"^' "-" --- ">-

»ere led, then they rode on to the ferrv Thn
boat wa. on the opposite side, and in half an hour tTrossed
Then hey took their places and were ferried ove . rpartt
of soldiers were posted at the landing-place '^ ^

carrying two

BAD NEWS.

181

•' You are going to Nantes, I suppose citiy,.n«,?"fT,n «
in command asked. 1 Pose, citizens ? the officer

" We are. We come from V.Jlet, and are goin.^ to consult

■e r the same complainU at Na,Ues, but haie ,"t heard

o«tio,« that took place AW,! V ''""""'" '""'■
WHeted on it as ill "'■-'' ''°"''"' '""" ""''"^ra

in the west of La V^ T ' ■'","""'' °P^™""8

in the river and ZTX J':'""™"«"™'y any shipping

Plyingthei 'Js Lr t ,V ,fr™ '■"'' "'">-' 8"en „p

- .«„, and :hr::rn:r:d t' srt:

Convention. Ther Jor V „ "^^^ ? ° '""'"'"^ '° ""=
court.yard of the ,> l.i w ^"«'' ''"''' ""» *e

attentL wh t . r " '"'''""" ''"•'"« ""-"«" »y

182

NO SUBiUiNDEEl

CHAPTER X.

PSEPARATIONS FOR A MSCUE.

I "^7^1° r^M"'"""" '" ^°"' '""•'=• ''''"'"<■ " yoke

cour vari /r "'" """ ^"'^^ "'^^ ""» ^e little

"MonDieu! it is— "

Jean held up his hand snarply.

" Yes, it is I, Citizen Gallon from Vallet It i. ..f ..

Well, well, I „11 see what I can do for you comrade-
but, a, you know, I don't profess to take inTo'rees Mv
c«„ts come from the water-side, and generally ,„7abkt

can do I wdl t.e them up in that shed for the present and
then clear out a stall for them afterwards." ^ '

yo:rT^:^r:h::itst:t..^°"-"°""^^'"-'°''-

"I wdl tell you presently, Brcnon, when we eet inside
I am glad that you are able to take the horses in. W d^'t
wnt to be stared at, or talked about; we have come alon.

.^upstairs Where there ,^:o''ch:r^\-rsc':*

PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.

Igo

.ve come dow,, agj" ' ^'^'"""^ '^''''^ "''»

The man nodded.

"The boy is in the front room " he said «'T)
three or four fishermen there haWn. fh! ' ^''

I have no other servantr U ^^^!'^,^^''' ™°'"n'ng glass,
for I was obliged to dl 'a 'tZ f " f ? ^^ "^«'^^"^'
has been so clfok of late.' '"' "' '^'' ^^^^"^^h^^S

He led them up to a chamber looking on tn fh«

never spoke strnncrh, . . ^ ^ ' ^ ^"^^> ^ut he

opinron^tditTa:-:;,:,' s:\?™ "-'^--^

and that a man co„H „„, ^i, " ™» " '"'"'ler,

he worried hii r've p iS : ''Hrr ''T r 'r™™ "

and left if fn fi.. u ?, , ' ^® attended to his trade.
^^ ountiy. \V hat of my mother and sister?"
Ihey are safe, monsieur. He sent them off a fortnight

184

NO surrender!

before i„ ,Ii,g„i»„ to La Koci.elle; at lc,«t, so I l,„v. I.eard

u \;:"ti;:"; '""I r- ?''- """•■• "■"™ '»■■-■■'''

uoiiot but thiit they sailed in her for Ki.diuid Vn.i.. f... i

wa. denounced hef,,™ ti,e c„„ U^oi t'ulZ^^Z

one who ™ hostile to the C'onvction. le wi." L
of ln.vn,g sent largo sun,,, of „,o„ov to l.'„„|.,' '

U^ie,.d.havesenth..if„audd:H!;:t;:'::r^

dn additional crime on his part."
/'Then we have a double task to carry out i ,.,». - I

«:e„o", ""^sK ';'■""■ ' ""' '"" >■"" "■'■''' »:«-'-;

offmv wit .,""^ ""'"'•■'"■ ' "ns away, but they carried

o;::; priso:.'."' ""° """ "^■'■" '" -^^ ^ « ™""°' ««• 1-

" Von have thousht of such a thing as that!" the nru,
exelanued u, surprise. .'Ah, monsiem-! it is weli , il a
.mposs,b,l,ty that you have undertaken. The Jl , *i uo,
that there are hundreds of men friends of ,1 1
"ith when, they have crowded th ^ i t wh voTr"
tljem down stone by stone if they had t'h w „ "i:
uW t,„„ to the prison warders -not .he me,f th! , ed o
b there, butn.en taken fron, the lowest ehss i„ the to ™1
the prisons are ,vatched b, what they cdl the vohn.te r,
hfteen hundred mcu belonging to the scum of the eitv'
the men from the slaughter-houses, the skinner ■ a do
tan-yarda Some of these are ever on guard r;,," t!
P-.S n,ght and day. There have be^n great ng

I'UKI'ARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.

185

A year ago almost cveryo.io thought that the A^
semi) y was going to do w,)M<le.f.,l things, no one know
exactly what. According to what thoy said, everyon,, was
to bo able to eat meat seven ,hiys a week, to wear good
clothes, and to do just as much wo.k as pleased him and
no more. Evci the fishorn.en and sailors were fools
enoi^d, to believe it. J'.ut there is a great change now.
At hrst they approved of cutti,.g off" the heads of those
who, they were told, were the cause of all n.isery and
poverty; but when cNery day fresh prisoners were brought
m, and it was not the nobles only but quiet citizens-
tradesmen, nuuuifacturers, doctors, an.l advocates - and
every morrung a score were carried out to be guillotined
men began to change their opinion, especially when they
tound that the more heads were cut ofi' the less work there
was and the poorer th.^y became. They began to talk
among themselves, and wh(,n it came to executing women
a,.d children as well as men they turned rotu.d altogether.

More than once the fishermen and sailors have tried to
rescue prisoners on their way to execution. The commis-
sioners of the republic liave 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 volun-
teers, 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, Breiion? He was one of the leading men at that
Jacobin Club."

"He is still one of the leading men of the party," Brenon

NO SURRENDER!

^U gloomily. "He is established i„ vo.ir f„l, • i
no»-, and is on the „,„st intimate JL™U * "'^

sanes of tl,e Convention." *" ™"'"'''-

"Is Monsieur Desailles still hole! fr„ „.,.
vocate, and a n.on.W of the Jacoh,^, C "^ "° " ^°""« ""■

with tr; ;:.::"::;':: ^ii'^ .''-V"; '^ ■'»' "' ^-^ ^lo-

call the moderats lie ":,;■' '"" '-" "' -'"" 'hey

(lofend accnsed pe,-son ™| „ f •"""' ""°' ""-■'" ''^ '"
offence bv the 01^0™! . " ""^"'''™I a terrible

that he ^in.:,?*:^., s ":;• r it^r^'f " "'"

as enemies of the state. This is ™ " , , ^ °" ''"""""''^
and Heaven only knows what ;» II ' l:":' T "''•
there anyth ntr th-i^ T n-.,. i r * -^°^^» 's

wall that vo Ive bnt t^ T '""' ""P""'"' y"" k""''-

:^Mw^iddn-::/-:---:^.w

Blues and be able tf r « .^Cf If "'"''«'' '^^
have dont their work and , 1 ^' '"' P™™' ""ey

«an go about i.ZZuoea Of """""I'^g"-' ""at we
things." "nnot'ced. Of course we don't want new

a.e"a'irh"rd ™ ™ir'^ ""°"«''' ■"°"™'-^ -y customers
and which IZt." ''""" "'""^ """ -'""h -c '^e men

tobelttyX^'iriif""'','*'' '° '"^°' ""^ " »-'
^^ my aisposal as long as I stay here."

Ihere are boats and to spare cantiin w \.-

PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.

187

m plenty. Men have come down from towns and villa.es
I higher up, for they say that the troops arc ur.der no con roT

and when the boats con.e in after'a night's fishLl IJ
come down and help themselve, and if a man venttre to
grumble he gets a musket-ball to pay him for his fish Tic
men here at first were against their fishing between 1

that the more food the better for the people; and as the

to them. St,ll. hke our own mer,, they are doing badlv
enough, and one could buy a boat for a mere song "^ '

beca eT faci T' 1 '"' "" '"" '^^^^^ "^«"' ^--".

no ic d I w ? '"' '-"^ ''""'°^^^ "°"^^ ^'' th«n be
noticed I want one rowing boat, as fast a craft as you

can j.ek out. I also want to hire a boat with a r-'bin that

wil hold us both. Of course it will be a sailing bolt ty

board. It might be noticed if two strange sailors were

m a boat moored against the bank no one would notice
us. If you can get hold of such a boat, with a couple o

pZtlm r '"^ :\'' '''''''' ^^"-^^' strangersTd th

Sown L ' f'T' '^"'^' "'"^ ''' ^^"^^ occasionally go

down the nver and do a little fishing." ^

"All that can be managed easily enough cantain r

:d Hear '7 ^'1 T"' " ''^° °~'"''' ''^ '- "- Kougo
Medart, who sailed m the Henrie,,, foryeara, ^.d odv

'That would be th

as you do me.

very thing. Make arrangements

188

NO SURRENDER!

With them on any terms they like T will foi u ,.
wppW qu„ „ • , "^ ^ ^^^" take her bv thp

Tnc ''""' ^ ''°'^^' I suppose?" ^ ^

'-'* course, monsieur, thev conlH rmf ,i^ v,

"If she i^ f,=f II "^ ^^ ^*^ without one."

thing; we ctnoTvZ' "' ""^ "'"""^^ ="■« "-e first

fc> we ciunot venture out in thesi. in (i,„ c . i

because we might be questionJ n 7 j, " I''"™'

might be reoo..ni2e7. ' ' '°"'^' "■"• »™ndly, beeause we
a wide llirtetLtT '" "/*"™-'^ dreas, wit,,
think that anyon'reoTldTn'ow ::.'■' '^'' "-"'^^ ' "»»''

Fobabiy speak n,t M v to /° ,""^", ''^"'"f '™»"

«.; ™t'tX"™ »' '''''""''• "^ -'"■ " I "i" «it; he

^■•tti..g With r; ™ t: r„r -'"-i"- «s

until the servant c]nS fi. T , ^^ '^'"^ "°^ ^peak

out both hritirvii'"™'' '"" "^ '="'" "p --^ "»"

I know you now you have taken that hat off, but I own

PREPARATIONS FOR A RKSCUE. igg

loud. For auXt T V "^««««"gor. Please do not talk

oui. ror aught I know, my servant has been bribprl tn

act as a spy upon me anrl «...,. i i oubed to

To tell you the trl Je n V '' ' ''' "' '^'' ^'y^''^''
the club The vio e^t n '. "^'' ''" '^""'"^ *^ '"^ ^^'^^^ '"^^

-ia.he.;^i;ri-^:tr?::t^"-^2

at any moment I may be denoiu.ced " ^'^

diminishes HoSJ 1 ! '"""""' '"'^'^'^ -"-er than

:":trtTj;t:r^^^^^^^^^^^

purpose that has hrZgul h Tha f ","" '"" ''"'

came to endeavour to resnip m^r i..,-f„ u ^"wuu. i

bave heart, has been e t d 7a tiTo^- "° ""f ^^
Hnd my house J-iid in od, t °^ ^" "^^ absence,

here." " "'''''• ^ ^"PP°«« «^« has been brought

" ^ -, I am aware of it," Jules said. " The party of horse

190

NO surrender!

who did it were specially sent from here Of ..

Cathelinoau a dothot iT^T, '"" "'"° ''«''""e with
raise a voice o", vo nnSl, ,, 7 *"' " """ '"' ™^'«» ««

the,room,ng before they entered the house" "" "'

^ Has she been brought here yet!"
yes, she arrived three days ago. She is in tl,. „u ■•
pnson, where your father is also Liined' ' '° "" °"^

wo^M havi bL;tL":;\:tt:tt:^^''" '-«—

-I ne young advocate smiled bitff>rlv «\f •
no part in l^^Z^^^ Z^^^TT
:>ear Jean, painMl^ ^'^ ^etr ;: T^ ^V""' "^

father, butitd ^p^" Vrfate:!:;; ? ^T-

denounced you at the club when I befl "'"'

it was members of hi, cHauIwL ^''"'l^'" J""" "»™i"g;
to send a small bLy of av Irv to f f ' ™"'°""" "?
they also who deno,™ d ™ 7falr ' v: ^T' ?." "' "'
far the most powerful of I ^Ittee oTry^S^T.^I

PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE jgi

<(Tu^ • , AiaiitB iiiatrrance can be frppr?

The™ ,s a coU-bloododness about him that mil
nerves tingliug, I believe myself th-,t 11^^,1 u ^

your father bad largely reduced hi Z^ZtZZtt^'
proceed, to England, decided him i„ either irelJo ^

^eircKtitLrofbix^--™"-"

that, seeing the inestimable service rendered fo V . . u
his eldest son, they would b,. hllZ """'""' f? ">« «'»'« by
of gratitude f^r h,' lUt^'""''' "P™ """ ^ " '"'-

reckon mv«splf «r;fi, *i, i f'^j'ou ms caras. i cannot

myself with the scoundrel, deeply as he has wronged

192

NO surrender!

a remote chance of sncccss!" ^ " '""'° "™"

"I have Leigh with me; j-ou know him wel' ,I„1« t

rather fvi.l h^e i " ,?e se "f a d! "''V'""' "^
forty lads, of whom he i "e captain who' h"' ' """.' "'
«=out. to Cathelinean. The JTb ^^1, " ""'f "'
two out of the town." '"''"'« '^ ™'« ^

Jules lifted his evebrnws « t „ j- • , ,

fact, of no use whatever. If you had fivp C a T
an^ could gather them for a suSn-at ron Th ^ , Td
had a couple of cannon to blow in the sate T IUIa

rrtdnrr^lrg:^:--^^^^^^^^

PHEPARATIONS FOR A RESCUK.

193

At this moment the servant brought in a note

a„,„t.» ^ '™'"^"' """'-'^^ ^ke did not wait for an
The advocate opened it. It was written in pencil

After reading it he hande<l it to Jean,
ihat settles it," he said •. r
are you staying !» I am w,th y„„. V

totyV^tlT^"'''' '•''"■'"--''»'- you

e.bin.\ve;han go on borrdT''" '"' ' '""' ""'^ »
us. I had better go out fir"" "' ™" "" ""»= ""'"

might be made in all the bufta I tin ''•"'"'"'• ' '^''"'■
q'»y opposite the inn ym, speak J' l'V7 °" ""^

«r:arg?m:rt\lrT'r^^"""^^^^^^^^^^^^

b^ofno^vantoge^' ' °" "*'" "^ """K «» ™>W

yo:;?o°:lt-'^^ '°° '™^' •'"'''• ^ »■"'» ■'^ - » fever until

3pe:c'hL:rh t^rwiirtheijh? "'\''^''^" ^ ■'-

friends will sep fll \ ^' '" ^^"^^"g "^e- My

194

NO surrknder!

Iiave no power whatever to order airesfs In.f fi

rfo not stand „„„„ UgMtie,, except in c tcf l' f
attract a great deal „f ,,„,,,,„ ,(,„„ J„ „ "'™ ''''"'y '»

ioinXr '° '-^ "°- """ '»' ''^' Visitor out. J.,„
"Desailles is going to join us. He has inst hnnn i

:.::;: ;/"'iti:' "^ rr '- " ■>•-- «"-': : t

wliaif. It ,s very l„cky that Brenon comiilf.tP,l ,1,
arrangen,o„ts ,„.day for the boat, an,l tl.H Z get ■ !^
Medart „n be expecting us this evening. I told th 1

boat ta.^,t::\: ;:!. i^hTf t^tr-" t

higher up, because there are sure trh. i t ""'"

-y fishing-boats put out^rinrthe^i^ht "'"'™' ""^"■"■

They walked fast back to the inn Brenon on ., •

rs^ttltoTo^Lor^^n;'??-^^

here " he said " w>, . L ™ "™ '*"<>» ''"'"g

nere, ue said, both of whom are carriers, and keen eirht

or ten horses. To-morrow morning earl, I willJeot

o^^your horse, to one and the second to the o^C. No o

W.1I nofce them there, whereas if a .»-rch is -„ade-a d

I have no doubt a search will be made of the ho^s ne"r

Va kt iTv n^h ■' ""^ "u"^ """ ' ''^'' '™ "'«™« fro.
Va et 1 v,ng here-,n the first place because it is an „„.

^k^y place to put them up, and in the second because no
^«c : o,t,zen, would be forthcoming. ,t is lucky that you
t.,u the me;- -o get a cask of wine and a store of provisfons
'" ""'" '«'°" »'^"'"g- Well, y„„ know, eap'Jn I'

I'KKlMlUTroNS FOR A MSCUt ,9^,

of w .om I can ,ir„„,l.„ „ \. , , ""'• """ '» «■ '

in .-. good caZr "'™" ''■■•""^'' f"-- " '"ghf^ work

1 iiave been nervous ever since I left vnn » T Tif •
-Kl, as his friend shook hands .ith et'h 'ca ^^f'
that a quarter of an hour's del'i V 1 ! ^^"^ "^

^efo™ :;;„:;'rd„>f:i! '""'''-''''''''^^^^^ »„ h„„r

tes than an hour -.flnr ,1,? ™° '"'y '"^'^'^ion in

tl>e boat i, notlr oAlrrr' ^T "' ''""■ ' '°i-
I can assure you." Po"ma.,toau of mine is heavy,

Martin took it „p and swung it on to his shoulder
„ „"■ ™y '■^<'" Jean, I won't have it "

feci heavy." ° """''^ '^'"'s any exerme it would

until the L„7 ;T ILtr/ult °? f " 'r° '^'^ ^'■"■"<'-
and went to lift it iZ^Z ' ""'"' ' ''^ '""''od i*

;;Bidyo„rser:!,trrgrr"'^'^---«^'''
o--n dormouse, a Jl-trrrouttrt^l'

196

NO SURRENDER!

have had to wait for my breakfast. I was in a fnVht as I
valked down here, lest someone who knew me 2 ru
against me, but happily I saw no one " ^

"They would not recognize you if they had seen von "
Jean laughed. " The idea of Monsieur dLTiL T ' '
a gentleman somewhat particula "1^^:: ' •:?r^^^'
a portmanteau weighing a hundred pondth;^^^^^^
streets, would seem an impossibility » ^ '^'

ju;:!i::;ed:'4ti?:rii"^^ --''t ''''^' --"

J ^ , ' iienceroith 1 am a man of war a rpb^l n
rare mdy to rush up to a cannon's mouth."

*ing?:: :L:^^;^r"'- ^ ™ ^--^ - - that y„„ .a^o

"My dear Jean, I feel as if I walk on air since you have
taken my portmanteau. I have been living in .fs ,te o
suspense for months, hating these wretches and thei wavs
and k„ow,ng that I was gradually falling into W dX
« .th them, and that the blow would certaFnly fall ero C

are I d,d not see how the matter was to be elTeeted-wh™

of fhe h f '°.''°; ' ™ '"'^ ^ ''"^ *''™'-S at the edg
b h nd V "", '^f'" '"P'""8'^ »' '■■""> ""Other corat
out and r,".'! ""''!'' ''™ """ «■" «">■■. «"d he s ™k
vvnn enjoys it. 1 have cut loose from the nasf T h

PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.

197

it IS a dark night, niv fnpnr?« "J, • 'i
"Tf^.M-nu 1-1 ' "V "^^nas, he said.

notttu Z'S L:: tl:;""'!, '" ''" y"^' J'-'-on did
.va„ted our bolt oil 1r''\'' '"■"•S"'" -">> "» who

-nt. No. .i4 x; : ;:,'r;:,r'' "'°"' •'■^^-

were a boy of fourteen " ^^ •^^'^ '"^^^ you

it either." ' ^""^ '^« ^^^ not going to take

" ^^e will talk about that afterward. " T
stepped on board. auerwards, Jean said as he

" I doubted whethpi' it ,.r„
only »poke„ to us of 4'™^"; """i""'"' '"'■ ^""""^ had
thought that you must bllonl ,' ™ ' T ''"'' "' y" I
"p. There are twoT hre of /^° ""' u' ""^ ''""'^ '"s'-er
. ■■! did not know ; ' f u t Ta» " f"'" °"-"
"> my friend Monsieur Desaiir I °'"' ^«°- ^his

from these butehors o ^,. r ' ° " '" '^' ^"^ danger

thi;v>. do™:a^^tt:te'^:;;^ft::^f ^^, ^'- f^^^

"' the little cabin. It „as bn 1! , ^'"^ «''""''-«d

"It will be close w rk catli "r""' '™' '°''«'
"It will do very well » """"'..^""e"' ™d.
room for two of T, fsilT if '''r''^'«y- " There is

w-ughthe;cri::':;o^:^rern

198

NO surrender!

from St. 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 atten-
tion. 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 detl-
at a time. Now as to the matter on which wo arc 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 im-
prisoned?"

" 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, ai\d 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."

PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.

199

'< Well, captain, you can count upon both of us, heart and
soul. Uut 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 W0 could count on getting twenty stout men along the
whsfffj 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 to-morrow 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 look-out 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

200

NO surrender!

.vs

not

Know,

^jer with

g to bribe

nition to let

gate of the prison we must get powder, and a good d^
it. That, however, is a matter in which we shall ^
money will be of use. There are too many offic"
prison for us to hope to get anyone out witho'
ten being in the plot, and as these, we hear, a)
who are heart and soul with the Conventio
possible to attempt it in that way. But when,
the Blues succeeded in bribing a Vendean tc
our guns, it ought not to be such a difficult
one of these fellows who is in charge of am
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, Piid 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 any-
thing 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 mount-

PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.

201

ing 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 C-uard 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 Avharf 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 1 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

nil

202

NO surrender!

I should not mind," Leigh exchiimed. "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
necessa'y 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
rture of success.

CHAPTER XL

THE ATTACK ON NANTES.

Tl/'nEN three or four miles down the river the boat was
T T 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
have heen many fights between the fishermen and these
fellows as far backus I can remember, and lately these have

THE ATl'ACK ON NANTES.

203

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 Avhat 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 Eoyalists to escape. They don't
mmd whom they lay hands on, and they don't trouble them-
selves 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 poa.sants buy when they come into the town.

H^^H

HIIhH

204

NO surrendp:r!

It would then be supposed that the attack was made by a
par y of Breton peasantry. As a good many other prisoners
would escape, in addition to Monsieur Martin and your
captains w,fe, 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

rnln^^'1 '' T' ^^''''' ^'''^'" ^""^^^ '^'^- " ^' ^^g^t be
managed in that way. But I think that most of our chaps

had better be told o« for firing the town. I think thaH

good many might be willing to undertake that job, for I

have heard it said many and many a time that they would

hke to burn the sewer rats out. There are other men

who would 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 bo difficult. The men employed on

hat sort of work are all old soldiers, and many of these.

though they dare not say so, hate what is going on just a

fhTn.; 1 7\r " ^''" ''^^^""'S ''^''^'' h« has said
things about the committee that would have cost him his
neaa it he had been overheard.

"I know that his chum is in charge of some stores, but
, 't''.f^'^.,':^"« powder or not I cannot say. But at any
rate Emile will be able to find out for me the names 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

anT... r ? ^" '"^^ '" "^'" ""^ ^^ ^''y ^"*i"^^t« with,
and get them to approach men whom they know well- for

THE ATTACK ON NANTES.

205

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 Koyalists 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, on« 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 ncvv
clothes out of fish at their present price; besides, most of
these fellows give up fishing altogether, anrl 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 ar-
ranged." °

" What do you think, Desailles ?' Jean said. " Shall we
nave a fortnight?"

206

NO surrendkr!

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 thev
we.-e condemtied. The jails are crowded, and as fresh cap-
tures are elfected 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 eacb day It
might be three weeks before your friends' t^irn comes it
might be only a few days."

"I tell you what, Rouget; you and your comrade had
better land to-morrow morning and set to work You
might say that three fishermen from St. Florent, finding
their boat too small, hired yours fo.r- a week to try their
luck. If they succeed ^hey 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 Aveek 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 ATTACK ON NANTES. 207

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 followir.g day. On the third day after
then- arrival Martin and Leigh rowed up to the wood where
they had dn-ected the band to assemble, and found that
with two or three exceptions, all had aiiived. Four or five
of them were at once told to retiun 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 al-
ready been written to Bonchamp and la Kochejaquelein 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 deter-
mined 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 18 m a state of tumult. It is reported that Catheli-
neau with his army is marching upon Nantes, and it is also
reported-but this is not so certain-that Charette is march-
ing to join them w'.th 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 volun-
teers and National Guard to make a good fight of it. How-
ever, 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 afc the prison. Our band here can dis-

I i

208

NO surrendkk!

pose of them, and half a dozen men each with (lie -balls
can add to the confusion by setting fire to warehouses and
factories. The great thing now will be the i)owder."

"That we have managed already, captain," Mcdart re-
plied. ''As I told you, I spoke to Emile Moufflet the first
morning I went ashore, and he said that it was at the
magazine s that his chum was employed. Yesterday even-
ing 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. Wo 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 fron: the estate, and reported that la Eochejaquelein
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 Stofl^et, was marching with the man 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 w\as 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

THE ATTACK ON NANTES.

209

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 Vei.dee is constantly threatened,
certainly a greater portion still would have gone off to
their homes rather than join in what would seem to thorn
80 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 Avhose 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

In A i

(M572)

210

NO surrender!

reaching them, but they felt confident that they could
successfully defend the town with this force.

Had Charette marched to Ponts-de-C^ 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 m 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 fire-balls had
been prepared in the cabin of the fishing-boat. Each of
the fourteen fishermen was to carry two of these. Their

THE ATTACK ON NANTES.

211

leaders had carefully gone round the quarter, and had
picked out the stores or warehouses into which the fire-
balls 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
m the vicinity Avould 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 M.
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 Vend^ans
arrived within a few miles of the town, and a formal sum-
mons was sent in to the generals. It was briefly refused.

212

NO SURRENDER!

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
m Nantes.i 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
})rison, 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 com-
menced 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 efi-ect, Leigh was to fall upon the)

THE ATTACK ON NANTES. 213

guard round the prison, and Jean with his band to run

iZT: ^ T' '''''' '""^ ^^°^^^- ^™J^ ^.--t "

light the fuse, and run back.
As soon as they had killed or driven away the guard

with half the band, were to station themselves and to hold
he gate against any armed body that might arrive whVle
Le.gh, w,th the others, entered the priso^n and ILd
necessary, to overpower the warders and blow open the
doors of the cells. The prisoners were all to be told tha
Charette s army was on the other side of the Loire and In
the,r best plan was to make their way down to thT riv r
seize boats, and get across. '

At five o'clock in the afternoon Charette's g.zns opened

b idge. Caru^laux, seeing that the attack upon the north
had rendered it useless for him to retain the adv^Jed
post, ordered the troops there to fall back into he to '
at ten o clock n. the evening; and at eleven the .hole
garrison were concentrated in Nantes

Finding that, with the exceptior.'of the cannonade on
both s,des across the river, all remained quiet, Leigh led

t;^ and threes :^tLi;^:r;i::,::^

K V of he inhabitants had retired to rest. They knew
that at any moment the storm mi-ht break .,u1 c.
awaited the attack with hope that thfLeTf Ihe re a"
from the tyranny «„der which they had for month g„a„ed

geance that, if the tow,, were taken, wonld fall „n„n those
who had been concerned i„ what had passed. Martin and

|:'

ImI.:

ill

iP:l

214

NO surrender!

Desailles presently joined Leigh. As the time went on they
began to fear that for some reason or other the Vend^ans
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 Yannes, 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 con-
sternation arose.

" The brigands have entered the town! They ara 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 Vend^ana
without having had time to fire a shot. Then the majority of
tlieir assailants ran off, half one way, half the other, follow-

JEAN S..:i/,KD ONE OF THEM BY THE THROAT.'

moi

drei

and

int]

witl

forv

and

rum

plos
<(

youi

wan

first

«'

takii

mad(
post

"(
woul

Pii
locks
priso
toget
Leigl
In a
arran
Patse
six oi
lease

THE ATTACK ON NANTES.

215

ing 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 ex-
plosion. 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 key-holes, 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 gone first to the rooms where his father and
Patsey were confined. Jean started with the seat once, with
six of his men, leaving Leigh and Desailles to see to the re-
lease of the lest of the prisoners. As soon as all rooms had

216

NO SURRENDiiR!

been burst open or unlocked, he and his party, with that
at the gate, hurried away. The streets were hght, as a
sheet of flame rose from the stores of Jacques Martin.
Ihe 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
Ihere were a good many boats moored to the bank, and the
tugitives 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, havi^i.g done their work, he and his band went
up a hundred yards farther, where they knew that three
large boats v.ere lying. In these they took their places
and started to row across the river, and in five mhmtes
r ached 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

L^ldtLT '' '"'' ' '''"' "^^"^"^ ''''''' '-''--

"Jean tells me it is all your doing that we have been got
out, she said. I felt sure you would manage it somehow."

Ihey had already arranged their plans. Jean, with his
wife and father and his twelve men, was to sta t .t once

THE ATTACK ON NANUS. 217

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 wouldgo with Jean
The boys, on the choice being given them, almost all decidcl
accomp,any e.gh. They were excited at the success tha
h,.d attended them, and the tremendous roll of fire round
he town showed how fiercely their countrymen were fl..ht-
"g, and they longed to join in the contlict. Saying .-o„ .
bye those who were going, Leigh and his pa'rtytCd
one of the boats a mile up the river, and then crossing
soon jomed the party engaged. The Vendtons had alredJ
advanced some distance, but every house and garden w-I
fiercely contested. Hour after hour passed, and the JoZ
were begmn.ng to be discouraged. It was broad IS

have become a disorganized mass, when a musket-ball fired
ma window, struck Cathelineau in the breast, a^^^' w h

inft?,! ^ '"" ™"''''""'''>' '"—'1 i" "»">
owing to the many gentlemen who h.ad joined him at

rtrfrom tie"" 'r*"^°" "' '™'"- ^ ^^ »' "'""-ay
rose from those who saw him fall, and the news spread like

ddfire among the pea«.nts, who regarded him rth an

almost superstitious reverence, and had a firm bel ef that

he was protected by Heaven from the balls of his nen ies

as loss seemed to them an irretrievable misfortl ne The

fierceness of their attack diminished. Their ardour w s gie

press the™ ? H"* T'"'" "' ""''^ »'™''«"^ -»-J ^
oZitfon ' L°°\ '"',*»-- They met with but little
oppos tion. The Yende.,n army, lately on the point of beimr

tered over the country, its retreat being undisturbed by the

218

NO surrender!

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 dis-
hearten the peasantry utterly; and hirl 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!
Chai-ette, after he saw that the attack upon Nantes from
the north side of the river ha-' foiled, fell back with his
force, as before, into Lower Poitou. The Vendeans, nc w
under Bonchamp, who had also been wounded, retired along
the north bank of the Loire, crossing the river a,t 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 aa 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 head -quarters,
learned where his friends were lodged, and joined them.

THE ATTACK ON NANTES. 219

Patoey gave a cry of alarm as he entered. Fugitive, had
amved before hi,„ and it was already know^ tha t e
atta k o„ Nantes had failed, and that Cathelineau Z
mortally wounded.
"What is it, Leigh?"

"I am wounded in the sho.dder. It is nothing very
senous thmk, though I suppose I sha'n't be able fo Zkl
a sword for some time."

A surgeon was soon fetched, the U-dl extracted, and the
wouna l».,„hged, and they then sat down to talk over the
events that had ocenrrod. Since they had been seated
Monsieur Uartm had become a broken m.an. The fact
hat h,s son, who assuredly had it i„ his power to protect
him, had given h,m over to the terrible tribunal, ha 1 been
a arder blow to "'"' *"" ">» P^pect of death and even
the devotion that ha.l been shown by Jean scarcely sufliced to

W tTd ■ ^'^'V"' ""'^ '"' '"'"■' •- 4ri »e
must be »uffermg on her account, and her uncertainty as to
the fate of her eh.id But even the twenty-four hours that

fof hir 1""" '''\'""' '"" '-^^ I'*"" '>"'' done much
fo. her. The news that the child was safe and well had

token a load off her mind, an.l she felt proud indeed that

her release and l,hat of so many other of her follow-prisouers,

had been brought about by the devotion of her husband

and chattuig as if nothing had happened

h„™e *rf' "™« "•"■■""'K tl>»y started early, and reached
home i„ 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 thei disposal, Patsey riding straight on to see her child,
«..h which, and lis faithful nurse, she soon returned

220

NO surrender!

T 'i^lf "^7' ^'^"'" ^""^''y "'''^' ^^'^«"' ^^Jth the cur^ and

Jules Desailles they sat down for a quiet talk that evenin.^

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.

Ihey wm mvade us again, and probably wc shall beat them

back Each time they will come with larger forces, ar.d

at last I suppose we shall have to endeavour to make our

way to England. I am afraid there can be r,o question that

withstand the whole strength of France."

askld^^^ '^" '""^ "•^'^ ^y at once?" Monsieur Martin

"The difficulty in reaching the coast, and of getting a
passage, would be immense. Besides, so long as La Vendue
resists, so long is it my duty to fight, and I am sure that
Patsy woiUd not wish me to do others i.e. 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 awny to England, I would gladly do
so; but I am sure that she would nut go, and I think I may
say the same f • Leigh."

"Certainly, Jean; as long as you stay I stay. Mv 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 m ho have
been the leaders of these poor peasants ought to hold by

" I agree entirely with you both," Patsey added , and there
was no more to be said.

A SERIES OF VICTORIES.

221

CHAPTER XII.

A SERIES OF VICTORIES.

MORE formidable foes than the peasants had yet met
-LU. were approaching La Vendee M.v ^ ,^^^ ""^^
rendered to the allies t,d fhJ /^'"'^ ^^^ '»••-

n- Joubt hrve i "77' """■ ""<■ ""■""'"i'ion would

aouM have Wm sent; but unfortunately the leader, „f

the insurrect on, occnmVrf =. .1,. ,)- "w icaaers of

they were miki ml,^ . , " "^'^ "'"" *» ««»■■»»

nienti L t t s of?. " "° "'P' '° ^^■"' ^ ''»'-
ment " °' ""^ ""^'^ 'o "'o English govern.

alttaghTr: lb" t ':"'^ °' '"^ '^P"""--. -^
«ruggfe the Britir "°" "' ™"c«'tr„u,( on the

a- 'oll^taf S4°rrr"H7t;:'^;r l^- '"'°™'''
of it, the terms grrntfdTL '" '"" "™

have been very differ nt and t/"™" u"' ''"^'="°'' ""'"^
held as nri.^Z '""^™»'. and they would either have been

th y wou d r f„tl "", '"'"'^T "^ '''"' *^ -"■ *«'

'n ™= A?i:t:;ttr::r:'L'tt'" "-/ -^

and were ,*eady on 'the «areh l^ds La"ve'„"de^™S
™ - -- wea^eneJ by th! :::!l o';\r:rn"f:

222

NO surrender!

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 Vend^ans.
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 oiF a force which burned Lescure's chateau at Clisson.
The Martins were engaged in conversation when a mes-
senger ran in,

" I have an order from Monsieur Lescure," ho said. " The
church bells are to be rung throughout the district."

All started to their feet. "Already?" Jean exclaimed.
"Why, what has happened f

"We have fallen back from Parthenay. The Elues,
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
Eochejaquelein 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

A SERIES OF VICTORIES.

223

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 firs
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. Fran9ois was to go down every day in the
cart to the village to get news and letters and buy provi-
sions 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.

«f mT '^Zl'''^ ''^'" •^'"'"' ^^'S^' ^"d I^««^"Ie8 arrived
at Moulin^ They were warmly received by Rochejaquelein
and Bonchamp, to whom Jean introduced DesaiUes as a new

224

NO surrender!

"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 excep-
tion 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 thou-
sand 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

A SERIES OF VICTORIES. 225

tr^op, supported by an artillery „,.ch superior to their
Leigh had taken no part in the actual fiKhtins Hi, ,i„l,t
"i tn "?" °"'^ " "'° 8"^'-'''' -■de-de.ca..p '

-."::x:"tL-'h::k"^;"i:r^^^^
pea....anatta:.::^:;:;r— ^-j^;;;^'^

about as if von wprp in th^ , • • i "^ "tUKing

"mit to all things, and one must remenihpr th.t
we are very short of officers inH fh., fV, '""^"^''^^ ^^^^^
as thev arP wnnl.i 1 y ^ ^'''' peasants, brave

them " ' ^ ^' "'^'^^^ ^^^^^^"^ «««^«o"e to direct

"I have no doubt but you are nVht Tpan " n -ii
said with a laugh; "but in fact J lu \ '''''"''

a thought to the matte I " \ moTt VT^'T f "'"^

r:hfet^:^--°~""

"You will get over that," Jean laughed "but fhp c
feeling is strong amons the niPn n ^"t the same

they are for the order to charge Th ''" T- ^'" ''^''

but it is to use their bayonSat thev "" ''"• ""'^*^'
(M672) ' "''■>^^"6^s that they are panting. They

2:6

NO surrender!

will eet tn rVinf,-]] X y, -^^^ ''■^^ o^er. VVestermann
"ill gee CO CJiatJiJon to-nifrht AA'hor. v.^ ^ ^i

pose that I .ho,„d eve,. .Jtllll^:^ .tr,!

affects me comparatively little. It is l„cl<y that I se„t off
our men directly ,he fight ™ over, with a le tt r o mv

tiiat still remained in mv ^fflWn= ti, • , , "'"^^

:r:::rm;='^3"-?"-^^^^^^^^^^^^

likelfto have It 'it,' """^^"^ *-''^. -"am
Monsieur Besail,r[Ltl\.t„rr:'htsZ-i^.'^"^

A SERIES OF VICTORIES. 227

-oitt/ti^Z'::XzT''' ir "■"• "^- 1

been a peaceful one !n<l I havJ "'^ "-^ P"'''^''" ^as

-ddlo With an ani„,al „„. er "^ ™ °' 7 «'»-" ■" the
by the sounds of battle. Of the tw„ r „ T'u'" '"'"'"'"'
P-fcr being „„ a ship „„„„, 1 sto™ ■- """" """ ' ^'-''l

he said. .. As fo,. „r, TLi twi™ l" "'""" °' "■"■"'"«."
that I do on foot I ,. ..„ ° "'"" °" bo-^eback

and I Should ce.:„, fXi:™ hriS'i"^ 7 "•" ^"''
first time that I attemi.fpf] :, ti "'"^ ^'^"^"^lit the

the animal on you iTlI '' /.^'^"•^^^'■' ^ -i" not press
cottage in the he t o thl ''". '' ?'^ '^' ""'^'^ '^ -"^e
fetched when needed '' ''' "'""^ ^ ^'^ ^-« them

"I am sure that we are srGit]v nhv i .
'^'^- "As I told von L \ ^'^ *° ^'^"'" Jean

Nantes, we had ^10^^' ." ''^''"'^' ""^' '-^^'^-^''^'^-e in
Had we'captu:^^;^ r:.^:^^^^^^^^ - there, though

As it is, the Blues carri J 1 T '''' recovered them,

the chateau, and l" ,f '^ '\' ''''' ' ^^^ '^^^ behind at

^^-gh. That / cSerli;;;:;^^^ '' ''' ---

certainly had not expected to nlV .""^ "'"^ '''^^' I

tured some from thf enemy t"" "'f "^ ""^'^ ^^ ^P"
you, not onlv for von. ^' ""' ^"^''"'^'^^^ obliged to

« «..dnessi':s;rr™ e;:-' '°^ ^- '*°"«'"-
a sa£r:^7:tv™s:e^''r"*'-"»«- -^-a-

-casion fo. thanks or ompi'^V™" "' «■«- « "o
the same for mc and I T i. . °" "°"''' ''a™ done
on horseback ag i? i " ?^^ ,"> ^^ *'^ to set you both
not a little sellh in the ^a teJ f™ ""' ™™ "'^' ^ "-
the company of vour broth r? ^"""^"^ ' »'«=<'
/ , our brother.»,-hw greatly, and felt that

228

NO sukuender!

coSe'^t:." "^ "^' '" '-' --^ ^"-^ '-«- and
to oppose tt iTnc of 7 T "■" t""'™"' " S"*-""

they fought thef \l:' Li fs:':;"r •''^'''^' *'"

retiim „f ,r , '•;'""'">"» '" "ttor confusion. On the
"V^ e must admit another failnrp " ^s,W] p^ u •

o< the eneXstv^rs/tfrrstr"?

opposfng a determined f,4,t to th e:'™ L r" "a
failure, but a fflorious nn^ Ti. "^ ca\airy— a

tne plunder of then- head-quartcs, we should have won the
d«wever, we shall have reinforcements up i., Z^^:

aXr*itrr:ri^;"L?i^t^

■.a.tin«-placetheheav,haggage:\vr;:r^^^^^^^^

A SERIES OF VICTORIES. 229

had been overpowe j '1 h™ ' '"^S""" '^'""'h".-]

'he -„,,. sa„t^...„, rt: ~ tT ^^^^^ *^°"«''

Kochejaquelein, who had ],„» , ?, ? °"'« ""mW by

""'Who ,h„,.gu ,;,:■: :r:'„ t °',™'"™'' "■■"'

explosion „.„„id „„t,„,,|, ™ '-"f <>f the alarm which the

'erre's battalio,,, h„>vo rZ 1 . °"°" "'" '"™y- S™'
«re drawn off. i„ ,^^ ' ""^ h™, and the Vend,!a„,

the peasants a,rivo,l and r""' ""^ ""h, body of

a'tack. Menou hi' i .u',? "»"'' "-' *'}' "ade tLir

readily; bnt the rest of .h„ ,™v "d '•• "\ '""''"'■ ^'""^
veranee with which the Ve, ,d ^ ^ '""""' ''^ ""= P^'e-
losses, were ever ready to ,.'"'"; '•" ''"''^ "' "'">« and
heart. ^""^ '» '"""^ '1>«.- attack, speedily lost

In two hours the nVht f„n i i .
^■"aO. and in a shortll'lL"";^, '" *'"*'-' '"" >»"-
vam the officers en.kavourec 1 T'T «'"'™'- I"

gioat was their terror that ,? I u ""• '"S"'™; »
-Ob traversed the di'sit^^ ' .^ l^, "-'-^ Pa-ctric'lten
Thus the second great invasion oi"v"T """ ■^■^"""'■•■
"o greater success than the fir^t \t '"'' ''"'' ""■'' '>'•*
that had advanced in full confide 1 , " ''"""- «"'""•"«
utterly discomfited. Westerl f J""""' >""^ «"'™ed
hut annihilated, the arnvfll'J'"' *"'"'»" "uui heen all
h™ of men, and h^ZZtlT"' 'f '°^' «^-' ""m-
hody. TheBoeage ,rith L. °'"'"^ '° •«= •■' ■"ih-tary

and its brave pop,', 1 1 ' "^f "°°*- '''' *ick hedges

f- Of the R^Mr'ar:7t,ft-';° ''^'™--'
-to .t was in itself sufl,c,-.nt to Tl 1 '"''''"' '" '«'™"«
«ho boasted so loudly wheuat !dt " T"™*" "' "'o^"

i »nen at a distance. It ,vaa the grave,

230

NO surrender!

too of the reputation of the French generals. One after
another they had tried, failed, and been disgraced

Ihe first general, Marce, was superseded by Berruyer
Berruyer by Eiron, who was recalled and guillotild
Westermann was also tried, but. having powerful friends
was acquitted. Generals of divisions had conie and go, e in
numbers. Some had been dismissed, some, at t Jr ol"
urgent request, allowed to return to the districts they com

aTd" H had f", T '"''"f '' ''' ^^'^--^-^^ ^'^ -
and all had faded; one and all, too, had never ceased from

the time they joined the army of invasion to send reZ

after report to the Convention complaining of the untrust^

o the officers, and the want of a sufficient staff to maintain
d eiphne and restore order. Indeed, the bulk of the r vo
hitionary troops possessed little more discipline than the
V.ideans themselves, and being uninspired^ as were th
a ter, by a feeling either of religion or of patriotic en-
thusiasm, hey were no match for men who were willing to
give their lives for the cause. ^

The Vendeans were far better armed than when thev
commenced the struggle. Then the proportion of men
who were possessed of muskets or firearms of any kind was

which had been captured in the hands of prisoners, thrown
a^vay by fugitives, or found in the storehouses of the towi
there were sufficient to supply almost every man of the
population with firearms, and in addition, thiy possessed a
good many pieces of artillery. Unfortunately they had
learned httle during the four months' fighting. The'r
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

A SERIES OF VICTORIES. 231

Officers and a small body of men, who were either emigres
who had returned from England to take part in the stru^le
or Royahsts who had made their way from distant parts oj
France for the same purpose. i'<^^i^ oi

After the capture of Saumur, too, a good many Swiss

foreigners, had deserted and joined the Vendeaus. Thus

wh?. "*".'"' u°^ ^"^ ^™^ ^^^^ ^°g«^b«^' s^^elling only
when the church bells summoned the peasants tf take
up a ms for a few days. But while the lioyalists of La
Vend^^e remained quiescent after they had expelled the
invaders, the Eepublicans, more alarmed than Lr, were

s'urrectln" ""' '""""''" '^"'^ '' ^^^"^P °"^ ^^« -"

tn!r''?Af ' ^^^^^"^"^^"ded at Nantes, was appointed
to ucceed Menou. Orders were given that the foreL and
hedges of La Vendue were all to be levelled, the crops
des royed the cattle seized, and the goods of the insurgent
onfiscated. An enormous number of carts were collated
to carry faggots, tar, and other combustibles into La Vendue
for setting fire to the woods. It was actually proposed to
destroy he who e 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.
^ he infamous scoundrel who had been appointed commis^
nlT'i ^!,^""^^^' P^°P°««^ ^" equ^^lly villainous scheme,

«hZy'. !f' f '^"""'^'^'^ °^ ^^^^^' ™^^«^ ^^ith 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

232

NO SURRENDER 1

opposed by General Kleber, who had now taken the com-
mand of one of the armies of the invasion.

The rest of July and the first half of August passed
comparatively quietly. Genci il 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 canying 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, Bon-
champ, 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 ruimbers. 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 artil-
lery, they utilized the natural features of their country.

A SERIES OF VICTORIES.

233

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. Y: ry 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 f<»'^«. 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 en-
thusiasm 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 bein^ struck at
their cause. Charette, hot-headed, impetuous, and self-
confident, had always preferred carrying out his own plans,
without regard to those of the leaders in Upper Vendue,
and he now quarrelled with them as to tbe 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;

234

-^0 surrender!

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 Kepublican troops had passed, the destruction had been
complete. A largo portion of the poi)ulation were home-
less. The very movements of the Vendeans were '. mipered
by the crowds of women and children who, witli 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 al( save a few
secluded spots as yet u.ivisited by the IJepublicans, 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 Vendoe altogether, and to take
refuge m Brittany, where the vast majority of the popu-
lation were favourable to them, gradually gained ground.

Generals Beysser, Canclaux, and Dubayet were recalled
by the Convention for their failure to obtain success, and
lEchelle was appointed to the command, having Kleber
and Westermann as leaders of his principal divisions. Jean
Martm and Leigh had joined their friends in their retreat
in the forest after the repulse of all the Eepublican
columns. They had heard, while engaged in the thick of
the fightmg, 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.

A SERIES OF VICTORIES.

235

"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 li.nM, 'imes in store for all
here. It is evident that no mercy is ;:o be shown to the
\endeans. It has been dec-e-J by ti' o Convention that
they are to be hunted down like . ijd beasts. Hail I lived
I should have been a terrible buruen to you; I should have
hampered your movements, and destroyed any chance what-
ever 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 there-
fore 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 home-coming this time, Jean," Patsey said,
as her husband and Leigh rode up so 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
ternule waiting here and knowing that you were in the

236

NO surrender!

midst of dangers, and that even while I thought of you vou

.It ""t'. '™'" "'' ""'^ P"'-'^ "-■"'l <l"i«tly in the
ottage. rhero were many d«ussi„„s a. L the ful, ,.

oetter that they should travel alone

Ob Jval-„T»\°' " ","'" ",','? ""^ ">"■' '''•'»'» '0 »*-'
ad Ma, the,, the.r chance of safety will be greater if tbev

tte f;::r:f'° " "",*■' "' '^"^ -p '"^^ ^'^""^ -^

tue family of some woodman-or rather, Marthe's safetr
wonid be g«ter. As to Francois, he ha'. Ion b e„ f r
ojom ,„ the fighting, and it is only his fidelity tharS
constrained h,m to remain in what he considers is a d's
gmoeful position, when every other man who can b r
anns .s fighting. We will therefore take him with "s Z
-hen the day of battle comes he will join the fi^tinle '
and ,f we are defeated, mnst care for his own saffty. men

away. You w,ll have the horse ready to mount, and we
shall jom you at once if we are defeated »
"We ought to be disguise,!, Jean," Leigh said.
I would be well," ,!«„, said, "but I hardly see what
<l.=gu>se would be of use to us; certainly not tha o
peasants, for in that dress we should be shl down "rith
out ,„est,o„ by the first party of Blues we came a:.
Even .f we succeed u, reaching the river and crossing it
we may be sure that the authorities will be everywhere

Tuilto'e " °"" """' '" "™' ■■" P"-' ''«''"' % 'he
"I should say that it does not matter a bit how we are

uiid

A SERIES OF VICTORIES. 237

dressed till we reach the river. We know now pretty

rt Z7 !'"' ^" '^' '^''''''y" L^'Sh said, "ind I
should think that we ought to be able to reach the Loire "
That IS where the difficulty will begin. In the fa'st
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 Vend^an peasants."

"I should say, Jean, that the best disguises would be
those of fairly well-to-do town's-people, 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
iri his senses would be travelling about j.ist 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 cho-ce. There would be very little chance of escaping
rom any of the ports of Brittany, and La Rochelle would
oe 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
owns near the border a very sharp Lloui is keptt
p-e emigres escaping. There is a rumour that Lyons
ha declared against the Convention, but if we got there
t IS certain that it would be but La Vendue over again
Lyons cannot resist all France, and a. soon as they have
done wh us here they will be able to send any niJber 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

238

NO surrender!

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 prol)abIy we should be able to arrange to go direct
from Toulon, for there are sure to be vessels coming and
gonig with stores for the Biitish 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 Lou-e and then make for Le Mans, and so up through
Alcn^on 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 wo should be outside the district where they
would be searching for fugitives from here. Once on the
sea-shore, 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 bo 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
to-morrow and get them."

CHAPTER XIII.

ACROSS THE LOIRE.

IITARTHE was filled with grief when she heard thnt it
J.TX had been decided that it was better that she should
return to her native village, but her mistress pointed out to

ACROSS THE LOIRE.

239

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 head-quarters 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 loave a soul
alive m La Vendue. 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 afterwards."

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 depertod, 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 horae'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 sco^jts, 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

240

NO SURRENDER!

Beaupuy were suddenly attacked by the Vend^ans w),-,
entangled in the lanes. The head of 2,^^. \ ^^^^

to Mortaenp l^hn i °°' retired hastily

a long a„^ ZZ^^^Z ^:^'''"7^- ^"-
the w„«)s, and, the Kcprt ica' ar« it ''""'" ''"'"

they were compelled to et " o CMr''H '"' "T "'^"•'
made. Klcbcr h«l al,„ 1,7 » , ""'''' "" ''^'t «s

though wH,;™:h dffle ; tputnt' '■ 'r "^^ *»■

next ™o„„„g the Kepubhi^sTttd C olLT !« th"^
found descited by the enemv On fi, ^^''•^

whole force bei,/n„„ m.t^ tteTv'T"*' f"
to move forward toward, R„, !' " "'" "^""t

guard was hot,, rc^d .a'" ^1: 1:''^™"^'
became general. "'^ ^^^ ^o'^bat

asfc :horofte'iT:p,dr 't ""^ ^" 'p^™-"-™. ^»'

advance wa/i 1:/^ The '^arh'™' """ ""°" *^"-
o'cloC, it raged without't™- -I^, Z^^ T

the .e„ that Wcr^ta^: t S'rr'iih'f r

"088 and di„ they could only be heard bfZ ,*"*•

round them, and even these tblfil. ^ '"™ediatel.

n.en who had forsev™ h ^ 1' u '° '■'="'"'"»''^> ""^ '' '^
reported, htc t^:Z^ ""'""' ^ '^''^^ »'"«"
Le.c„re had fallen i„ the hghth,g on the fourteenth,

ACROSS THE LOIRE. 241

panic, and they fell ^k VZm T" f°''" '" '^'^'^ "■«
of peasants, who held tte tr '"'f 7-''««^>' -ith a band
dV Leigh had eseo eS ;'" t '•. °" ""'"'■^"■™»

she was established. ^^'^ ''^^^ '" ^v-'iich

"We can hardly believe it ourselves" Tp. •,
has been a terrible day indeed O T '''^- "^^

-cl I firmly beheve thlt 7 shouk^ b' "" '"'^'^' "^'^'^'
not an unaccountable parn" e in wi"'' "'" '^' ^^^ '^^^^
not. We were doinL^ up ! , ""^ '''''''^ '' ^ ^^^o^v

dn-ve them bade, t d'c ul, 7eT 7' \"' '^' '^^^"" ^«
half-hour it was likelv th!^ \ '" "^^' '" ^°^ ^"^^'^^^
seized them. However vl IT'"" "" P'""'" ^''°"^^ have
again stronger th n 4^ ^f ^f ^^ ^f '"'^ ^"^^^^^^
-me thing in the Ion; run ' No.r! '"^^ ^^^ ^« ^^e
at once. We will hV dmvn f , '\P"' «" ^0"^ disguise

Wo.da,h,.ea, lit Lt let :?' ^V^^ ^'T "''
"ho must now be corjsidp,..^ ; Eochejaquelein,

Bonchamp are both d pe'ell °°"?';'' '""' '^™''' -"i
to act as a .mr-g„a 7 jT , '^ "■""'"<'«'■ '"" ^"her a force

I Oo not think that ev'en hislr """ ""^ "'* ''™. •""
any considerable body „f t' 'T "°"''' ^^^ '° '"'1^
vinced themselves thuth'^ ?"«"""''■■ ^" "■«'« »n.

rate, the enen ; wi t J ' T " ''" '" ^""""y- ^t any
They must have uL^d luitf ''\'"',''''°" ""^^ P»™«

Tke night, how^tr X !oT^™^"'™''''^-''
(»672) ' '"^ ■">' 'o pass quietly. At two

NO surrender!

o'clock two officers who had remained as piq-iets redo
into the town with news that Westerraann's division,
which had marched through Monht ami hid taken no pait
in the action, was api)roaching. The hoin s', landed the
alarm, and the fugitives started up and renewed, their
slight. Marfhe could not be left behind now, nvc did
the others <iesire it, and until they had crossed the
Loire there viould be no seunration, for the whole country
would swarm m forty-eight hours Avith parties of the
enemy huntirg i.oivir and slaying those who had taken
refuge in >he %voods. Jean and Leigh had lain down in
the cait to prevent any of the fugitives seizing it. The
two women and the child were hurried down, and rook
their places in it. Francois, who had escaped, had for-
tunately found them, and took the reins, and the jourfsey
was continued. Thei-e 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 Beaupr^au 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 retaha-
tion, 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. " %irely you will
not disobey me, my children."

I'he order was obeyed, and the prisoners were at one , ,.
off; and as the Repu- 1" 'an column marched out :. t^^ ( .liet
the next day they e v mtered on the road the". :p..,..)ted
comrades. The sentiments with which the comaj oners

ACROSS THE LOIRE.

243

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 l)e 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 St. 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 St. Florent, but they had no idea of being
attacked, and had not even taken the precaution of remov-
ing the boats across the river. As soon as they arrived,
the Vendeans attacked the post with fury and captured it!
Twenty boats were fotind, 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 Kepublican dragoons arrived. Numbers
of the women and children were massacred, but the great
bulk, flying precipitately, regaiiiud the country beyond the
heights of St. 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
foi behind. They were in a strange country without aim
or purpose, their only hope being that the JJretons would

244

NO SURRENDER!

rise and join them-a poor hope, since the terrible vengeance
that had been taken on La Vendue 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, "^^e 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 pre-
vent 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
wa}^, some another.

Fortunately an empty boat had just returned, and into
this the other officers leapt, while Jean, with his two com-
panions, led the horses into the water. They had already
linked the reins. Francois was unable to swim, but at
Jeans 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 thev landed. They

ACROSS THE LOIRE.

245

were near the town of Ancenis, and a portion of the
Vendeans entered the place, which was wholly undefended
Ihe 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 req.iired. So long, indeed, as any
money whatever remained the XemUans paid scrupulously
\\hen it was all expended the chiefs did the only thin- 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 assi-
gnats 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 w^arning 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 evenin- They
had found a poor lodging, after attending a me^'etin- of
the leaders, at which la Rochejaquelein had been un^ani-
mously elected commander-in-chief, Bonchamp having died
while d'Elbee, wounded to death, had been left at the cottas^e
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 anni-
hilation was the landing of a British force to their assis-
tance. Unhappily, )'.:, vever, England had not as yet awoke
to the tremendous .^ure 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

246

to render her the

NO surrender!

unquestioned mistress of the seas. The
teeling that the Iie\ ohition was the fruit of centuries of od-
pression, and that, terrible as were th :..,.... comnn-fted
in the nam. of liberty, the cause of the Revolution was still
the^ cause of the peoples of Europe, had created a party
sufnoiently powerful t,. hamper the ministry. Moreover
the govern:aont was badly informed in every respect by its
agents in France, and had no idea of the extent of the rising
m La ^ ,nd6e, or how nobly the people there had been de
tending themselves against the whole force of France

It IS not too much to say that had England, at this time,
anded twenty thousand ti-oops in Brittany, or La Vendee
the whole course of events in Eu-ope uould have been'
changed, the French Revolution ^vould have been crushed
before It became formidable to Europe, and countless mil-
hons of money and millicns of lives would have been saved.
Throughout France theie was a considerable portion of the
population who would have rejoiced in the overthrow of
the Republic, for even in the large Cowns its crimes had
provoked reaction. Toulon had opened its gates to the
Jinglish. Lyons was in a-ms a,-; Inst th Republic Nor
mandy's discontent was general, and its peasantry would
have joined those of Brittany and La Vendee had there
been but a fair prospect of >.c ess. England, howevei, did
nothing, but stood passive until the peasantry of La Vendee
were all but exterminated; and, indeed, add^^' :o their mis-
fortunes by promising aid that never was sont, and thus
encouraging them to maintain a re., ,c. hat added to
the exasperation of their enemies, ar to ..ir own mis-
fortunes and suiferings.

" ^\ uat are we going to do?" Patsey asked, as her hus-
band and Leigh ret.irned from the meeting.
" That is more than anyone can say," Jean replied. " We

ACROSS THE LOIRE.

247

Shall for the present move north; we are like a flight of
locusts wo 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 knevv die country, and it would have been
far better to have died fighting tl.. than to throw our-
selves across the river. It was well-nigh a miracle that wc
got across, and it will need nothing short of a miracle to
get us back again. Of one thing we nuiy 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
wa. our mtention. Kow that we have done it, you may be
sure that they will strain every effort to prevent us from
retur.::ng. Probably by this time half their forces are
marchin., to cross at Nantes, the other half are pressing on
to ha. au. In three or four days they will be united
again, and wi.' . bet.-een us and the river. ^Xere we a
smaller body, « re 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 our-
selves either upon Saumur or Nantes, and so return to La
Vendee But with such a host as thi.s 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 ti.uo the whole
torce of the enemy will have come up, and there will be
another battle."
"And we, Jean?"

"I see nothing but for us lo march with them We
know nothing of the movements of the enemy, and were
we ,0 try to make our way across the country we might

248

NO SURllENDKli!

run into their arms. Besides, Leigh and I have both
agreed that, at present at least, we cannot leave Koche-
jaquelein."

"We could not indeed, Patsey," Leigh broke in. "If
you had seen him this evening whe.i, 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 wen; 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 firm'ly, "whatever comes we will stay

together. As Jean said, you cannot deseit the cause now.

As long as there are battles to fight we must stay with them,

and it is not until fuither fighLing 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

cau^se that we have taken up. AVhen 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 — "

"Nn 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 guillo-
tine released me."

" I agree with you in that, Patsey. Well, we v ! regard

ACROSS THE LOIRK.

249

the matter as settled. As long as the unny 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 hy Kochejmiuelein and his officers
in going about among the peasants. They did not disguise
from these the extren)e 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 safet}-.

"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 acioss the Loire; you have
chosen to come, and we have followed you. At any rate,
it is better to die fighting for God and countiy 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 w^omen and
children, although there was no resistur.ce, 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

250

NO surrender!

il'

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 tne 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 Eepublicans at In^ antes,
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 St. Florent, and, obtaining
boats, crossed the river and entered Angers, to the immense
rebef of the Eepublicans there, who had been in a state of
abject terror at the presence, so near them, of the Ven
deans. Kleber marched with great rapidity, passed through
Nantes without stopping, and established himself at the
camp of St. Georges. The news of what was termed
the glorious victory at Chollet, although in point of fact
the Eepublicans fell back after the battle to that town
caused the greatest enthusiasm in Paris, and the Conventioii
and the Republican authorities issued proclamations, which
were unanimous in exhorting the army to pursue and ex-
terminate 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 St. Georges, Chalbos
was at Nantes \s'ith a corps d'armee, Beaupuy was at
Angers.

The Vendeans had marched through Cande and Chateau-

ACROSS THE LOIRE.

251

Gontier, and had without difficulty driven out the Re-
publican force stationed at Laval. L'Echelle, the com-
mander-, n- 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. Itemaining
always at a distance from the scene of operations, he con-
fused 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 Westerniann arrived at Chateau"
Gontier. Cainiel's division from St. Florent had not yet
come up. The troops were already tired, but ^\'estermann
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 camo upon some Vendt'an outposts. These he charged
and rlrova in towards the town. No sooner did they arri^-o
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
ot the Republican officers, who were endeavourin- 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 whoso infantry, in the darkness, fired at ran-
dom Fighting in tlio dark, discipline availed but little.
Kleber s veterans, however, preserved their coolness, and for
a time the issue was doubtful.

252'

NO surrender!

victory

Had Westermann's cavalry done their d

still have inclined towards them, but instead ^...^

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-C4ontier, where they arrived in the course
of the day. Here they found the commander-in-chief, who,
disregaiding the exhausting march th.e troops had already
accomplished, and their loss of spirit after their defeat,
ordered them to return, to Villiers, half-way to Laval. It
was nightfall when they reached this place, but Wester-
mann pushed the advanced guard some two leagues farther.
Kleber, seeing the extreme danger of the position, refused
to advance beyond Villiers, and sent orders to Danican, who
commanded the advanced guard, to fall back to a strong
position in advance of Villiers.

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 Villiers, remained
unguarded save by a squadron of cavalry. Kleber had just
returned from visiting tb.e post, when he received a des-
patch from I'Echelle, bidding him gi\e 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 colimin 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 I'Echelle and the four generals now

ACROSS THE LOIRE,

253

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 dissatis-
fied at the way in which they had been handled, and at
the unnecessary and enormous fatigues that had been im-
posed upon them, and it Avas 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 dis-
tance, 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 I'Echelle, issuing orders in absolute
contradiction of the plan that he had agreed to Avhen the
council of war broke up.

The orders were obeyed, but the generals again mot, and
sent off a messenger to I'Echelle to remonstrate against the
attack in one mass and a march by a single road, on a posi-
tion that could be attacked by several routes, and to recom-
mend that at least a diversion should be made by a false
attack. WestermaiHi himself carried this remonstrance, but
the commander-in-chief paid no attention to him. Advanc-
ing, it was found that the Vendeans had taken up a position
on the neglected heights. The cannon opened oti both
sides, and Beaupuy was soon hotly engaged. Kleber ad-
vanced his division to sustain him. L'Echelle coming up
arrested the further advance of the division of Chrdbos.
Savary rode back in haste to implore I'Echelle to order
Chalbos to move to the light 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.

2^* NO surrender!

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
m 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 division of Beaupuy, broke their ranks and fled.

In vain the oflicers endoavoured 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. BIoss, with his grenadiers, ad-
vancing 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 pre-
pared to defend the b.idge of Chateau-Gontier; but la Roche-
jaquelein 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 rush-
ing forward with a small party fell under the fire of the
advancing Vend.'ans. The pursuit was hotly maintained.
Keeping on heights which commanded the road, the Ven-
deans maintained an incessant fire of cannon and musketry
It was already night, and this alone saved the Eepublican
army from total destruction. Beaupuy received a ter-
rible wound in the battle, and a great number of oflicers
were killed in endeavouring to stop the panic. At last the

ACROSS THE LOIRE.

255

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 FEchello, 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 urmy,
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 dispiiited. Therefore he
insisted that it was absolutely necessaiy 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. Bcaupuy
had suffered even more heavily, Avhile the divisions of
Chalbos and the grenadier^ of Bloss had also lost large
numbers. The total Iocs ii-rnvling deserters, amounted
to over four thousand. Tlie whole of the cannon of
the two first divisions hr.d fallen into the hands of the
enemy, the artillerymen having cut the traces. A large
numbnr of ammunit)o,i waggons and a quantity of carts
laden with provisions had also been capt'.ired

256

NO surrender!

CHAPTER XIV.

LE MANS.

rPHE victory «•„„ by the V«,dea„s was one of the most
J- .mportant of the war. Never had they f„„„ht ,vUh

and promptly the orders of their generals. Napoleon after
wards pronounced that the tactics pursued by la Kochejle

em showed that he possessed the highest miLry gen s It
was n,ght alone that saved the ronted army of the Re uM '

om ab«,l,.te destruction. It is probableVt at 2,"

ttorvtrrh'd '"^" " '"""' '"^ «°"p'-™« °'™

™em7 H d- I """'f °' "■" '"»°'S'"'i-'"ion of the
.nemy. Had .,e known it, he would doubtless i,ave attacked
thorn aga,n on the following day, when he would have ex
penenecd no resistance, could have captured Angers with-

lc„ . ^''^^ <="'•"•■'"». "'""•ever, well content with their

The crushing defeat that the Republicans had experi.
need causcl an immense sensation at Paris, and uX
^wns Uuough which the Vendeans would p;ss on he
way to the capital, which was at the time actually one "o

t::oJT' '™ """«-"" '''■™ •'™" -' ^^•■«'> -".■-"

" ^°» '«'"• seem to bear a charmed life," she said. "Leich
has indeed once been hit, but it was not serious; you h!«
eacaped altogether. What is going to be done nex ™

" e are going to rest here for ten days or so Thcr.
- plenty of food to be had. and the rest wiH d„ wond::

LE MANS.

for the men. Of

rode back

257
Roche-

course
jaquelein. His opinion w.as, as it always has been, that a
march on Paris Avill 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 thorn to
attempt it."

After ten days' delay the Vendeans commenced their
march towards the coast. The battle at Villiers was fought
on the twenty-seventh. By the sixth of November they
had captured the towns of Ern<5e and de Fougeres, defeat-
Hig at the latter place three battalions. Dol Avas 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 hore they might
have defended themselves until the promised help arrived
from England. Granville, however, had been fixed upon
by the British goverament; and the march thither was
shorter, therefore it was against Granville that the attack
was directed. A cc«8i.ierable portion of the force with
the artillerj were left at Avranche.«. Although assured
that th^ march to the sea A-as made in order t. obtain
succour there- frow, England, there was much fear among
the peasants that the intention of the chiefs was to embark"^
and to leave the array to its fate. Consequently they
advanced against Granville witi less energy and enthusiasm

(M672) _

258

NO surrender!

Ho\V(

half a leagi

lover, „„„ „ icciguo uuu or ine town they came
a portion of the garrison, and repnised them so successfully
that they entered one of the suburbs with them The
garnson had for the most part shut themselves up in a
fort Mdiich commanded the town, having erected a strong
pal.sade across the streets leading to it. Four hurulred men
occupied t us post. The Ycndeans had no axes to cut down
the palisades nor powder to blow them in. They were
therefore, obliged to content themselves with a musketr^;
fire against it. As the garrison were well supplied with
ammunition and kept up a constant fire, they sufTered
heavily. When night came, the Vendeans scattered among
the houses to find food, fire, and shelter, and all night the
batt^enes 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 Ven-
deans without orders from their chiefs, began to retire, and
in a short time the whole were in rapid retreat to Avranches.
Ihere the cry was raised, "Ba.'k 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 Eepubli-
cans. 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 wav intn it

LE MANS,

259

was

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 ni their favour, and with renewed heart they
marched the next night to Dol. Kleber was with a large
force m this neighbourhood, but the impetuosity of Wester-
mann again upset his plans. As soon as the latter heard that
Fontorson had been carried by the Yendeans, and that they
had marched to Dol, he pursued them with three thousand
infantry, two hundred cavalry, and four cannon. He
a.rived 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. They, however, soon recovered from their surprise
and drove the enemy out with loss. Westerman's infantry
took no part in the action. Kleber was occupied in closing
eA^ry route by which the Vendeans could leave Dol, but
Uestermann, 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 Vend«^ans
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, con-
tmued their flight till they reached Pontorson. In the mean-
time Marceau was advancing with his division by another
road, and the Vendeans, hearing this, ceased their ^^ suit of

260

NO SURRENDER!

^ estermanns rout^^d division and moved against him, and
at four oclock m the morning atUicked him when within a
league of Dol. A combat ensued tl>at lasted for three ho.n-s
The \ endeans then drew off on lear.iir.g 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, an<l had the Vendeatis kno^ ,i
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 Klebers head-quarters, and at day!
break the two generals arrived at the spot and found the
two divisions min:;,],.| in supreme disorder, the brigades and
bat ahons being :.ly,.] up together. Finding that nothing
cou d be dx,ne ■'^ilh tli.m there, Kleber drew them off; their
confusion being atmo.st converted into a rout by the fire of
about a hundred \oudeans. A council of war was held, and
eighteen hu'.dred men, with two guns, were sent to Pontor-
son 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 how-
ever, as usual, disregarded these, and, marching through the
night, approached the town and arrived early in the morninc
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 rein-
forcements that had reached them, Westermann's troops
fought worse than they had doi two nights before The
reinforcements were the first to give way. The advanced
guard speedily turned and fled. Westermann and Marigny

LE MANS.

261

With a small party of cavalry, fought desperately to cover the
retreat. Marigny, however, fell, and the whole force be-
came a mass of fugitives. Kleber on his way the nev ' ^v
to reconnoitre the town met the Vendeans adv ,0;
Scattenng 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 IMayence, 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 Vend.'an column that had defeated
Westcrmann showed itself on the right flank of the Re-
publicans, and threatened their rear. Kleber ordered
some of the battalions to t;uve post farther back to cover
the line of retreat. Other battalions, seeing the move-
ment, and believing this to be a signal for retreat, followed
The gre/iadiers 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 rdered. The troops remaining on the field retired at
hrst in good order, but as the victorious Vendeans pressed
on, this speedily became a rout. Marceau, gathering to-
gether such soldiers as sf- retained their presence of mind
endeavoured to defend ilie bridge of Antrain, but the
Vendeans, pressi.^g forward, swept them away, and the
fugitives fled in a confused mob as far as Roiines.

The Vondeans, 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 lae wounded, who
had oeen left in hospital at Foug^res, had been murdered in
their beds by the Blues, und they accordingly .hot ail the

i''tDjii!l

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

11.25

150 "l"^=

1^ 1^

ll|22

^ us.

¥'

lii

lUUi^

!.4

liii

111^=

Hiotographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

L1>^

>A^

"S.

262

NO SURRENDER!

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 i'^
f 1 ont of Angers. But the city was no longer in the defence
less state m which it was when they firstiossed the Loire
As soon as it was perceived to be the point for which the
V ndeans ,ere 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 amon^

town. We have neither cannon to blow down the walls

nor means of scaling them. Thirty-six hours is the utmo

thl iiT ^^^^^^^P^^-'-^tions, Kleber and the rest of

them will be up by that time. However-it is our so^e

hope-possibly a panic may seize them when we attack-

but even cowards will fight behind walls, and after our'

allure at Granville, I have little hope of our taking Angers

specially as they must know how soon their arnfy will be

up.

The affair was a repetition of that at Granville. The

su'burbr T T '^'""'f P°^^'^^^°" '^ «"« ^^ the
suburbs. Twenty pieces of cannon opened fire upon it

rom the walls, while from the houses the Vendeans repHed

iabouied 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
beariipon 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 agat got
into motion and pursued their hopeless joirney in eafch
of some point where they could cross the river, if only to

LE MANS

263

•y seemed
3 steadily
rrived in
! defence-
he Loire,
'^hich the
e thrown
;e.

) do," la
s, among
king the
he walls
3 utmost
•■ rest of
our sole

attack;
fter our
Angers,

will be

3. The
of the
upon it
replied
of men
es, and
rk was
non to
uraged
c, news
ig, and
lin got
search
nly 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 every-
where 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 tho oi)erations, 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 theVendean 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

264

NO surkendek!

the leaclitig officers, now rode with Rochejaq.ielei.i at the

than on that of the poor people who had to jom-ney o„ foot
The cold was intense, and except whea they entered a town

uH Jnf ' 'r V'^'' ^^•■^^••^'^"^- The horses wer: ™
out and half-famished, a great proportion of the fugitive

in 01 de, to spare her the sight of the misery prevailiL
among those who marched in the rear of the cohimn Le h

dS/tet'' ';; r'''; '^ ''' ^-^^^^ °^ ^^^ ^^

aivision He himself, for the most part, walked on font
lenc^^^ng his horse to some wounded man^r exhantd "^^^^^^^

march to Saumur and cross there, but the news irrivo.l
hat a strong Kepublican force hid gathered he" Ii

through La Fl^che to Le Mans. By this sudder nd
unexpected movement Koehejaquelein Lped to ga^tin

irhowL';"""? '"^ ''''' ''''■ ''^ ^---""

lesu t, however, was to excite a feeling of despair amoni. •,
gn.at portion of them. Their backs ^ere now t 17.
La \endde, and it seemed to them that their last ho. 1
c^f reaching their homes had vanished. Rochejaquele '
dea. however, was that in their present state of exhaustion

was at eveiy point, and with over one hundred thous-u.d

S eaud in t "^"'^■"-'^^^^^ ''''' '^ "^^^^h round through
^hateaudun, to come down on the Loire above Orleans
and so to make his M-ay back into Poitou. '

X seemed, might possibly have been accomplished. Un-
embarrassed by baggage-trains or cannon, ^the . asants
could have outmarched their pursuers; but.' hamperrC

LE MANS.

265

the crowd of wounded, sick, women, and children, the move-
ment must be regarded as the inspiration of despair
Ir eed, even the fighting men were no longer in a state
to bear the at.gue. Bad and insufficient food had phiyed
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 Kepub-
hcans Av, 1 be on our heels, and one cannot doubt what the
issue wdl be. Doubtless a small body will hang together
and stdl try to regain La Vend.'.e; 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 inten-
tions. He has more than once spoken to me of you both, and
It was but two days ago that he said 'o me: 'Martin, you
are not like the rest of i;s; you have an English wife, a.ul
your brave young brother-i,i-law is English also. You have
10 thmk of them as well as of La Vendee. You can make your
home m England, and live there until better times come

'" Jt IS no longer a question o2 defending our country, it
IS lost. ..harette is there now, and still fighting ; out as
soon as we are disposed of, all these troops that have been
hu.itmg us down will be free to act against him, a,.d 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 dio 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 ^^ih and
brother, now that the cause is utterly lost and all hope is
at an end. Think this over. I do not say that iL is possible
for you to escape, but the longer you stay with us the
more difficult will it become.'

266

NO surrender!

th.tl^'''' '''', """^ 'T ^^"^ ''^'" ^ <^«" '^i"^ that, feeling
that V can no longer be of use. I am determined Jo makf

approt."" "''' '' '"''^^ ^"^^''^"^ ^^^^^ y«"' h« ^i»

haveVo^'f ^' '"' "?^'' '^'""- ^'" ""^ ^^" «^y that you
can bl- 1 r' ^"? '" ^""^ '^'^""^^^^ ^« the\,tmost or

ju tTr r" "'T t'"^' "^"' ^^" ^'■^" ^- ^-"•- f-'^iiy-"

cavnl . f. I^^ "''f ^' *^^'^^' '^ ^^l"''^^^'^" ^f the enen.y's
cavahy fell upoa 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 x n H it

th?l .r °^''"'^^ -'^Sainst the cannon planted on

the other side, the gun-boats that were guarding the river

tTvo 1^' r?^' ";V' '''''' "^^''"^ ^^ ^h« '-k foS
Eonn i^ r •' 1^ ^'^^"" '" ^^■"^■^- A detachment of
lie, ubhcar.s hurned to attack them, but the Loir, an affluen
of the Loire, was narrow, and the musketry fire of the
mam body drove them away until t.o or three hundred
men had crossed. La Kochejaquelein went over and took
the command, and on their advance the Eenublicans

TovelVtb^'^ '""f- J^-^^M-^--" then recZ d "and
drove off the cavalry that were harassing the rear. Work

ing desperately, a strong party threw beams acros the

d vbreak fh '"' '"'^'''^''^^^ occupied the town
daybreak. The weary fugitives slept till mid-day, when
he enemy's cavalry reappeared, but Kochejaquele^ , w

TurueTthem f'"'^"T ^^"'"'^' ^"^ ^^^^^^^ ^^em Ind
pursued them for some distance

towi; but ZTv^ I ^"''' T^'' ^^'^^'' ^PP^oached the
thrm ^^T^V .i' r"i' '""^'^ ""' '-^"^ «P««dily scattered
them. They then broke down the bridge that they had
rep-ed, and started for Le Mans, whidi they captured
after three-quarters of an hours fighting. Two'^dljs later

LE MANS.

267

Kleber was m front of the town. Westermann and Mailer's
divisions first approached. The two days' rest had re-
animated the Vend^ans, a.id Midler's infantry were driven
back three miles; but large reinforcements came up, and
the peasants were forced to fall back again. Then
AVestcrmann's cavalry charged into the town, carrying
dismay among its defenders; but la Kochejaquelein 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 Kochejaquelein 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 be-
hind 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.
Ihey at once relieved Marceau's division, which had been
hghting 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 organized, and v.hile 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

h \

268

NO SritKKNDER!

entirely approve of your determination. As long as ten of
my men hold together it is my duty to remain lith then'
tor 1 have accepted the position of their commander'
and I must share their fate to the end. But it is different
with you. As the caiise of La Vend.^e. for which yo^fw
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 m unhappy France. I thank you for your gallant
ser-vices. And I thank you in the nLe of L vtndde
Leigh for the manner m which you have fought for her
and also for the companionship that has so often cheered
me dunng our last days. As for myself, I have no wish
to Jive. 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^Jeast
that never in history has a people fought more bravely
against overpowering odds than La Vend.5e 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 V

"wi '''Ir'^J^ ^ '""'^^ ^°" ^^ ^^« ^^< Jean said.

U hen 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."
. "'^,^^" ^.]'''^^ "°^ say good-bye to you now," Roche-
]aquele,n said. " Good-bye, 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
witn dean to the quarters they occupied.

LFJ MANS.

269

" Now for our plans," Jean said. " They are as vague as
ever, but we must settle now. It is (,uite evident that the
alarm is so widely spread here in the west that it will be
well-nigh impossible to pass through even a viUage without
being questioned. Alen^on on the north has a strong
garrison, at Mayeniie 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 bo
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 ques-
tioned, 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 in-
junctions 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
siippose, because I do not join you, that I am killed
Ihe enemy may have pushed so far through the town that
1 may find it impossible to join you. But from whatever

270

NO SURUENDEll !

cause I tiirry, you are not to wait for mc. If I am
shot It will bo a consolation to mo to know that yon will
1)0 away under your brother's protection. If I cscapo, I
shall, ,f I make my way to England, have the hone of
nieetn.g yo,i there, and shall not be haunted with the fear
that you have delayed too long an.l have sacrificed your
lives uselessly. I want you and him to give me your
solemn pronu-se that you will act thus, and will, as soon as
he considers that further delay "ill bo dangerous, ride off
Icemembor that this is my last wisii, this is n.y last order."
^^ 1 wdl do as you wi.h, Jean," his wife said firmly,
(^od has preserved us three thus far, and 1 trust that He
will contuuio 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 .is. At any rate, we will
carry out your instructions. JJut should we miss each
other, IS there no place where we can arrange to moot?"

"I do not see that it is possible to make any arran-o-
ments, Patsey. You may l)e turned out of your course by
circumstances which it is impossil^lo to foresee, and the
same may be the case with myself. Suppose we name<l 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
wo should each make our own way, in the hojio of meeting
at Poole. You may be sure that I shall join you if possible,
tor 1 see that if separated your difi^icultics 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.

LE MANS.

271

Now. wlulc travelling, yoii might oscapo many questions
bu were you to stop even for a fcNv clays at any town o^
vniage you may bo sure that you would bo questioned so
c osely by the authorities that there woul.l bo little chance
of your getting on. I .should know that, and should bo
frettuig my heart out."

n "/."'; ^''f '*'"' ^'"''^ ''^'"^^ ''" '''""'<' *'" '^« y«'» suy, Jean.

(xod forbid that we shoul.l be separated; but if you .lo not

come to the re.idezvous, I promise you that wo will, as you

wish, go on by ourselves."

"And now, dear, we will divide our money. Wo have

still three hundred h,uis left. I will take one hu.ulred, and
you shall take the rest. Vou are nuich more likely to M-ant
money, if we arc separated, than I. You had best sew tho
greater part up in your saddle, Leigh."

"I think wo had better divide it as much as possible
Jean. W o can put seventy-five louis in each of our saddles'
and tho 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 iu the belt round my waist, and
keep the odd five in my pocket for expenses. Of course
It we decide to abandon our horses I will t.m:. o 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 woul.l excite sus-
picion. I have no doubt that I can buy assignats here.
We have taken a quantity from tho enemy, and la Koche-
jaquelem 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
1 should get eijjht hundred louis in assignats, of which

272

NO SURRENDER I

I would take two Inuulred, .and yon could take the
rest.

"That would certainly he au excellent plan, Jean, for
two hundred louis in gold would be a serious weight to
cany, and if foiuid on tis, would in itself bo sufticient to
condemn us as intending eniign'-s."

Jean at once took two Inuulred louis, which had hitherto
been carried in their wallets, and went out. Ho returned
m an hour.

" That is satisfactorily settled," he said. "Blacquard, who
IS m charge of the treasury, was delighted to obt^iin some
gold, and has given us five times the amount in assignats
Of this I will take two hundred and fifty louis' worth
\on wdl have seven hundred and fifty louis in assignats
and we wdl 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 arc 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, seme provisions
packed in the valises, and Jean and Leigh went out to-
gether 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 ! " ho said. " I trust that
we shall meet again when the fighting is over."

Then he kissed his child, wi-ung Leigh by the hand, and
rode oft 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

IN DISCJUISE.

273

who had captured it, a riderless animal that belonged to one
of Westerniann's troopers. " Here are fifty lonis in assi-
gnats. I wish that you could have gone with us, t.;t that
IS not possible. Francois is waiting ojitsidc 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 dose to them. Ride straight
for the river by by-lanes, and if you cannot oi)tain 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 Fran9ois. The two women, both weeping, were
stdl exchanging adieus when Leigh said to Fran(jois:

"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 Ave get away from the rest, I shall get oflf and
run by her side; the horse would never carry two of us
far."

So saying, he touched the horse with his heel, and thev
rode off. ^

CHAPTER XV.

IN DISGUISE.

T EIGH returned into the house with his sister.
JJ " Cheer up, Patsey," he said; " it is very hard parting
but I have every hope that they will succeed in getting
safely home. Fran5ois is a sharp fellow, they have a

274

NO surrender!

good stock of food, and thoy won't have to go into any
village; and being only two, they will have a far bettor
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 look-out,
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 to-morrow."

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 M'ay past them. One of them halted, he was
one of Jean's tenants.

" Ah, madame," he said, as he recognized her — for it was

IN DISGUISE.

275

the

now broad daylight—" I fear that all is lost! You had best
ride at once; the Blues will not come just yet, for la Roche-
jaquelein, 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, Lerouxl"

"He was with the general, madame. They and the
horsemen charged again and again whenevf the Blues
pushed forward."

" Thank God he is safe so far ! " Patsey said. " Good-bye,
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 curias, they may destroy our churches, but they
caimot 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 I "

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 Avill surely
come soon."

Presently, however, a number of peasants, their faces
blackened with powder, ran past. " The Blues are on our

276

NO surrender!

heels!" they shouted. "They will be here in a minute;
they arc but a hiuidred yards away."

" Come, Patscy," Leigh said. " Remember your promise.
We must go; it is madness waiting any longer." And as
ho spoke one of the peasants, running past, fell desid, shot
by a musket-ball fiom 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 Reptiblicans
issuing from the town.

" Pull yourself together, Patsey," Leigh exclaimed. " We
may have their cavalry after us in a miinite or two. Re-
member, 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

IN DISGinSE.

277

south. We thought it best to leave the town. When fight-
ing is going on in the streets it is time for quiet people to
be otf."

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 amorM,' the tree.s, 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' 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
jommg us. The Blues may have pushed in between his
party and us, and he may have found that he could not re-
jom 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 Vend«5e 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 -^ailor clothes to pass unnoticed. He
ell provided with money, and has everything in his

10 urol

278

NO surrender!

Ill

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 ^ve 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 suflficed to send his sister to sleep in spUe 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 unpro-
vided 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.

IN DISGUISE.

279

sure

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 Person.

The landlady, seeing that Patsey was completely worn
out, at once took her off to her room.

"Ah! I thought that monsieur was too youno' 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 smilej
" Perhaps France will change her own name. Surely a Re-
public cannot put up with the name that has been associ-
ated 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 any-
thing, 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

280

NO surrender!

and consternation. "And how do you expect to travel,
njonsieur? How you have got so far as this 1 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 aie 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 theii- 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. 1 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

IN DISGUISE.

281

when they are paid it is in aseignats, and T 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 yoii 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 year'y 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 bo said nothing, biit signified by a little
nod that he had succee .ed. A quarter of an hour later,
the other customers, having finished their meal, M-ent out. '

" Here are your papers," he said us he lianded a document
to Leigh. It was a printed form, blanks being left for the
names, description, and the object of journey.

Arthenay Maine,— To all cmcermd, it is hereby testified that
citizen Lxicien Pmson and his sister citoyenm Martin, both of
good repute and well disposed to the Republic, natives of this

282

NO surrender!

town of Arthenay, are travelling, accompanied hy a child of the
latter, to Marseilles, whither they go on family affairs, and to
join atoyenne 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 vvill be here in a
few minutes."

"Then, as the stableman has gone out at last— at least
1 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 m his pocket. A quarter of an hour later the
door opened, and a man wearing the scarf which showed
mm to be an officer of the municipality, entered, followed
by two men with the cockade of the Eepublic in their
hats.

*!, "7^!f. ^^ ''^*^^®" ^°^^°" ^""^ citoyenne Martin, his sister,"
the landlord, who accompanied the party, said.
The functionary walked up to the table and said gruffly,
Yoxxv papers, citizen." Leigh handed him the document.
We glanced through it.

" That is right," he said. «« Citizen Porson and citoyenne

IN DISGUISE.

283

Martin, of the arrondissement of Paris, travelling to iMar-
seilles, duly signed by the maire of the arrondissement and
duly sealed. That is all in order. We are obliged to be par-
ticular, 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 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 docu-
ments. The maire is without doubt an excellent Republican
and a devoted servant of the Convention, but he is alto-
gether 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 de-
mand 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 shonid myself

,■1

284

NO SURRENDRR!

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 se.i "
"It would be more easy for you to make your way to a
port than across the frontier," the adjoir.t said, " but when
you reach a port your difficulties would b.it begin In
the first place, our trade with foreign countries is almost
at a stand-stdl, and every vessel that goes out is rigidlv
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 look-
out 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 th?,t 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 con-
tinue your journey to Calais or Dunkirk. Money will go
just as far among the incorruptible^ of Paris as it will here.
You might obtain a passage down the Seine to Eouen 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

IN DISGUISE.

285

Zn TT ^ ^''' '" J0«rneyi,.g to Paris? You are too

ill h' ? V"^' '"^ ^'"''^"-^^ ^^"°^«' ^"^' '"deed, would
ha dly be taking a woman and chil.l with you for such a
pu.pose. Now, monsieur, frankly tell me who you are. I
have some relations in Paris, quiet bourgeois, who keep
a ma 1 shop near the markets. If I we.^ to give you a
letter to them, saying that you have business in Paris, and
have a^ked me to recommend someone who would provide

von 7n n'T ^^';T' "" ^°"^' '^'y "'^'^'d ^'""'giy take
you in But I would not involve them in danger You

might be recogmzed as being members of some family who

Tt ZZ? t 'f ^" '^'•^ '''' "^^ '^"'^ ^^'«"'J "'V 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

TnIT ^ ^"'"''- ''^ ™^"^«^ ^^« «- -' - --chan^
at Nantes, and I came over with her to learn the business

There have as you know, been troubles in that part of

rom her husband, who has, I greatly fear, been killed, and

EnglaldT'''' ''' '"^^'"' '" ''^'''^ ""^ ^^™"V in

^J'wr ^''"^ ^'''^' ^°" ^'®" ^" ^''^"^«' 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 ^ake yonr

vho ,s leaving for Pans to-morrow. I will give him mv

iets";i' t '"^ '' '^"^^^ '' P«^«-^"y - -- -"e
Nowttr'-. /''' ""l ^'""" twenty-four hours later.
Now that It IS know:, that I have examined your papers

286

NO SL'UIllONDKU!

and found them correct, there will be no further irKiuiry
about you, and, at any rate, you could stay here for a day
or two without any questions being asked."

"That would bo an admirable plan, monsieur, and I
cannot tell yon 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 oI)liged 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 to-morrow.
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 sot matters right."

"Is u all satisfactorily arranged, monsieur '(" the hotel-
keeper asked when Leigh returned.

"Perfectly. Your friend has done c-on more than he
promised." And he told him of the change that had beei
mtwle 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 seei • comparatively easy. I have no doubt that
my cousin> i.. , U r^. Pars will be able to get you another
pass, or to puv , a in trie way of travelling to one of the
ports, thoug;i rA> ■ mht it will Ix almost as difficult to get
away from thcro as .'rom Marseilles."

IN DI80UISK.

287

'I think that could 1

l>« munuged, hmdlord. I am a pretty
good sailor, and thoie ought to be no great ditticulty in
gettuig hold of a boat and miikii.g out to sea, and when
on(;e away, I could steer for England, or get on board
some \osscl bound there."

He tapped at his sister's door. She was still up.

" Yon are very late, Leigh."

" Yes, but you will be able to sleep as long as you like
to-morrow, 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
gOHig 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 diffi-
culty whatever in journeying from there either to Havre or
one of the northern ports. I will tell you all about it to-
morrow."

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 Mmsieur Porson, and his sister,
Madame Martin, of whom I urate to you. Ym ivillfind them
am ihU people, tvho will give you but little trouble. I have
assured them that they will find themselves very cmnfwtuble with
ymi, and t/uit you luill 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 Et^impes,
Arpajon, and Longjumeau, and rode on the fourth day into
Pans. They had no difficulty in finding the shop of
Monsieur Tourrier. It was a grocer's, and as soon as thev

( '

288

NO surrenper!

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. 1
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 \yas received by Madame Tourrier, a
plump-faced business-like woman, and was not long in find-
ing 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 ad-
joint 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
vre 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 ri
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 g-oceries, and on

IN DISGUISE.

289

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 m 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 amuse-
ments, 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 doois. Still, no doubt, it will all be new
to him, aiid as you have horses you can ride over to Ver-

(M672) J,

290

NO surrender!

sailles and other plficos round. There is not much of that

now; people think of nothing !ait the Convention, talk of

nothing but of the speeches there, and of Robespierre and

St. Just and Dautou. It seems to mo that they are always

quarrelling, and that nothing much comes of it. Now, if you

will excuse me, madamc, I will go down to the shop again.

My husband cannot be trusted there a minute, and if my

back is turned ho will be selling the best sugar for the price

of the worst, then we shall lose money; or tho 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 whore to find you," he said.

"Madame is in tho thick of business, and there were half

a dozen customers waiting to be served. Monsieur was

standing a foAv 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 afiuirs 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 con-
nected with the business, but as a child in the hands of his
wife, he was far better acquainted with what was nassmo'

IN DISGUISE.

291

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," ho said, "I know nothing of the
state of things at Arthcnay, and for aught 1 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
ricliur 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 condem-
nation 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 all are 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 bo regarded as ample proof that you were
an aristocrat; and no one would regard your papers as any-
thing 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 woisc, monsieur, it would be impos-

292

NO surrender!

sible. But we who are quiet men thii.k that it cannot go
on niuch 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 Giron-
dists are now quarrelling among themselves. Kobespierre
IS still all-powerful, but the party opposed to him are gain-
ing in strength, ni.d 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 caf«^, and there is no one but ourselves
present, and even then we talk only in whispers; but we
all live m hopes of a change, and any change must surely
be for the better." ^

CHAPTER XVI.

A FRIEND AT LAST.

"HAY after day Leigh went out into the town. More
-y 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

A FRIEND AT LAST,

293

all.

do to show haste. She did not leave the house at
while he was out almost all day. At the end of the fort-
night 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 r^gle. 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 diffi-
culty. Leigh's pass was examined. The market official

il:

294

NO surrender!

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 Artenay.
" 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
Pans 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 convey-
ance 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

A FllIEND AT LAST

290

other male passenger, 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 employ-
ment 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 ^iter 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 Hevriette.

296

NO surrender!

He found that she was well known in the port, and had
sailed for La Kochelle six weeks before.

"She does not very often come up here," one of the
Sr 7^ ''Sometimes she is months 'between her

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."

oh'^ ^""^TT ^"^ ^"^ ^'''" ^'''^^ «^">- "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 th;re. 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

Ihey 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 n

nearer than a cruiser would dare to; and as they all can

for a two." ' "'' "''^ '^ *^'^ ^'"' °" '^' «^"^«

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 gun-boats. 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 m the slightest. Now, if we go down to Bordeaux
we have only to wait.till the Henriette comes in, possibly
she rj,ay be there when we arrive. In that case I am sure

on L ?" V'l ^ ""'""'^ '^ ''^' "^ «"^' '-^"^ fitter put us
on board a British cruiser or land us in England."

A FRIEND AT LAST.

297

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 wa.s 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 he managed to obtain
a sea outfit he would no longer be suspected of having any-
thing to do vnth 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 thu. 1)arred 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 Roche-
jaquelein, with two or three others, effected their escape
After this the Vendeans no longer kept together. The
women and children, wounded and invalids, hid them-
selves in the woods, where they were hunted down like
wild beasts, and either slaughtered at once or sent to
Nancy, 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 Vended the war was still going on, for Char-
ette had marched up again from Lower Poitou, and was
keeping a large force of the Republican troops engaged

298

NO surrender!

"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 1 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-
looknig little craft, with very decent accommodation. She is
m the wine trade, and brought a cargo safely up last week,
and will start again tfae day after to-morrow. 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 nam,? of
the Hemiette he said that he knew her well, and v;as
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 Vendue. 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

A FRIEND AT LAST,

299

Trois Frhes, which sailed the next day. The addition was
made to his papers without a cmestion, and the next
morning they went on board. They were heartily received
by the captain.

"You ought to bring us hick, 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 Lt'on, 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, arid vegetables."

" ITow 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
mspection the sails were hoisted, and the Trois Frhes

300

NO SirRKKNDEK!

stjvitcd on her way Cown the Chaimol. 1

... " - - ■• .'ho wind was

light and blowing from the south-west, and they were just
able to lay their course, and anchoied for the night ot\' the
mouth of the Vire river.

"1 suppose to-morrow you will get round the Cape de la
JIague, captain?" J.eijrh said.

"No, we shall n.,t atten.pt that. The coa.st is a very
dirticult one, with furious i arrents. Wo shall bring up off
Cherbourg at.d sta.t at daylight, and shall, 1 hope, be well
dowji towards the bay of Avranches by nightfall. There
13 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 tra<le between Havre and Brest; it is
from there down to the mouth of the Girondo 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 priva-
teers, which run out from every port, Dieppe and Havre,
Granville, Avranches, and St. Malo."

The skipper had by no means overpraised 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.
A\ hen you see a craft with every rope in its place, every-
thing spotlessly clean, the brass-work polished up, and the
paint carefully attended to, you may be sure that the

A FRIKNl) AT LAST.

301

Bkjpi

)er is iia particular in moii

important matters. It is
just so with our man. It is a little bit of a galley, but his
SHUoo-pa.i8 shine like gold, everything is clean and in its
place, lie grumbles if we run short of anything, and is
.'i goo<I deal more particular about my diimer being just
what It should bo than I am myself.

"Sometimes when we have rough weather I say to him,
• Make me a soup to-day, Leon, I shall be well content
with that, and it is not weather for turning out a regular
dmner.' He always replies gravely, ' Monsieur, anyone can
cook when the sea is calm; it is on an occa.sion 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, a.id he might even
consider that ho 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 a.iything
not only because I own I like good food, but the Troil
mres 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 ray crew, and it
IS rarely indeed that I change one of my hands; for
although their meals are of cour.sc much simpler than mine,
they are all perfect in their way. It takes a great deal of
trouble off my hands, too. Instead of mv having a dozen
little accounts to go into at every port we enter, I allow
hira a certain sum and he manages on that-so much a day
for my own table, so much for each jjassenger, 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

Mi;

302

NO surrender!

say to him sometimes, 'L^on, you must be ruining your-
self; 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
J3ordeaux he lays in a stock of snipe and other birds from
the sand-hills and marshes, oysters, and other such matters
tie 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. How-
ever 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 to-day; 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

A FRIEND AT LAST.

303

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 usuah We
shall see more of them as soon as we are round that cape
ahead, for they keep a very sharp look-out 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 back-
wards 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 ne are carrying fresh meat
from St. 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 oi 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 laud, they passed L'Orient and Quiberon and

304

NO surrender!

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 pjissed 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 St. 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 St. 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 Trais Frhes 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 bat-
tery opened fire, when she turned and made out to sea
again.

"Thai 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

A FRIEND AT LAST.

305

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 dis-
cussing 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 giv3 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 .hat 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

(M672) U •'

306

NO surrender!

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
liind. 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 capUiin 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 extin-
guished 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."

Eeluctantly 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 boa^i
had boarded from the shore side; two of them lay alongside

A FRIEND AT LAST.

307

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 cut-
lasses and the crack of pistols. The British sailors fought
or 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 power-
ess to assist their friends. It was but five minutes after
the outbreak of the combat when a loud British cheer, fol-
lowed by a dead silence, showed that one, at least, of the
privateers had bee . 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
Ihe reinforcements apparently decided the issue of the
hght, for m 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 caii depress the guns enough to bear upon them.
A here, they are making sail!" he went ;,.; 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. Eowever, 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
wont 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 thoy

aatM

308

NO SURRENDER!

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 ex-
changing 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 to-night; 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 put-
ting in anywhere, to La Rochelle. Here they vaited 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 wafj

A FRIEND AT LAST.

able the
There
i are all
n of ex-
of their
ther, we
ave had
ose four
n as the
ter have
norning,
ore than

thought
ied upon
mpletely
ice, that
I expect
gan; and
[ upon to
t it."

Just as
et on the
y hoisted,
lovt put-
aited for
I, entered
Garonne,
Q captain
ige, they
he quay,
d quietly
le in their
. It wag

309

five o clock when they landed, and already becoming dusk.
They waited until it was quite dark, and then, havir.- in-
quired 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.
Ihe 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 busit.ess 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 Citoyenr.e 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 vou
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. " B-it do not let us be
standing here. Pray, come up. Mv wife will be glad to

310

NO surrender!

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 XVIL

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 x'ate of Jean Martin, who had
more than once been mentioned as being one of the leaders
of the Vend^ans. She soon went off with Patsey to put
the child to bed, and while they were away Monsieur Flam-
bard took Leigh into his smoking-room.

" Before," he said, " I ask you anything about your adven-
tures, 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

A GRAVE RISK.

311

latter, supported by the mob of Paris, obtained the ascen-
dency, 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 Robes-
pierre; 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

312

NO surrender!

the preserit order of things that has led to my being loft
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, accomnanied by
a lady and child, had arrived, and been at once received,
would suffice to set them in motioi: 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 recep-
tion. You must, in the first place, attire yourself in clothes
such as are woi-n 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. M.
Flambard glanced through them. " You must have managed
well to have got hold of these passes, and they certi'.irdy put
the matter on safer ground. However, I should .ind seme
difficulty in explaining how I came to show hospitality
to two persons who, by a strangely roundabout course, had
made thev- way from Arthenay. It is a little unfortunate
that your sister kept her own name. Had it been other^
wise, I might have said that her husband was captain of one
01 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. For-
tunately 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 know-
ing 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

A GRAVE RISK.

313

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 Vendue. Of course at that time La Vendc^e 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 Avas 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
Vendue, in which case her life and yours would be certainly
forfeited, and my recei ing 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 hospi-
tality, but a measure of precaution, both for your sake and
ours. To-morrow morning I should have to send in a state-
ment that two guests have arrived here, and it is therefore
most desirable that you should move without delay. For-
ti:nately the wives of two or three of my captains live here;
o/ie 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 M-ith 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

314

NO surrender!

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
Henrieife, which I expect hero shortly, has been delayed, but
on her arrival I propose that we shall all ci-oss the Channel
together. I hear the ladies' voices in the next room. It
Avere 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 port ion of a
house; or, if you would not i i.d poor accommodation, to
another of the captain's wives, as in your brother's char-
acter of a sailor it would be more natural for you to go to
such a lodging, which may \ery well have been recom-
mended to you by the skipper of the lugger in which you
-came here. When we have arranged things -ve 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 recommenda-

A GRAVE RISK. 315

^tion to me, Madame Chopin. Ho has a married sister and
her child with him, and I am sure that you will miike vhem
very comfortable, and can supply them with what th«iy
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
her e, 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 woul'' take .lown the bed
and put some other furniture into it, so that they could
use it as a sitting-room.

" We should prefer that, madarae, 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 l"t, so that unless n.y husband comes
home before you go, we shall bo quite alone."

" I shall return with my sister in an hour's time," Leigh
said; " that will not be too late for youf

"No, monsieur, it is little past eight o'clock yet, and it
will take me fully two hours to gev. everything straight and
tidy."

"Very well, then, we will say ten o'clock," Monsieirr
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 ch.attin" for

316

NO surrender!

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," Mon-
sieur Flambard said cheerfully. " Jean is not the sort of
fellow to let himself be caught irx u 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 good-night to M. 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.

A GRAVE RISK.

317

gh and his
they were

me," Mon-
;he sort of
xpect that
le at once
s probably
smnggler,
lake off in
3ry reason
^ou arrive
vill be no
in getting
il service,
up sooner
to get a
detection

it of bed,
Monsieur
m. The
irrived at

ng before
I coffee if

tit up to
She had
e house.
)ws, and
jtered an

^^ " This does indeed look fresh and home-like," she said.
" Thank you for taking so much trouble, madame."

The ne.xt 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
Frhes, 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 mid-day 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 Frhes.
On the afternoon of the fifth day he saw a lugger approach-
ing, a,nd 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 Flarabard 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

318

NO surrender!

and I only wish that Monsieur Jean was here too. Still I

or .etn! /"i'' ^' ^" ''' '''''y '^^y-' '^^'^ - -ilor
or getting out of a scrape. You must have gone through

^^ Jot, madame, but you don't look any the worse for

"Except anxiety for my husband, I have gone through
nothing to speak of. I had a horse to ride! and gener
ally a shelter to sleep under, and for myself I had little
to complam of; but it was terrible to see the suffering
of the peasant women and children, and of the many men
broken down by sickness And there was, too, the anxiet^
that f!nU 'f ^ "^^™y \"«band and brother in each battle
thaUook place. But of hardship to myself there was very

Jr7f T^^"^"' ^ ^P" ^^"* ^ ^^"" ««°" ^av« the plea-
su e of sading into Poole again with you and Monsieur
Leigh on board and also with my good master, Monsieur
Flambard, and his wife." """leur

;; 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 ^v^at shall be the pretext, since none of those
named have taken any part in politics here. All those who
have done so hare 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

A GRAVE RISK.

319

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.

.w"^^' \ZT^' ^ '^"'^ ^^^^ ^^« °^^«^' for our arrest is on
the point of being issued. I will send her down and let her lie
beyond lort Medoc and Blaye. If it were discovered that
1 was missing a few hours after she had started, it would be
suspected at onco that I had gone in the Henriette, mounted
messengers would carry tl o news down to both forts, and
the boat would be f- to heave to as she passed between

them. Therefore . . ] have a light carriage with two
fast horses kept m readiness a quarter of a mile outside the
town, and a relay of horses fifteen miles on, which is about
half-way, 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.'
1 hen you, and your sister, and the child, will at once
strH 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 hundred -fold were she also to be ar-

r6StGCl,

By dint of great exertions the Henrietie 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
Aledoc and if inquiry was made as to why she stopped
there, Lefaux was to say that he was to take ia some
wme that Monsieur Flambard had bought from a large
grower in that district, and that the lugger was then

320

NO surrender!

going to Charente to fill up with brandy for Havre. Leigh
had the day before gone with the merchaat into the ex-
tensive 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 oi"'- 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 dis-
turbance might take place were I arrested. However, the
scoundrels have now got such absolute power, that no doubt
they feci 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 towr."

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 ■« uld 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.

A GRAVE RISK.

321

B. Leigh

the ex-

»ard said,
e of them
reat them
has taken
d that is
3 brought
ly enmity
; the side
I have
Is among
md a dis-
'ever, the
no doubt
ing, and,
em, they
' the mob

iled, the
in half a
'iage and
t he was

mes, you
hild who

1 am not

ed — and

th me —

a great

escaped.

There will be in that case no need of extreme haste, for no
one knows th<'.: they are in anyway 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 Lndlady,
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 De-
sailles 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 wotild 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 Smeute
be thereby prevented. He had therefore decided upon
what was the best course to pursue, and posted himself in

(M572) J.

322

NO surrender!

the street, where he could observe anyone who entered or
left Flambard's house.

It was already getting dusk when he saw two commis-
saries of the committee, with sir 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 rornid the placo 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 di? •'nee away, and
if we can overpower these men and tie tiijm up, so that
they cannot give the alarm until morning, Monsieur Flam-
bard 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 everyone 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 trada 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

A GRAVE RISK.

323

mtered or

) commis-
;op before
the men
m to the
}lac3 with
m.

have just
men have
hem yet.
Lway, and
), so that
3ur Flam-
e a vessel

lumber of
a all take
ikerchief,
3 over his
r leading

bero shall
)r and to
5 weapon,
Let them

igh went
>use and
nute the
, thrown
so that

they differed in no way in appearance from ordinary work-
ing-men. One or two were armed with hammers, others
with long knives. Each carried a piece of black hand-
kerchief in his hand long enough to go from the forehead
down to the mouth. Leigh tied chese 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 V Leigh asked.

"In the master's study, sir. They are searching the
drawers."

" Come on quietly," Lpigh 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 noise-
lessly 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 them-
selves 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,

324

NO surrender!

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 t^ take with you,
while we are making sure of these ruffians. Now, my mer ,"
he went on, "take these fellows into diflferent 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 slip-knot
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 sus-
pect that all is not right. We lust 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 GRAVE RISK.

325

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 un-
able 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 extra-
ordinary 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

■i

326

NO surrender!

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 princi-
pal!'' because I want them to believe that you have been
rescued by a party of sailors. You hcnrd nu) 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 hi"-: 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

A GRAVE RISK.

327

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 liim 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 good-bye, dear, at once, or the boat may bo
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

328

NO surrender!

fitunding. 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 n.an his fare, they walked slowly
down the street until the fiacre had dri/cn off, and then
returning, took the road leading into the country. Ton
minutes walking brought them close to the litL inn

varl b'f '^'''''''''^' 'T'"'^ "J«"g slowly three hundred
yards before they arrived there. It stopped at once.

yon are here sooner than I expected, madanie,"
Monsieur Flambard said, as he alighted Ld helped Patsey

th.'^M?' IT^ ^r ^^''"'^ ^'y ^^^ ^'^^ ^^ ^^^d^«^« Flambard
the latter threw her arms round her neck.

"Thank God this awful time is over!" she said "It

!n th" fr'n''^'' '"' ''"' '' '^^' ^« ^'' n«t boih now
in that terrible prison.

"Leigh is good at breaking prison," Patsey said. " He
rescued me from the gaol at Nantes."

places, Louis, still soundly asleep, was transferred to his

CHAPTER XVIII.

HOME.

WHY did you come down the road?" Leigh asked

li t e in?""w ?T^''^ '^ '^' ^'"-"^^^ «-^ P'^^t tfie

da k we n.- VI" ^""^ "'' "^'""^^^ ^°^ '^'''' '-^"d 'n the
dark we might have passed it without knowing that it was

HOME.

329

We were on the look-out for you, and had no fear
of missing you. I decided to drive back to the town as
we went out. I beHeve the innkeeper to be an honest
fellow, and he has been one of our cusfo.,,,., for a r.uniber
of years, but I thought it just as weP to thru, dust in his
eyes. Therefore, as I got into the , ar. hgo I aid in his
hearing, 'Dont go through the main .h-.:.ts o^' the town
but drive round and strike the road 1 . .c.,.l it. Keep
on to Langon; we shall stop there to-night.' We drove off
fast, and only broke into a walk just before you met us.
Ihe Huikeeper 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

1.U r Ttu .f' ""^ '''^''^''- I" three hours we
shall be at the viUage. Lefaux was to keep a boat ashore.

vlnage." '' '^' '""• ^^''' '' ^"^>^ ^»« "' th^

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, to-morrow you can go quietly back
to Bordeaux. Don't get there until late in the afternoon.
Keturn the carnage and the other two horses to the stables
where you hired them, and take my two horses back to
mir 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

330

NO surrender!

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 ao 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
c osed, 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 Pt 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 'oav come up, and together they went
down to the boat. The tide had turned about an hour
before, and the boat was ait oat.

HOME.

331

"Now, I will fetch the men out," the skipper said: and
m 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.

. L^^V' l^^l^'S'f'' 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 Henrieite, and Leigh could hardly

ITTI ' T "^ ^""l '' ^"^^"S hin.self once again on
board her. The crew had been unchanged since they left
Nantes, and, tumbling up on deck as they heard the boat

!Zpf P : ^"'"'l^ ^''^^ "^°'' ^'""''^y' ^"^ respectfully
a uted Patsey and their owner. They would have broken

mto cheei-s had not their skipper sharply silenced them.

.. 1 7 » u ^'""Z '"''"^^ ^"^ '^^^' ^^h«'^ ^^e reach the open
sea, lads, he said, "and we will do so more heartily still
when we land Madame Martin, Mon.ieur Leigh, and the

o~n;1isX'>. '"''' ^" '"^"^' '"'''''' - ''' '-'
"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 fLt
Madame Martin, as representative of her husband, is the

boTrd'her!^' ' '"' ' '"' ™^ "^'^ ''' P^^^«"^-- -

"I hope that you will find it all right below, madame,"
oaptam Lefaux said. " Captain Martin's cabin-we have
always called it so-is ready for you and Madame Flambard,
m(msieur will take the spare caMn, and Monsieur Leigh

"I will sleep on one of the sofas in the saloon, captain.
I should not feel comfortable if I turned you out- and

332

NO surrender!

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 thei v 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 gun-boats 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 oS suspected per-
son?, and that any passengers we have tall^ 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

HOME.

333

There

anxious to get past without being seen. Once out of gur>-
shot I do not mind. I fancy that we can show our heels to
either of the gun-boats."

Leigh and Monsieur Flambard turned in. The latter
p^ept 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 \, o 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 thia time slept soundly. When
he awoke the motion of the vessel told him that 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 ma.e 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 oi Oleron and
the mainland."

" Oh, yes, I see ! When I came down, of course we saw

334

NO surrender!

it from the other way, and I did not recognize it at first
So we managed t- get past Cordouan without being
seen? °

"Yes, we rounded the south point of the river before
SIX o'clock, laid her head soufh-west for an hour, and just
^j- It became light changed our course north and passed
three miles to seaward of the tower. They doubtless sup-
posed that we were coming up from Bayonne. At any
rate, they paid no attention to us."

" The wind is blowing pretty strongly."
" Yes, sir, w^ 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 oJ
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 busi-
ness. 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 com-
missioners 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

HOME.

335

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 cho-^a 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 Flamlard
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 k '^ 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 ton 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

336

NO surrender!

\ I

could find out as we travelled through the conntry, and m
raris, even the mob are getting sitk of thi>3 f.rrible blood-
shed That feeling will get stronger, until finally I believe
that Robespierre and his gang will be overtuni.d. What
will come after that I don't ienow. One may hope thao sc.n-e
strovg man wi!! rise, drive out the Convention, and establish
a hxed govern «.-,ut. After that, I should say that no one
can guess what vtui foil.Av."

" There is one consolation, monsieur, no change can be for
the worse.

"That IS absob^toly certain." He went to the galley.

Well, cook, when are you going to let us have some break-
tast I 1 am famishing, for I have eaten nothing since twelve
clock yesterday,"

"It will be ready in twenty minutes, monsieur. I was
]ust going to ask you if you would call the ladies, or whether
you will take the caf^ au lait and eggs to their door "

"I will go and ask them."

H'3 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
m 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 awav
so wonderfully I feel mor. I .peful than I have done , fo-:
that Jean also will have m. - lis escape. Well, Louis, .-^iat
do you think of this? You had better keep hold of voar

Wfn^

HOME.

337

"Nasty, bad ship, mama?"

"It is because the mud is blowing hard and the sea is
rough. We had smooth ^vater on our last voyage, you know "
gl^i" » ' "°*^ ^'^^ *'™'" ^^ s^id positively; "very bad

"/ou 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," iMonsieur 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
lintish cruiser, they either escaped observation or were con-
sidered too insignificant to be chased. On the voyage thev
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
m to bt 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 towards them.
Ihey 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

Th.

had indeed already got the boat over the

shouted
side

"^?M57Tr^ ^' """" '°"'' ^'^^ ""'" ^'^Sh said as he

338

NO surrender!

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 Vende^e and crossed the Loire, then I
accompanied my husband.''

"Well, madame, 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

HOME.

339

It s tnn\ K, 'V''"' '""^ ^" ^^' "^i^WIe 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 rein"

"Thlt"^lS •" ^''' ^^^^^'*^'"« *hat we can want."
iften 1 will detain you no further," he said "and o-^n
only wish you a pleasant voyage I see hv tip .
are steering that you are n'akhig for thf Isl TwiZ
You ought to be there to-n.orrow Afternoon " '

aga^n' anTntT"^ '° ''^^ ^"^'^'"' ^^« ^'^^^^ -^^e filled
Kfast Po nt /r' f'r''''' ^^^ ^^-^'^^^ P--d
naibour. As the distance from home lessened Patsov'.
excitement increased hourly. She could not s't down f^o

deck"the'h:d'' '""'^^''l '^'''''^'y "P -d ^'- the
oeck. bhe had scarcely spoken when Leigh said after a
long look through the telescope- ' ^

"I can make out the house on the hill quite plainly, Patsev "
hnt ^^u^'' '™' ^""'"'y' ^^ho dearly loved thd old

uu in tne old days. The revenue men up there "— anrl

J^rench, and if there are .,- y of them M'ho were here thrpn
or four years ago, no doabt they know us aglin aTd mus
be wondering what brings us here " ^ ' *

They had scarcely passed Durleston when Patsey sprang

340

NO surrender!

on to the rail, holding fast by the shroiT^-;. nd gazed
intently at the narrow entrance of ^ne channel between
the island and the mainland.

"There is a boat coining out," she exclaimed.
" The coast-guard are sure to have launched their boat as
soon as they made ns out. They would naturally come out
to inquire what a French lugger is doing here."

He '.•■cut 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 disap-
pointed too much if they have not. You knoM- that we
have agreed all along that very likely we shall be the first
back, iuid 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 sten;," she said at last.
Leigh sprang up on to the rail behind her.
"Yes, there are three sitters."

Suddenly one of the >ien fc,„ood up. The boat was
still too far away for the figure to be distinguished. Leigh
would have called to the cnptain to use his glass, but
he feared to hold out ev«n a hope to I\:Ksey 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 cr 1, "h- has made me
out."

It was well that Leigh had taken is j e 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

HOME.

341

husband in that boat," Leigh said. " Pray try and get her
round before it comes up. I think it nLt'l.e he' but
It sl.ou d not be we will take her below directly we are

would b r"^ they m have news of him, l,ld that
would be almost as good as his being hcie "

"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 stand-
ng upon the rail watching them, and it was hardly likely
hat, c ning in his own boat, it should be anyone but her

aT , ' ^' '"^^ ''"^'''"' ^^'^ '^^'^^d ^"^^^ w^^ved his a^ras
suddenly the way that he did."

He took t: . bucket of water from Lefaux's hands.
We th ,:. jt is Captain Martin," he said. "Run up
he shrouds and t e a look through the glass." Then
taking a double h. iul of water, he dashed it into hi
sisters face.

"But, monsieur-" Madame Flambard began to remon-

"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 nioment there was a joyous shout from the skip-
per, 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 Mfte. ' to her feet "Are
you all right dear? He will not be alongside for some
httle time. Don't try to get up for a miuuto or two."

842

NO SURRENDER!

As Madame Flambard supported her he ran down into
the cabin, poured out a little brandy and water, and ran up-
stairs 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 riiil, 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.

As the boat canue 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
thp eoaot guard station, and Captain Whiffler 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 ou too
have escaped from that inferno they call France."

FOR TWO OK THKEE M..Nt:TKS HfSlUND AND \VIFE
•STOOD TOOETIIEK."

HOME.

343

"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 Whiffler 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 Patr,ey, 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 thi< 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 emigr^.; and as
England, so far from being at war with French Eoyalists,
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

^i^-"~rfr"nTm

344

NO surrender!

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 fatiil 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 Nether-
stock, 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 Roche jaquelein," 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 know that
by this time the main part of the army would have left the

HOME.

345

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
renaezvous. 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 hL
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 re-
treated. The peasant who had bound my arm up accom-
panied 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

them ^' ' '' ''""^ ^"'"^ ''"''"'^ ''"''*^'' ^^"^^S^ ^°""^
"He had carried with him the blanket and valises he
had taken ofl the saddle. The latter contained a bottle
of wine and some food, and on this we lived for three
clays] then I determined upon .starting. He went out in

346

NO SURRENDER!

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 ban-
daged 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 confi-
dence 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,' ho 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.'

HOME.

347

I couifj not venture upon that. I can nnl,. r..
bandaee it atrain nnri «,-,.-. i °"'-^ "^^^

my way down to the sea I hon^ in ' ^^'''S

thinlia a suif „f I^: -001' > ' "^"" ""^'^ *"" "y-
W fj,^ 1 1.. '""^ -trance can be receneratprl

I cannot go and buy saflof^ ,:L''"r,,,,^^' 7, -^

i; 'About five foot tea/ M^cfcinsHid.
And how broad round ti.3 .hoalders?'

i^orty-three inches. I '■>■ '^ nUr^u, r.f
for pU th.U ; ^ - ! - plenty of money to pav

of aSgi!:::." """"'■^' ^"^ "■°™' -' ^ '»>= „uLy z

.oml*^'"'??/™ T """ P'™'''''''' !>■ ™d. M will take
•ome. Tno people are very poor, and we all suffer to

348

NO surrender!

gether. They pay me when they can, and so that I can
iiialte ends mret 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 to-morrow one of ray 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 Hon-
fleur, 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?' 1
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 th3 boat and handed me over to
its skipper. He absolutely refused any payment for his

HOME.

349

services, but I insisted on his receiving a couple of hundred
francs ,n ass.gnats for the use of his poorer S

:;ii:tar -'* -^ '^ "-^ --^= °' ^ "«-""ts

"He saM to her, 'Mother, I want you to take care of this
young sador; he has hrokon his a™ and wan.T ul ^'

^ atraid he m.ght be packed olT in one of the shins of
war as soon as he recovers. I suppose you can manage

'"Oh, yes!' she said; "I have very fe,v visitors and „„
one would guess that I have anyone .IpstaL." ' ^ "°

will lo Z ''I °' "°"'y "> P^'y >"""• """"-ges- Now I

h"o" 1:-: ^^tT' '"" ""' "»■' '" '-«-- '» -

"I stayed there a fortnight, by which time the inflara-

than the old woman was. She used to bathe my arm by
the hour, and she fed me up with broth. At the e"d rf
that t,me I felt ready for work, though my arm was of

o^ to^Hal' "?'■:"■' "-"^'-l t» Harfleur, .and then wen!
on t.0 Havre, I stayad here for a couple of days at a

veiTin^^r:;''"' '^^ ^^^'^ "■»'! ^»'-«^ « a
vessel m f«rt, and Wj questions were asked.

o«^ m^t V !■;! '■:; '""'^'' ""^ •" "■■«'" ^ot ..n hoard.
The „h,d wL iT'^ t»,nmanaprf to get the sail hoisted.

si^htlthe F 'i '■ ""f '• ■ '"' ■"''™"K I "' ""t of
sight of the French coast I kid my co^rw for Portsmouth

and landed there that evening. &„g f.rtunaWv abL,^

til
r :

350

NO surrender!

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 Henrietle 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 Avere 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

HOME.

351

"d fro: tSirr.rc '"^^\^^^- ^^^-^

gathered a small band tolthpr , ''",^ '^' ^°'^^' ^^^
over parties of the enel Two" '"'"f ""^ ^"^^^««-
these skirmishes, wore on the "nforf ""' t" °"^ ^^
peasants when Henri came nntn u ""« '^°^ ^y ^^e

the prisoners, however ^00.^^ '!!' ''^'^^ ^^"^"- ^ne of

Vend^ans, -Ised hT mrkT^d'sW^''"', '''''' "^ ^^«
not for two years .{tovT T ,^^ ^™ ^'^^^^- ^^ was
brought to a CO chfn f r':^ f '^' '''''^' ^^ fi-^"y
contiLd to rest a7 hVe^^^^^^^^^^^^

Stofflet and Cha.ette were e'r^' red. "" '"'"^^"'^ ""^'^
in February, 1796 thn n7h ''^P^"[^^;^"^' executed, the one
moderation'^inc Xe^:;- ^^ f /^"-^-S -onth. The
about the end o/a rrwhich ., ^'^'' '"^^"^ ^^^"^''^^^
for the noble resistance Iff d vt^^ri^S^^^" '^''^y
to the power of a great country ^ ''^^^ '^ ^'''''''''

As soon as Monsieur Flambard hearrl fm u-
spondents abroad that a consigr.me„ of n ' ^'' '''''-
wuy they took an office for it hf, 1 , \ "' '''^' ^" ^^«
having no connectionlr s !« ^^^^^ ^ " "'"'''^ '^''>
would work only as whoL^^^^e^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
trade and with large hotels anrl n^ ' ^' '"^ ''''^^ ^^^
tenting themselves^ith th ^1^^ '''!^^^^^-'^> -n-
"ntil they made a conne t on m Hf ' 'f ^^ '''''''
three years they were doin.. V , ''"'^ ^^ ^^^^ or

Poole, as the crew preferred tu^- '^'f '^''' '-^^"^'^^ ^^
to trade as before "and b"'"^' ""'' ^'^^""^ ^^^
western ports, was certain oT^^ • """ ^"""^ ^* ^" ^he
to pay wages and alTolV. ""^ ^^''-"^'•^- «« ^-«

balance as^po.^ ty ^J" Th/"' ^^ ^^^^^"^ *^«
the internal affairs of the 0' ntv h . f''.' ^'''''' "'''''

-aged to get a letter r:^:;:;--^^^^^^

352

NO surrender!

asking hira to inquire about Marthe, and after a consider-
able time an answer was received, saying that she and
J^ran9ois 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 Flamburd, Martin, ,ic Stans-
fteld were doing a large business, and when the war came
to a termination, and trade with Bordeaux, Charente and
Nantes was renewed, M. Flambard returned to Bordeaux
and having a large connection there, the firm soon became
known as the larg"., ioiporters of foreign wines in London
Madame Martin b, u loug before that died. Patsey was the
mother of thrco > .-v: a;,d two girls, and Leigh had a separate
establishment of In. ,.wn, and had been for fifteen years a
married man. Mr. tttansfield 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.

With

BLACKIE & SON'S
BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

..„,,, ,. ^^ °- A- HENTY.

I'll "»«.« crtuu. p'i„ ",^ll '"V 'll»"«liom

.''Owen rwendower is descrih^H -.u n^«l"'«>-l»„ a clear knowledge of iX

With Frederick the Great- at. . .

G. A. Hentv. 6.S. ^^' ^^"'^^ft''** Seveu Years' War By

With Wnn.^^ _j. ~

With Moore at Corunna

'j. A. Hkntv. 6s

A Tale of the P ninsiilar A^ ar.

(GG3) tcaor.

: il

1; I

.iiiil

■i%.

^^^^ ^" nO.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)

f/.

1.0

I.I

"■ lis 12.2

L25 1 1.4

2.0

1.8

1.6

Sdences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

-V

i/.A

•^
^

BLACKIE AND SON'S BOOKS FOR YOUNG P->OPLE.

BY G. A. HENTY.

"Schoolboys owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Renty."— The Record

In crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges. With 12 page illustrations
by eminent artists. Price Os. each.

A Story of the War with Tippoo Saib. By

The Tiger of Mysore;

G. A. Hentv. 6s.

"Mr. Henty not only concocts a tlirillinu tale, he weaves fact and Action together witli
•,o skilful a hand that tlie reader cannot help aciiuiring a just and clear view of that fierce
and terrible struggle which gave to us our Indian ^ai^ivo."— Athenaeum.

When London Burned

Fire. By G. A. Henty.

A Story of Restoration Times and the Great

6s.

A Tale of Venice in the Fourteenth Century.

" The story conveys a graphic idea of tlie troubles brought about by the Fire of London and
the Great Plague. The reader can liardly fail to carry away a vivid impression 'of the vast
city wrapped in a pall of death and then swept by a pillar of tiame. The illustrations
are decidedly almve tlie average of nierit, and have evidently been drawn with careful regard
to historic veracity."— i)a% Telegraph.

At Ag"inCOUPt: a Tale of the White Hoods of Paris. By G. A.
Henty. 6s.

" Mr. Henty has taken for his subject the war between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy.
It has the general cliaracti'ristics of his woik— spirit, abundance of incident, and a sufficiently
careful presentment of the features of the time."— Spectator.

The Lion of St. Mark:

By G. A. Henty. 6s.

" Every boy should read The Lion of St. Mark. Mr. Henty has never produced any story
more delightful, more wholesome, or more vivacious. From first to last it will be read
with keen enjoyment."— .S'«?!(ccfai/ Jievieiv.

By England's Aid: The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604).
By G. A. Henty. 6s.

"Bii England'8 Aid carries on the stoiy of the struggle of the Netherlands for indepen-
dence—carries it, in fact, till the fall of Ostend. Mr. Henty takes care to introduce into his
story the principal events of the war, and his descriptions of battles and sieges are lucid and
pictures(iue. "Spectator.

With Wolfe in Canada: or, The Winning of a Continent. By G. A.
Henty. 6s.

"A model of what a boys' story-book should be. Mr. Henty has a great power of infusing
into the dead facts of history new life, and as no pains are spared bv him to ensure accurncv,
his books supply useful aids to study as well as amusement."— ,S'cftrto2 Guardian.

Bonnie Prince Charlie: A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By
G. A. Henty. 6s.

"A book for boys, very much as Qucntin Durward is a book for boys. As its name Indicates,
it deals with .Tiicobite intrigues and the .Tiuobifc rising in 1745. But Mr Henty. with the
help of Ttonald Lestle, succeeds very Hkilfiilly in inlniduiing into his stoiy the old connection
between Scotlaiul and France. U-n -Ms advcntuics on FreTich ground are e /en better than his
hairbreadth escapes in .HcciHav ; , ben Mr. Henty, by his portraits of Malcolm Anderson and
his douce brotlier, the bailie, has accomplished the task of reproducing old Scotch humour
08 ulustiiited by character."— .4ca(f(;(/tt/.

Prcnn "UNDER ^VELLINGTON'S COMMAND"
Bv G. A. Hkntv.

ilhistrations

jpoo Saib. By

tion together with
view of that fierce

3 and the Great

Fire of London and

ression'of the vast

'J'lie illustrations

with careful regard

ans and Burgundy,
t, and a sufficiently

roduced any story
st it will be read

lands for indepen-
iiitrodure into his
ieges are lucid and

ent. By G. A.

power of infusing
o ensure aceurncy,
(Han.

Oulloden. By

Its name indicates,
r. llenty, with the
the old connection
vfU hotter than his
dim Anderson and
Id Scotch liumour

"SHK IS WALKING ALONG NOW."

BLACKIE AND SON'S BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BY G. A. HENTY.

' Among writers of stories of advanture Mr. Uenty stands in the very first mnk."-Aeademy.

Jr. crown 8vo, doth elegant, olivine edges. With 12 page illustrations
hij eminent ai'tists. Price 6s. each.

For the Temple: a Tale of the Fail of Jerusalem. By G. A.

cleverest efforts."— Gmi^Aic.

True to the Old Flag: a Tale of the American War of independence.
By G. A. Henty. 6s. ;

gook."— 2'tm«s.

With Lee in Virginia: A story of the American Civil War, By

Jackson."— 2'une)i.

Redskin and Cow-boy: a Tale of the Western Plp= By G. A.
Hknty 6s*

tlie reckless but jovial cow-boys."— 'i'une«.

The Lion of the North: A Tale of Gustavus Adolpbus and the
Wars of Religion. By G. A. Henty. 6s.

" A praisewortliy attempt to interest Britisl. youth in the great deeds of the Scotch Brigade

British army." -Athenmim.

With Clive in India

HfiNTY. 6s.
"Those who know sometliing about Tniiia will be the most ready to thank M';^ Henty
for giving them this instructive volume to place in the hands of their children. -Academj.

In Greek Waters: a story of the Grecian War of Independence.
(1821-1827.) By G. A. Henty. 6s.
-There are adventures of all Idnds for tlie hero and ' is friends, whose pluck a"^ ingenuity
<., nxtrkatiiiK themselves from awkward fixes are always equal to the occasion. It is an ex-
cellent story and if tile proportioi^ of history is smaller than usual, the whole result leaves
nothing to be desired.'-yoiu'n- 1 of Kducation.

Thj Bash for Khartoum: a Talc of the Nile Expedition of lft84.

By G. A. Henty. 68. .,,,,„

" It is literally true that the narrative never flnss for a moment: tlie •'"''.'lents whijh fall
to be recorded after the dash for Khartoum has been made and failed are quite as interesting
as those which precede it."— Academy.

or, The Beginnings of an Empire. By G. A.

LE.

ink."— Academy,
lustrations

By G. A.

Elomnn sway adds
ae of Mr. Henty's

Independence.

. The son of an
skins in that very
ye and Chingach-

ivil War, By

) is conscientious,
leart of Stonewall

By G. A.

K ,1 arj realistic,
re tlio manners of

Ipbus and the

the Scotch Brigade
fain in Mr. Henty's
erm of the modern

m-e. By G. A.

I thank Mr. Henty
Idren."— ylcarfe/n;/.

Independence.

sluck and Ingenuity
;aaion. It is nn ex-
whole result leaves

edition of lfi84.

inrldents whijh fall
quite as interesting

____m^E AND SON'S BOOKS FOR VOUNO PEOPLE.

..„ „ BY G. A. HENTY.

Mr. Henty U one of th^besU^f^^ Peop,e...-.p.,,„,^.

In cro.n s.o, clot, ei::;::z^;~r^^ ,

h>/ eminent artists. Price Os. each '"*''«'''''»*

^ " Mr. Henty inspires a love
^or straightforwardness, truth
and courage. This is one of
tlie best of the many good books
^o^bri'^'^r*^'^' ■"»! "><^^'°ves

Captain Bayley's

Heir: a Tale of

the Gold Fields.

By G. A. Hknty. 6s.

Jly^ Westminster boy who
makes his way in the world by
hard work, good temper, and
unfailin? courage. Tiie de-
scriptK lis given of life on board
a Hat on the Mississippi, of the
march of a goldseekinsi cara-
a?"f'.,'i"p °? the race for wealth
at the Cahfornian gold-mines,
are just what a healthy intelli
gent lad should deliglit in "

—St. James's Gazette.

St. Bartholomew's

Eve: A Tale of the

Huguenot Wars. By

Cr. A. Henty. 6s.
.",pe .story opens at the time
?.Vi *? ^on'erence at Poissy,
kJI. ^l*® '',"';'? «"8s to join his
fi. '^'' '•elations and fight for
the Huguenot cause. In the
course of his adventures he

'• T; was With the «reat..st UifficulT;. that hV^^ h^^Tad ,
n^auce,fro.n-'m^n SIDi^S THE BOHDEH". (Seep^ei.,

Beric the Briton:

Henty. Gs.

A Story of the Roman Invasion. By O. A.
oVr V"' F'"'"" -"5"-t"" Mr'nent?^ Zl^f % ^'«"^""« « pfture of Britain in the

BLACKIE AND SON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLR.

BY G. A. HENTY.

" Wliat would boys do without Mr. Henty? Ever fiesli and vigorous, his books have at ouce
the solidity of history and the charm of romiinae."—Jovr)ial of Education.

In crown 8vo, doth elegant, olivine edges. With 12 page illustrations
by eminent artists. Price 6s. each.

In Freedom's Cause: a story of Wallace and Bruce, By G. A.

Henty. 6s.
"His tale is full of stirring action, and will commend itself to boys."— Athencnim.
"Scarcely anywhere have we seen In prose a more lucid and spirit-stirring description of
Bannockburn." — Dumfries Standard.

With Cochrane the Dauntless: a Tale of the Exploits of Lord

Cochrane in South American Waters. By G. A. Hentv. 6s.

"Mr. Henty has taken for his hero the brilliant naval commander, Lord Cochrane, whose
daring and genius were exerted on behalf of oiiprcssed nationalities. From Java to Chili,
from Peru back to Brazil, the doughty Cochrane fought n\nny a hard fight, and with him
went the hero of the story, Stephen Embleton. It is a spirited narrative, giving glimpses of
many lands, and it holds the reader fascinated to the last page." —Pall Mall Gazette.

or,

With Cortez in Mexico, By G. A.

By Right of Conquest:

KSNTY. 68,
" Mr. Henty revels In a field of rich description. Kothing can be more dramatic than the
resolute advance of Spain's famous infantry under the iron 'conqueror', the dismal retreat
of the 'sorrowful night', and the tales of treasures amassed through generations, to be pillaged
by the freebooters of Old Spain. But Mr. Henty introduces an English element. Roger
Hawkshaw falls into the hands of friendly Indians. ... He makes a love match witli a
beautiful Aztec princess, and considering the success with which he surmounted conversa-
tional difficulties, it must be adm'tted that Roger was a very clever fellow."— I'imc*.

By Pike and Dyke: A Tale of the Eise of the Dutch Republic, By
G, A. Hknty, 6s.

" There is plenty of good reading in the book. The mission of Ned to deliver letters from
William the Silent to his adherents at Brussels, the fight of the Good Venture with the
Spanish man-of-war, the battle on the ice at Amsterdam, the siege of Haarlem, are all told
with a vividness and skill worthy of Mr. Henty at his best. The book will interest boys
in one of the most terrible and noble struggles in the history of the world."— -4cademy.

Wulf the Saxon: a story of the Norman Conquest, By G. A,
Henty. 6s.
"As excellent as a chapter of English history, as well as fascinating as a work of fiction. The
hero rises by dint of courage to be one of the most trusted attendants of the king. Tlie actors
in the drama of the Conquest move before us in a lifelike manner. The points of the Saxon
character are hit off very happily, and the life of the period is ably reconstructed."— Spectator.

Through the Sikh War: A Tale of the Conquest of the Punjaub.
By G. A. Henty, 62.
"The picture of the Punjaub during its last years of independence, the description of
the battles, .md the portraiture of native character, seem admirably true.

read a more vivid and faithful narrative of military adventure in India.

We have never
Academy.

Under Drake's Flag": a Tale of the Spanish Main. By G. A.
Henty, 6s.
"There is not a dull chapter, nor, indeed, a dull page in the book; the author has so
carefully worked up his subject that the exciting deeds of his heroes are never incongruous or
absurd. "—06»«re«r.

Ltt.

oks have at ouce
lucation.

lluitrations

e. By G. A.

thenonun.

'ing description of

ploits of Lord

il Cochrane, whose
•oin Java to Chili,
i;lit, and with him
giving glimpses of
M Gazette.

:o. By G. A.

dramatic than the
the dismal retreat
;ion8, to be pillaged
1 element. Roger

love match witli a
mounted conversa-
."— Times.

Eepublic. By

leliver letters from
Venture with the

larleni, are all told
will interest boys

."—Academy.

St. By G. A.

rerk of fiction. The
le king. The actors
points of the Saxon
noted. "—iSiJt'c<ator.

f the Punjaub.

the description of
e. We have never
-Academy.

in.

By G. A.

the author has so
3ver incongruous or

BY G. A. HENTY.

"O. A. nenty more than holds his own as the prince of storytellers for boys."

. -St. James'ii Gazette.

In croron 8.0, cloth ele.ant, olivine e^^es. WM 8 ,a,e iUusirations
h emmcnf arthu. Price -■7,. each

At Aboukir and Aerp- a «f r ^t ,

By G. A. m^..\. ' ^ ^'"'^ "^ Na poleon's Invasion of Egypt.

"It hiis all the flavour and

tlie added charm of tellini; of
achievements which are part
of the national history. .\o
better background for a tale
of heroism and romance than
ff'f.'^ampa.Kn in which En--
and drove Napoleon out of
i'A'ypt could be desired. A
"'."/•""Shly patriotic story,
with brisk action and incil

oti"e'?.":a^« "p- -•"

A March on Lon-
don: a story of Wat

Tyler's Insurrection.
By G. A, Henty. 5s.

JIP,^^ '''""^ °f ^^'a' Tyler's
ever-famous nisurrectiou is set
foitli with a degree of cunnimi
and an eye for effect that may
always be looked for in the
work that comes from this
practised hand. Mr. Henty
deals with trouI)lesome tini s
and with characters that have

. L*!'^''' """■'' o" f'e pages
of history. He is fresh, virile,
and never dull, and this volume
must needs add to his reputa-
tion. —Daily Telegraph.

On the Irrawaddy:

A story of the first Burmese War. By G. A Hentv *;,
«oJ^f^!ffir'"^ '' ^ -^"^' ^^-y- -'« the descriptions of tl. Bu^iese cities are ve^
witlf ^!^ffi^^ ^J^^^^]^^^ ll^;^!^!^!.!;^ Z^y ">e ..oy to hearten

In the Heart of the RockipQ a «+ r * ,

By G. A. Hkntv 5" ^^^^^^^ ^ ^^''y ^^ Adventure in Colorado,
the thrilling adventures of Tom Wade^tdllSleSM^?^^^^

"Well, ni.v lud, who arc you?"
Reduced /r,,m-' AT AliOlKIIl AND ACRE".

5s.

BLACKIE AND SON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BY G. A. HENTY.

'Ask for Hfuty, aud sou that jou get him."— PuMcA.

In crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges. With 8 page illustrations
by eminent artists. Price 5s. each.

Through Russian Snows: A story of Napoleon'a Retreat from
Moscow. By G. A. Hkntv. 5«.
"Julian, the hero of the story, early excites our admiration and is altogether a fine
character such as boys will delight in, whilst the story of the campaign is very graphically
told."— Sf. James's Gazette.

One of the 28th: a T.de of Waterloo. Bv G. A. HenxY. 5s.

"Written with Homeric vigour and luidic inspiration. It is grapliic, picturesque, and
dranSlly effective . . . shows us Mr, Henty at his l.est and brightest. The adventures
W"ld a boy of a winter's night enthralled as he rushes tlirough them with breathless
interest 'from cover to coyer '."—Observer.

A Tale of the

Facing^ Death: or, The Hero of tlie Vaughaii Pit.
Coal Mines. By G. A. Henty. 5s.

" If any father, clergyman, or schoolmaster is on the look-out for a good book to give as a
present to a boy who is worth his salt, this is the book we would recommend.' -Standard.

The Cat of BubaSteS: a story of Ancient Egypt.

HEfTY. 5*

By G. A.

"The story from the critical moment of the killing of the sacred rat to the perilous exodus
into Asia with whicl. it closes, is very skilfully constructed and full of exciting adventures.
It is admirably illustrated."— Saftirdaj/ Heviev).

Maori and Settler: a story of the New Zealand War. By G. A.

Hknty. 5s.
"An admirable picture of colonial life in the troublous times when the brave tribes of New
Zealand were lighting the forces of England and the Colony. Maori and Settler is, like all Mr.
Henty's books, graphically written, instructive, and amusing. A word of praise is due to tne
beautiful full-page illustrations."— i.'di(ca/io)i(ri Times.

St. George for England: a Tale of Cressy aud Poitiere. By G. A.

Henty. 5s.
" A story of very great interest. In his own forcible style the author has endeavoured to
show that deteiiniiiation and enthusiasm can accomplish mnrvellons rcsnlts; an.l that courage
is generally accompanied by magnanimity and gentleness. —J'all Mall hazette.

The Bravest of the Brave: or, With Peterborough in Spain. By

G. A. Henty. 5s. .

" Mr Henty never loses sight of the moral purpose of his work-to enforce the doctrine of
courage and truth, mercy and lovingkindness, as indispensable to the making of an English
gentleman. Britisli lads will read The Bravest of the Brave with pleasure and profit; of that
we are quite sure."— Dn-iVy Telegraph.

For Name and Fame: nr, Through Afghan Passes. By G. A.

Henty. 5s.

•'Not only a rousing story, replete with all the varied forms of excitement of a campaign,
but what 8 still more useful, an account of a territory and its nhabitants which must for
Tlong time possess a supreme interest for Englishmen, as being the key to our Indian
'Empive."— Glasgow Herald.

PLE.

illustration

Retreat from

J altogether a flue
is very graphically

Ni'Y. 5a.

I, picturesque, and
3t. The adventures
em witli breatldess

A Tale of the

)d book to give as a
^i\A."— Standard.

)i.

By G. A.

the perilous exodus
ixciting adventures.

V&Y. By G. A.

brave tri'ies of New
'ettler is, like all Mr.
r praise is due to the

tiei"s. By G. A.

has endeavoured to
Us; and tliat courage
Gazette.

h in Spain. By

force the doctrine of
laking of an English
re and profit; of that

ises.

Bv G. A.

ment of a campaign,
tants which must for
e key to our Indian

.!!:^:^:^[1^_NDS0N'S BOOKS FOR YOirx. pkoPLE.

BY G. A. HENTY.

"Mr. Hentys books are always^,,. ,.„,,„^ incident."-..... „,,,,,,,

In croivn 8vo, cloth ehan^if ti"../ a
"Incident succeeds incident and « i„ ^ ' ^- "^^"- ^'-

"""Vn.^:. fr*""^ ^ T-le of the Sie,e c'oi,.,...,

"M'ritten witli
Besides tlie ii
Spanish warsli
are admirably

^ A. Hentv. 5« ^ "*' ^^^ ^'«ge of Gibraltar. By

Condemned as a NihiiiQt- a c.^

G. A. Hentv 5. ^^^^^^^^' ^ Story of Escape from Siberia.

Orangre and Green: a Taie of fi,. t?

Hentv. 5« ^^ *''^ ^^^'"'^ »'"' Limerick. By G. a

By Sheer Pluck: a Tale of the Ashanti War Bv P A tt
all our schools. "-ScAooiwas^e" ^ '""^^ "'^ ^°"'' ^iU soon be widely known in

* ^hI^^T'""^- ^ ™° °' ="* "-"« - ^"»"«ii-

By G. A.

Hent "sXtMn-SpTex^^^^^^^^^ ri.^?'''''^^'"? '»t'^''««t. The episodes are in Mr
tendency is to t.. ^onnJor^-^^I^^^^^^^^^^Ur^^^^

'•' I

BLACKlE AND SON^S BOOKS FOR YOUNG ffiOPLE.

BY PROFESSOR A. J. CHURCH.

' That prluce of winning story-tellers, and master ol musical English."

-Expository Times.

In crown 8vo, doth elegant. With illustrations hy eminent artists.

Lords of the World: a Tale of the Fail of Carthage and Corinth.

IJy Prof. A. J. Chlrck. 6«.

" Mr. Cliurch'g mastery of his sub-
ject and liis literary skill are sutflci-
ently complete to carry liis aiiult readers
with him. Some of tlie scenes are
highly picture8<iue, and tliere is many
an exciting adventure tliat sustains the
reader's curiosity in the fortunes of the
liero, Cleanor. As a lioys' boolc, Lords
of the. World deserves a hearty wel-
come."— Spectof or.

Two Thousand Years

Ago: or, The Adventures

of a Roman Boy. By Professor

A. J. Church. 6«.

" Adventures well worth tlic telling.

The Ijook is extremely entertaining as

well as useful, and there is u wonderful

freshness in the Roman scenes and

characters."— jf'imes.

* Fasten his hands, and firmly, too; tliat youth might give
UB trouble."

fledHce(i/rom" LORDS OP THE WORLD",
graphic vigour. Boys will revel in the hook"— Birmingham Daily Gazette.

BY OLIPHANT SMEATON.

A Mystery of the Paci-
fic. By O. Smeaton. 5s.

"A tale of unprecedented adventure
in unknown lands. Opening with a
mutiny and ending with a shipwreck
the story leads the siielll)onnd reader
to an unknown island in the Pacific,
where he finds a great and thriving city
peopled by a colony of ancient Romans.
Of tlie reception of the travellers, their
life on the island, their marvellous ad-
ventures, condemnation, and eventual
escape to sea, Mr. Smeaton tella with

The Young Colonists: a Tale of the Zulu and Boer Wars.
G. A. Henty. 3s. 6rf.
" Fiction and history are so happily blended that the record of facts quicken the imagina-
tion No boy can read this book wl'thout learning a great deal of South African history at
its most critical period."— S<onrfar(i.

A Chapter- of Adventures: or, Through the Bombardment of
Alexandria. By G. A. Henty. 3s. U.
"The exueriences of Jack Robson and two companions on the streets of Alexandria, when
Arabi'sHoters filled the city, is capitally told. They fall into the hands of the rebels, enjoy
ft fine view of the bombardment and finally escape to sea. Their chapter of adventures is
w brisk l^dratertaining we ecu d have wished it longer than it \»."-Saturday Rem^.

PLE.

'^'-'^'''^*^- ^ND SON*S BOOKS FOR YOUNG

PKOPI.E.

Expository Times.

ent artists.

;e .ind Corii)th.

Church. 6».

lastery of his Bub-
ry skill are sutlicl-
ny his adult reiulers
of the scenes are
ftiul there is many
re that sustains the
the fortunes of the
a hoys' book, Lonls
rves a hearty wel-

land Years

'he Adventures

^y. By Professor

6«.

11 worth the telling,
uely entertaining as
there is a wonderful
Roman scenes and

IS.

IT SMEATON.

of the Paci-

Smeaton. 5s.

eeedented adventure
s. Opening with a
)g with n shipwreck
le spellbound reader
sland in the Pacific,
reat and thriving city
ly of ancient Romans,
f the travellers, their
their marvellous ad-
nation, and eventual
■. Smeaton tella with
•Me.

Boer Wars. By

quicken the imagina-
ith African history \t

Roiubardnieiit of

s of Alexandria, when
Is of the rebels, enjoy
ipter of adventures is
Saturday Review.

BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.

" A prince among story-tellers. •-/.«« Mall Gazette.

In crown 8vo, cloth chnrMit nui -n .

'''^"''^- " '^'^ ^fl^'^trations by eminent artists

Dick 0- the Fens: a Ilou.unce of the Gre.t F«,f s

The Golden Mag-net: a Tale nf fi,. t ^ . ,

. ;.?';.' sti'sj/^p^rsjsjsniTs "' "■""•". -'""■»•■ '-"-. ."^ ^.ci,„

Bunyip Land: Amoii«

G. Manville Fenn. 4,.

B . —Practical Teacher.

""'ZT^l ^°y= A Bo„.nce in a Garden. B. 0. Ma.v...

Mr^In^1S^^I;^t^?^^=L^^^^„;^.'!l.;:^:l'- t^ '^-'' °^ '''^ ^^-ies for boy.

tlie Blackfellows in New Guinea. By

* »

For other Books by G. Manvillk Fenn, see page 22.

BLACKIE AND SON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BY GEORGE MAC DONALD.

"Dr. Geoi-ge Mac Donald has a real undeNtamliug oJ boy mtw^.'-Sptetator.

In crown tiro, cloth elegant. With illuitmtiom by eminent artists,
A Rough Shaking. By George Mac Donalu. (5«.

"Ii. t«kliiir UD any book of Dr. MucDonalOfs, there are two things of which «e "'ay feel
onniiMMt 1 If^.ieLnd First it will not be commonplace; becondly. its teachinn will be pure
conmient efoie lanu. '"*i; " " ' ''„g,,y „atural qiialities wliich endear him his nnwaver-
f,^ tru^h iness^and honesty his suprmeVem^rnes's for anytbiuK that is small and «eak as
well as lUs "rrage iTralins with the violent and strong', are all possible, and are finely
brought out."- ./""'•'lat of Kdiicatiun.

Wind. By George Mac Donald.

We stand with one foot

By George Mac Donald. With

At the Back of the North

With 75 Illustrations. 5s.
"The story is thoroughly original, full of fancy and pathos.
In fairyland and one on common earth."— 2'nn««.

Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood.

36 Illustrations. 5s.
"Tl.e svmnathv with boy-nature in Jianald Bannermans Boyhood is Penect " « "
beaut^Wc^SreVchildho'od. teaching by its impressions a"*! -««;;«i--,«VeirS^^

The Princess and the Goblin. By George Mac Donald. With
32 Illustrations. 3s. 6d. . , . . v, i,

all that illustrations should \)e."-Manche»ter Guardian.

The Princess and Curdle. By George Mac Donald. 3«. 6rf.

"There is the finest and rarest genius in this brilliant story Vpgrown People would do
wisely occasionally to lay Isolde their newspapers and magazines to spend an hour «ith
(MrdU and the Princess:'— Sheffield Independent.

BY ASCOTT R. HOPE.

" such Is the charm of Mr. Hopes narrative that it is impossible to begin one of his
tales without finishing it."-S«. James's Gazette.

The Seven Wise Scholars. By Ascott r. Hope, with nearly

100 Illustrations by Gordon Browne. 5s.
"As full of fun as a volume of Punch; with illustrations, more laughter-provoking than
most we have seen since Leech died. "-SA^Wd Independent.

Stories of Old Renown: Tales of Knights and Heroes. By Ascott

Hope. With 100 Illustrations by Gordon Browne. 3s. 6d

,1 * I. .»!..-, u-^t •a-nrth" nf its tellin" titlfi. There is. we venture to say, not a
dun'pS^ihe Sl.oYfst:r7 whic^^ '^^tlSbeLV^a second reading. -G«ar.ia«.

Young Travellers' Tales. By Ascott r. Hope. 3s. 6c?.

" Possess a high value for instruction as well as for entertainment. His quiet, level humo«r|
bubbles up on every page."— Daily Chronule.

3PLE.

••—Spectator.

nent artists.

t which we may feel
enchiiiK will he pure
ir him his uiiwaver-
SBmall and weak, as
lalble, and are finely

IE Mac Donald.

e stand with one (uot
c Donald. "With

is perfect. It i» n
onsall noble things. "
i Quarterly Review.

c Donald. Willi

J play of fancy which
jhes's Illustrations are

SALD, 3a. ()rf.

•own people would do
spend an hour with

o begin one of his

iPE. With nearly
ughter-provoklng tlian

jroes. By Ascott
3s. 6d.

e venture to say, not a
\g"—Quar<iian.

. 3s. 6rf.

His quiet, level humour I

.!!1!;^!^J^^;^_^^N^ FOR YOUNO PKOPLE. .

—at. James t Gazette.

—'Pimes.

With Crockett and Bowie t

"Mf. Mi.nroe has constructed hi'.\7^ if" ''^ '^''''^''- ^^ ^'"'^' ^^LNroe. 5«

S„.."f '^""'""'^ -. ■'■'- To.™ o, ,„ Be... B, K,H.
BY HARRY OOLLINGWOOD

The Log Of the "Flying Fi»h". a ->,! V""" "'"»••"

P»nl .„d Ad.entur.. By H l»s7cVLi is ''" ""* Submarine

FINELY ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.

An AlDhabet of Animals: A strikingly original Alphabet Book.
WHr26 °m page Plates, a large number of Vignettes and Cover Des,gn by
CAKTON MooL PAUK. Demy 4to (13 inches by 10 mches). Price 5«

?i^tr^pTta?^t '^ a t/. ca.el is -;;-VeC~tUat h. ever been published for

5or this beautiful hoi^H.'-We^tminster Budget.

Red ADple and Silver Bells: a Book of Verse for children of
all Ages By Hamiph Henhrv. With over 150 charming IlluBtrationa
by ALICE B. Woodward. Square 8vo, cloth elegant, g.lt edges, Qs
..Mr'HenaryseestUewor,aascbiUi.nse^

lii^t FoPtV Winks: or, The Droll Adventures of Davie Trot. By
•^ HA^isH HEKDRV W-th 70 humorous Illustrations by Gertrude M.

BRAD.EV. Square 8vo olo^^^^^^^ /y^ljeSorthe little ones, .ho will enjoy

Tn TAll the Kine the Sky is Falling. By Sheila E. Braine.
^"^ It ovef 80 qLt and cLr Illustrations by Alice B. Woodward.
Square 8 vo cloth elegant gilt edges 5. ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^

an7aVprSe-a ^rKvT^VLWeeSteness, and sympathy. "-Boo.,«a».

Adventures in ^07^-^^',^^-]^,^^,.^^^ S-Te

S:tT; aITb^ZIII^ cZn .to. decorated cloth, gilt edges, 5„.
are graphically described n. a v^^^ ' "'""'f , J'J'^.t „, "oth autlior and illustrator of what

The Troubles of Tatters, and other stories. By Alice Talwin

MouRif With 62 charming Illustrations by Alice B. Woodward. Square

Svo, decorated cloth, 3s. Qd. „„,„,,„ hiprp latter we cive

"Even a„.o«g the best l'oo'^«/,,'XlXeTw'il'hre^oS a^a tTyomig alil^e^wiU

KaJ^i^iJ^rs. ^i^^^^f^ff^^ a Hans Andersen tc^.;^^^^^^ ^,^,^^,

Roundabout Rhymes: a chrunuHg vnl.me of Verses a.>dPic^tur^^^^
for Little Folk. With 20 full-page Illustrations m Colour. By Mrs. PERC^
DkarMKR. Imperial Svo, cloth, 2«. 6rf. ^„., rhild'. Garden Altogether we

-The best verses written for cbiWrm. since Stev^^^^

:viraTU^i!J:rofinBVhTL^rh=r^V^

PLE.

alphabet Book.

Dover Design by

Price 58.

3 exceedingly good,
3l is wortliy of his

been publislied lor
is ridiculously low

or Children of

ling Illustrations

ilges, 6s.

ingly and musically
8— childish, but not
Woodward's designs
■awn and exquisitely

)avie Trot. By
ly Gertrude M.

ones, who will enjoy
'unch.

siLA E. Braine.
K B. Woodward.

are quick to perceive
—Boolctnan.

■,. "With 8 page
mb throughout the
th, gilt edges, 5ft.
son. The Adventures

id illustrator of what

re.

y Alice Talwin
'^oodward. Square

• these latter we give
X and young alilce will
touch." „ ^ ^

—Westminster Budget.

■isea and Pictures
ur. By Mrs. Percy

arden. Altogether we
cially ns verse, touched
liins"— Guardian.

From'^REB APPLE AND SILVER BELLS'
By Hamish Hendby.

BOOKS FOR GIRLS.

In ...n 8.0, cloth eleg^ With illustrations hy eminent artists.

The Handsome Brandons: a Story for Girl. By k.^.a...

Tynan. 6s. thp iiterarv Quality of Miss Katharine Tynan's

Giannetta: A Girl's story of Herst'f.
Sffi^Bt'"o«nl^Vl\S;t^U^etf.:f«K of the season. "-^ca.e.y.

By EosA MuLHOLLAND (Lady

5s.

A Girl's Loyalty. By Frances ^^^^^^^^^'^^ "■, ^„, p„„,,ed. and the

.■Its whole tone is elevating the ^Ijtho'-ess's ute ary style is gooU^a ^^p gj ,

.to/y1tre\nsnottoocom^^^^^^ to t»,e full tf.e «ps and

^o;S ri«ttro^-nt."-P«.«o opinion. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^,,^,

By Frances Abmstbong. 5s,
The story is in-

A Fair Claimant: a story for Girls.

The Clever Miss ^o}^<>f-Ji',±J^:,^:Z.«^^'^'''^'»'''.i

iiK v.«.«- — i„,„f tiiBBPflsoti lull Of vlBorouB action ana BironKi -AnoUn

ehrc?ei!^t?r ^K"irS«rcht*r Xh-i/i adults „>ay read its pa^es w.t. .peHenee
VTofiV—The Teachers' Aid.

Thfi Heiress of Courtleroy. By Anne Beale. 5s.

^aya/'—Gitardian.

Under False Colours

DOUUNKY. is. , otorieg— pure in style nt)

..Sarah Doudney. has no superior as a -'t-.AoWer"pe„1"ua? in^ran,ati/ene,.

A story from Two Girls' Lives. By Saba

A Gi

"It i

obtriisii
healthy
8ucli a I
ment of
enough

Dora

"It is

Three

, "A sii
told plea

A Vei

STR

"Theli
also pine

Violet

"A hoc
a right tc
cliaracteri

Megr's

"From
genuine p

efforts. "—

Marge]

' AnotlK

)own

"This bo
'gn«t marl

totlVi8"book."-C/iri8«tanL«a<'''»--

Brother and Sister

Elizabeth J. Lysaght.

"A pretty story, and well told
nce\\ent."-Atheiu»um.

or, The Trials of the Moore Family.

*" The plot is cleverly constructed, and the moral |

'aris a

Have

' The stoi
Jiiw the n
liesoribe 1
[ire tiian a

III]

EOPLE.

ninent artists.
By Katharine

liss Katharine Tynan's
uently into excellence,
e we have of her is one
er the wise and loving
} in her care for others,
om we might mention,

lilbert). 6s.

isclnatlng stories. The
rahly drawn cliarr.ctera.
1 tenvpted to linger long
-Athenceum.

luLHOLLAND (Lady

, as all good women now-
emely well toUl and full
icademy.

)d and polished, and the
tain that any young girls
, to the full the ups and

The book is one which

;es Armstrong. 5s,

!,he kind. The story is in-

fY 6«.

_^|^^^fI^^NDSON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BOOKS FOR GIRLS.

In crown 8vo, cloth elegant. With ilhnh'nt,-n... t.

y^n(,. im luusti ations by eminent artists.

A Girl of To-day. By Ellinor Davenport 4d^.ms .3. ,j^

^lOM^h fn ;^f *^ •■ ?"'' '^ ^"i" "i"s help to form a ."uod mH™;S ' T l'"/"'^' "' "'« develop,
enough to appreciate our classic novels':"- Ay^'ia^fZi iv»L*'^ '" ''''"'" ""^ '■«''"^''''' '« "J^'

Dora: or, A Girl without a Home. By Mrs J? TT P,..^ o . ,

.••"-os,,.thing.inanageofn..sMo.etLlT.1±^^^^^^^^

""TaS^.^^^^- ^ '^-y ^^ ^^-ee and Mi..anee. b;^::

^ ''"Z.'t ^' -' "^'^ -' ''^ '^'^-^ ^-- By A.N. E. Arm-

Violet Vereker's Vanity. By Anme E. Armstrong 3. 6d

a right'tone'of ^oug'u'LKl%eeH„^''''TH'^,r '''""""''•.'- '•' - "HRl.t,' sensible' and with
Characters as those pfesent^l, '^l^'^S .^t^^^^^^^^^^l^^^^j^n^^

3s. Gd.

nroUB action and strong. iti " Another' book for girls we ^fn wV.!^,V"' ^'^ ' •

U may read .ts pages -t|xp.je„ces and trials^f'^^ "^ "^^^^rX ^i^e^ irH^I:^]^^.^:^^^^,^;

,E. 5».

tes how the young 'Helm

m from his intensely selfis

•Is' Lives. By Sabai

stories— pure in style nn
1 equal in dramatic eneii

Moore Family. I
Btructed, and the moral

Meg"s Friend. By Auce corkran.

3s. 6d.

"From Miss Coikran we are siirfl f^ „It .'. "*

MarSffy Merlon's Girlhood. BvAuck co„Kn>»

Another book for £riil« ,u» „., ... -^ ' "^ORKliA^i.

'aris at Bay:

Havens. 5$.

BY HERBERT HAYENS.

Story of the Siege and the Commune.

By Herbert

l.'w the?ed flt™"lv'}t'TT'" the terrible strn^gl

.I'SIi'^^S -^1^^ -£iever side he .m^y^^
Cll]

^ej.i f ,. en the Versaillists nn,! tlie men who
Altogether Paris at nay is of

BLACKIE AND SON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

i'y> 1

BY DR. GORDON STABLES, R.N.

"In al! Dr. Gordon Stables' books for boys we ara sure to find a wholesome tone, plenty of
instruction, and abundance of adventure."— Saiurdaj/ Review.

In crown 8vo, cloth elegant. With illustrations hy eminent artists.

Courage, True Hearts: The story of Three Boys who sailed in

Search of Fortune. By Dr. Gohdon Stables, r.n. 3s. Gd.

"Dr. Stables not only supplies an abundiince of thrilling adventure— on land and sea,
amidst Antarctic ice, and on desert islands— but also nianages'to impart some useful lessons,
not forgetting those of a wholesome moral kind."— Gtodflrow Herald.

For Life and Liberty: A story of the American Civil War of 1861.

By Gordon Stables, r.n. 5s.

"The story is lively and spirited, with abundance of blockade-running, hard fighting,
narrow escapes, and introductions to some of the most distinguished generals on both sides."

—Times.

To Greenland and the Pole. By Gordon Stables, R.N. 5».

"His Arctic explorers have the verisimilitude of life. It is one of the books of the season,
and one of the best Dr. Stables has ever written."— 3Vtt</i.

Westward with Columbus. By Gordon Stables, k.n. 6».

'We must place Westward teitk Columbxts among those books that all boys ought to
read. "—Spectator.

'Twixt School and College: A Tale of Self-reliance. By Gordon

Stables, b.n. fis.

" One of the best of a prolific writer's books for boys, and inculcates in a way which recalls
Miss EdgeworMi's ' Frank ', the virtue of self-reliance, though the local colouring of the home
of the Aberdeenshire boy is a good deal more picturesque."— ^tAe>uB«n».

The Naval Cadei. By Gordon Stables, b.n. 3.'. 6d.

"A really interesting travellers' tale, with plenty of fun and incident in it."— Spectator.
"Love and war and 'gnn-room fun' comb'ne to make the history of The Naval Cadet \
a very readable book."— Literature.

BY HUGH ST. LEGER.

An Ocean Outlaw: a story of Adventure in the good ship Margaret.

By Hugh St. Lisgeb. 4s.

"We know no modern boys' book in which there is more sound, hearty, good-humonrertl
fun, or of which the tone is more wholesome and bracing than Mr. St. Leger's."— A'^a<ion«/|
Observer.

By Hugh St.

Hallowe'en Ahoy I or, Lost on the Crozet Islands.

Leger. 4s.

" One of the best stories of seafaring life and adventure which have appeared this season. I
No boy who begins it but will wish to join the Britannia long before he finishes thesel
delightful meea/'—Aeademu. '

Sou'wester and Sword. By Huoh St. Legeb. 4s.

" As racy a tale of life at sea and war adventure as we have met with for some time,
.jUtogether the sort of book that boys will revel in-"—Athenceum,

PEOPLE.

lesome tone, plenty of
lieview.

minent artists.

toys who sailed in

6rf.

;ure— on land and sea,
irt Bome useful lessons,

Civil War of 1861.

running, hard fighting,
generals on both sides."
—Times.

ILES, R.N. 5s.

the boolcs of the season,

,ES, R.N. 5«.

that all boys ought to

mce. By Gordon

a in a way which recalls
.1 colouring of the home
[im.

6(f.

it in it."— Spectator.

ry of The Naval Cadet \

ood ship Margaret.

hearty, good-humoured I

St. LegeT'a."—Xationnll

8. By Hugh St.

e appeared tliis season. I
lefore he finishes these!

4*.

ii for some time.

^^^^^!l^!!Z^^^^jOOKS^n VOUNO PEOPLE.

"Mr. teightonhasaplacf „.! ?"^ LEIGHTON.

'the^eryfro^tra^

/« crown 8vo, doth elegant W>U w ~7~ ■

The Golden Galleon- a ,'f ''"'"'''" '-^ -«'-'«<..

0-t.eG.Ho.:. .„.,,„. .:;:~^^^^

*"e liiirsty Sword- a o*

••Ml'i«?-,, ""' '^""- '■-«-? t "" '"'^ '"'^'"^ »' Scotland

..^By E„«» P,„, Jf I Sto,., of the 0,-e„. S.n,gg,e „, u Vendfe

In PpeSS-GanC- DaV9 P r, '««« 'he.rfasc,„a-

."It i« of Marryat we hZ ^ ^^^^ Pickkring. 3* ftrf

An Olu-Time Yarn bv Fn t>

BLACKIE AND SON'S BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BY E. S. BROOKS.

In crown 8vo, cloth elegant. With illustrations hy eminent artists.

Storied Holidays: a Cycle of Eed-letter Days. By E. S. Brooks.

' ■, With 12 Illustrations. 3s. M.

" It is a downright good book for a senior boy, and is eminently readable from first to last."

—Schoolmaster.

ChiVRlriC Days; stories of Courtesy and Courage in the Olden Times.

By E. S. Brooks. With 20 Illustrations. 3s. 6(/.

"We have seldom come across a prettier collection of tales. These charming stories of
boys and girls of olden days are no mere fictitious or imaginary sketches, but are real and actual
records of their sayings and doings."— Lifera/i/ World.

Historic Boys; Their Endeavoni-s, their Achievements, and their

Times. By E. S. Buooks. With 12 Illustrations. 3s. 6f/.

"A wholesome book, manly in tone; altogether one that should incite boys to further
acquaintance with those rulers of men whose careers are narrated. We advise teachers to
put it on their list of prizes. "—Knowledge.

A Story of the Days of Lord Nelson. By

With the Sea King's;

F. H. Winder, is.

" Just the book to put into a boy's hands. Every chapter contains boardings, cuttings out,
fighting pirates, escapes of thrilling audacity, and captures by corsairs, sufficient to turn the
quietest boy's head. The story culminates in a vigorous account of the battle of Trafalgar.
Happy boys ! "—Academy.

By C. J. CuT-

The Captured Cruiser : or, Two Years from Land.

CLIli•FE-HY^'K. 3s. 6d.

" The two lads and the two skippers are admirably drawn. Mr. Hyne has now secured
a position in the first rank of writers of fiction for hoys."— Spectator.

A Story of Adventure in Ehodesia. By

Figrhting" the Matabele;

J. Chalmers. 3s. M.

"Sir. Chalmers' spirited and extremely interesting narrative of personal adventures de-
scribes, in a style suggestive of romance, episodes in tlie Matabele rising in which he took
an active part. The adventures are of the most exciting character, and remarkable escapes
from death under the most terrible circumstances are described. The book Is one of decided
tuBTit."— Scotsman.

Afloat at Last: a Sailor Boy's Log of his Life at Sea. By John

C. HUTCHESON. 3s. 6(1.

"As healthy and breezy a book as one could wish to put into the hands of a boy."

— Academy.

Dp. Jolliffe'S Boys; a Tale of Weston School. By Lkwis Hough.

; 3.1. 6rf.

'. "Yyiung people who appreciate Tom BrGivn's Schnnl-daii.i will find this story a worthy con-
panion to that fascinating book. There is the same manliness of tone and healthy morality
as characterized the masterpiece of Mr. U»g\\iis."—NcwcaKtle Journal,

(.Grettir the Outlaw; A story of Iceland. By S. Baring-Gould. .4s.

•• "Is the boys' bonk of its year. That is as much as to say that it will do for men grown aS

■ well as juniora. It is told in simple, straightforward Knulish, ,nnd has a freshness, a freedorn,

a sense of sun and wind and the open air, which make it irresistible."— iVattowat Obaerver. ^

The

le Olden Times.

nts, and tlieir

d Nelson. By

Khodesia, By

Sea. By John

INO-GOULD, 4s.

J!!:^^^l^^!i^^^:^JOO^O^ VOUNO P.OP.K

BY G. NORWAY.

I^' '^own Svo, doth eleqant With w . ■

A Prisoner of War- a ". '' '' '"'"''' -''^^-

■ % a. Nouw.v. To/ ''"-^ "' ^'- '^'"- of Nap.,,,,,. ,,,,^^j,_.^^,^^

it IS a fine yarn."-y«„.,/,w„;^ "*'' ''y "^fl't'-'g, Ac, ucre never

A True Cornish Maid.

% G. Norway. 3,. «,/.

• I iiue tonitnh Maid
* * f ii _

For other Books by G. N.niWAV .see p. 23.

Gold, Gold, in Cariboo- a <?.„ . aj ~c«« «,„„„,

"A story of adventure ?nV^*.'''* '"'*■ '"""' "'^ "'t^^***

The U • ^^ ''• '^^ POUCHtT. M.D.

Natural Science. By P. A. PoI!;,r „ i''';^ J"- ''^^'' ""'' ^^'^^-"^^ by
of which .5.5 are fMll , . "^^«ET, m.d. \oth 272 En.rravjV,,„ .,,, ,^.„. f

lite,Vf/°'"=''«''« ^vonderf,,! work on to! .r ^ ' ^'^ ^''•' "^°''°cco antique 16.

of the kind for a schoolroom hbrary..._e„„,„,„,.

BLACKIE'S THREE-SHILLING SERIES.

In croion 8vo. Beautifidbj illustrated and handsomely hound.

The Pilots of Pomona: a story of the Orkney Islands. By Robert

Lkkihton. 'is.
" A liriL'ht breezy story, which shows how iiianlhiess ami couracre can overcome all dangere
and ilifflciilties. It deserves a place among the best of new gift-books foij^yomif; folk. Mi.
Leigliton has a particularly attractive way of telling Ills tale. —Pall Mall hazettc.

Highways and Iligrh Seas. By F. Frankfort Moore. 3s.

'"Jhia is one of the l)e3t stoHes Mr. Moore has written. perliaps the very best. Tlie exciting
adventures are sure to attract boys."—Spectatoi:

Under Hatches: or, Ned Woodthorpe's Adventures. By F. Frank-
fort MOORK. 3s.
" The story as a story is one that will just suit boys all the world over. The characters are
well drawn and comiiteiit."— Schoolmaster.

MenhaPdOC: a story of Cornish Nets and Mines. By G. Manville

Fenn. 3s.
"The Cornislj fisliermen are drawn from life, and stand out from the pages in their jerseys
and sea-boots all sprinkled with silvery pilchard scales."-Si)ecra(o>-.

YuSSUf the Guide: or, The Mountain Bandits. By G. Manville

Fenn. 3s.
"Told with such real freshness and vigour that the reader feels he is actually one of the
party, sharing in the fun and fixing the dangers."— /»«« Mall Gazette.

Patience Wins: or, War in the Works. By G. Manville Fenn. 3s.
" Mr Fenn has never hit upon a happier plan than in writing this story of Yorkshire
factory life. The whole book is all aglow with lite."— Pall Mall Gazette.

Mother Carey's Chicken. By g. Manville Fknn 3s.

" The incidents are of thrilling interest, while the characters are drawn with a care and
completeness rarely found in a boys' book."~i»<era»'i/ World,

Gulliver's Travels. With lOO illustrations by Gordon Browne. 3s.
" Mr Gordon Browne is, to my thinking, incomparably the most artistic, spirited, and
brill'ian't of our illustrators of books for boys, and one of the most humorous also, as his
illustrations of 'Gulliver' amply testify."— 2'nU/t.

Robinson Crusoe. With lOO illustrations by Gordon Browne. 3s.

"One of the best issues, if not absolutely the best, of Defoe's work which has ever
appeaveil."—Standard.

Perseverance Island : or. The Eobinson Crusoe of the 19th Century.
Bv Douf.i.AS FuAZAR. With 6 page Ilhistrations. 3s.

The Wigwam and the War-path: stories of the Eed Indians.
By AscoTT R. Hope. 3s.
"Is notably good. It gives a very vivid picture of life among the Indians, wliich will
delight the heart of many a schoolboy."— Spectator. I

rawii with a care and

ION Browne. 3s.

the 19th Century.

THREE^^LUNG SERIES-Oon.inued.

In crown 8vo. Bmutlf.ilh, ,7/ .

TheLossofa„h„„„;^trr""""''"'"

% G. NoHWAV. 3. .^ ^ ^^'""^ ^^«'' t" i^ ""^1 What Uaiue

Hussein the Hos-
tage. ByG.Nou-

VVAY. 3s.

the book'irranly'tc'Li^od'

^elhng circus is excellent"

— Academy,

Cousin Geoffrey and

*■ By Caroline
Austin. 3s.

" Miss Austin's story is bright
clever, and well .leveloped " '
-Saturday Review.

Girl Neighbours: or,

The Old Fashion and
the New. By Sarah
Tytlkr. 3s.

«n',i^"®- ?/ y^® "1"^' effective r,^., "^'^ a«''>° nianaRed to gnt me by the throat^
?^^''?, * !"e ly.huniorous of Miss "''''"«<'/'•»'" " FIGHTIXg thk mUtabki e- ,«
^f' « «'--• " i« very healthy, very a.reeahle. and very .el, writte " L 77'''''

The Missinf Merchantman p w ^.

'' VrR?cfrcto.^ ^f ^^ ^'^ ^^- ^'^^« and Lagoons of C.b..

..elS :^v^?^l^t^i«l^K a-iSMa^^^'" Vi^. ^f- n is fun Of won.
Tho r « <^«»'" apt nd. —Practice" 'ew: er

^oSZo^'T' ^ ^*^^^ ^^ *'^« «^- «^-lro„. By Hark.
-;^^a ^d?sife°.^L5K,f^:-n written than the Con.o M.ers. It Is as original a.

of It.

BLACKIE AND SON's BouKS FOR VOUNG PEOI'LE.

BOOKS WITH MANY PICTURES.

The Reigrn of the Princess Naska

Stiiu,in«, m.a. Witli over r.() Illu:strati.,ii.s

iinit:Ui(.n of suim- Kno.l hook which li' a nm!.! , f W, ' '^ "''«"'■''. t;">. ami not a imTe
littlu boMU."_^i^A(.,7,«.,n/i. I'ltcudea it. \\e can thoroughly lecoiumciui this

hy Amelia Hutchison

Thinp Will take a Turn. By Bkatuick Hauraden.

Illustrations by John H. Uacon.

With 44

" Perhaiw the most hrilliant is Tliiwis Will Take a Turn
of coiufdy aii.I tragcly, with an ex.'dk'ia i-lot.'- JVmJ

It is a deliglitfiil blending
By Mauy

The Whispering- Winds, a.ul the Tales tl.at they Told
H. iJioBENHAM. Witli 25 Illustrations by Pail HAiUiV.

Laugh and Learn: The Easiest Book of Nursery Lessons and
^^^ Nursery Games. By Jennett Humphhevs. Profusely IlluLted.

piet:i^^^ii^.sr^it;^^:^itLS!;ea[ia

BLACKIE'S HALF-CROWN SERIES.

' .- Li d'oivii 8vo. Beautifully illustrated and handsomely bound.
The Lady ISObel: a story for Girls. By Eliza F Pollahd

seffi,rS,!;^ "^ZS^i^^^^^Z:^^^^, -^l lovah,e heroines of the
the mam ng she starts alone to minister o Mr LLfswrBaifiP^ ^vith interest from

bdoth to her ].appy marri.nge to Hr. Lindsay's sonf;&Ko'ub[e^ary■r^^^^

^Dreadful Mistake. By Geraldine Mockler

t.ip.^^L^y^j;;^':!,:iK'ti;Ktr:^"'^l^ ^t^-cHbes

and is full of incidents connected ^"ilhllsu'l\^j:'i}lZil]Z^^^ Devonshire coast

The Bonded Three. By Bessie Marchant.

nmlt^^ite^lf^ ^s'lilS'^JiiS'^^l^;:^^;;!"''^^ "^ "'^ '«""""- - f"» "^ interest

A Daughter of Erin. By Violet G. Finny

sn;;Sne,r^f{i:ren;:'''"t ii .a^1ook";v"e*can*''thor!f;TV^ '™"" ""^', '"^^ """^'^'"»' "'t'^''^^'
to all who like a well-writteVhealilnerstS' ''^K^^^^^^^ °'"^ *" «"'^' "^""^

Nell's School-days. ByH. fgethen

le;:^,^!;???^Sf;;SUi^i;:.?„°L';Cl!^,&-''» ''-"'-tes .n an unostentatious Way

The Luck of the Eardleys. By Sheila e. Braine.

ln.nPm.rm,d pater^^^^^^^^^^ 'ZA^^^^, ""-• ,1''>e authoress eomblnes wit,

-II her men. w'imen. boy^ aufiws'grw w?th^^^

JLiA Hutchison

i, i8 full of interest

no8tentat!ous way

in.A(;KIE AM) son's Hnnu-^ ., ^
____2^^^^_»^^0^^<^^ PEOPLE.

HALF-CROWN SERipc ^

otKIES Continued.

fn crown Svn. Di;nn:f„ii -n

A GWs Kingdom. .,,,,.,„.,., s '

The Search for the Talisman ' " ''"'"""""-

Talisman . a «.„„. .,, ,,,,„,,.,,„. „^. „^^^^

% Friend Kathleen.

■By Jknmk Chappkll.

Under the Black
Eag-le. By Ax-

^ IJHEW HiLU.AKU.

A Golden Ag-e. By

f«i'Av Thohn.
"O.ijtht to liave u place ,.f
"""o"" on the masery IhJil"^
—^thcHounn,

Hal Hung-erford. By

J. R. Hltchi.\.so.\, b a

IS a uistiiict literary success."
~ Spectator.

the Secret of the
Old House. By

E. Evkre'it-Gkkkn.

Picked up at Ssa: „,. ti,. <•„„ ^;"""°" """-"-■ — ...
Marooned on Australia v, ir , '

■■A r.i„„k„,Tv f,„„„,,„,, " J'.Vl'.BNKT FavB.Vc.

The Secret of the Australian Desert « .

Br.ACKIK AND SON's BOOKS FOK YOUNG PKOPLK.

HALF-CROWN SERIES-Continued.

In crowik 8vo. Bcautifulljj illustrated and hamhomdj bound.

Reefer and Rifleman: a Tub of the T-.vo Seivict... hy Lieut-coi

Pehcy-Gboves.
A Musical Genius. By. the Author of the " Two Dorothys "

For the Salce of a Friend: A story of School Life. By Mah-

"An excellent scliool-glils' story."— ^We/iawm.

White Lilac: or. The Queeivof the May. By Amy Walton.

" Kvery rural parish ought to add White Lilac to its library.' -.4c«(/<?h../.

Little Lady Clare. By Evelyn Everett-Gheen.

" Reminds us in its quaintnusg of Mrs. Ewlng's delightful tales."- Literary World.

The Eversley Secrets. By Evelyn EvERETi-cinEEN.

" Roy Eversley is a very touching picture of high l)rincii)le."-&m(.-,/ia«.

Miriam's Ambition. By Evelyn Evei{ett-Grekn.

" Miss Green's children are real British boys and girls."-Z,.-t)eri)ooi Mercury.

The Brigr ♦• Audacious ". By alan Cole.

' Fresh and wholesome as a breath of sea air. "-Cour; Journal.

Jasper's Conquest. By Elizabeth J. Lysaght.

" a decidedly interesting and instructive 8tor.v . "-Academy.

The Hermit Hunter of the Wilds. By g. Stab: ks. ,. >.
Sturdy and Strong. By g. a. Hentt.

" A 1 who stands as a good instance of chivalry in domestic li{e."-Empire.

Gutt3-I' . ->; ,, Willie. By George Mac Donald.

" Get ii I. T . , • bov- -,u| girls to read for themselves. "-Prac<t'cai Teacher.
The Wfii o. the Axe: c , Adventures in South Africa. By J. Percy-

GRoViiS.

"The story is well and brilliantly told."-Li<crar2/ ITorJd.

Ten Boys. By Jane Andrews. With 20 Illustrations.
" The idea i.n ». very happy one, and admirably carried out."-Practical Teacher.

A Waif of the Sea: or, The Lost Found. By Kate Wood.
" Written with tenderness and grace."— i/ornint/ AdvertUer.

Life. By Mau-

HALF-CROWN SER,E8-Oo„,i„„,a.

Miss Willowburn's Offer '*'"■""""

Hammond's Hard! ^ T XT '"" """'"•" *"'""■
Dulcie Kins: AS.O,, ''^^ ■^-™» K--»o.

for Girls. By M.
('Okbet-8kvmoi;r.

Nicola: Tl.e Career of
11 Oil! Musician. By
M. Corukt-Sevmolk.

Hugfh Herbert's In-
heritance. By

Caroline Austin.

Jack 0' Lan thorn:

A Tale of Adventure.
By Hksux Fhvvh.

A Rough Road: or,

How the B..y Made a
Man of Himself. By
Mrs. G. L. Banks.

The Two Dorothys.

By Mrs. Hehbkrt
Martin.

My Mistress the
Queen. ByM.A.

Paull.

A Cruise in Cloud-
land. By Henry
Frith.

A Garland for Girls t^v t

ft„ ., . P"l"«n'. tender, and true."-^ www

Brothers in AririQ i? r. t>

''Suretop«,veLrSf: % F. Bavpord Harrison.

.ntereat„,g to young people „f ,oth ...e.." ^Guardian.

stay thine an«er but for « „„„«„,, Wildlm olsU'lf '
^««e.i/rom-TMK BONDED THREE'. ,Seepa«e24.)

28 BLACKIE AND SON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

HALF-CROWN SERIES— Continued.

-Graphic.

In crown 8vo. Beautijulhj illustrated and handsomely hound.
Stimson's Reef: a Tale of Adventure. By C. J. Cutcliffe-IIyne

Miss Fenwick's Failures. By Esm^ St.-art.

"A gill true to real life, who will put no nonsense into young heads.'
Gytha's Message. By Emma Leslie.
"This is the sort of book that all siils \\\ic"-Joxmml of Education.

A Little Handful. By Hariuet j. Scripis.

"He is a real type of a hoy. "-Schoolmaster.

Marian and Dorothy. By Annie p. Armstrong.
Gladys Anstruther. By Louisa Thompson.

the Storiqs of Wasa and Menzikoff.
Stories of the Sea in Former Days.
Tales of Captivity and Exile.
Famous Discoveries by Sea and Land.
Stirring- Events of History.
Adventures in Field, Flood, and Forest.

BLACKIE'S TWO-SHILLING SERIES.

In crown 8eo, cloth e.vtra. Illustrated.

An Unappreciative Aunt: a story of Brotl.er u.ul sister.
Jane H. SPErnauK.

The Eag-le's Nest. By s. e. Cartwrioht.

Her Friend and Mine. By Florence Coombe.

Chips and Chops, and Other Stories. Bv b. neisu Witi,

16 Illustrations.

Tommy the Adventurous. By s. e. Cartwuight.
Some Other Children. By h. f. Gethen.

That Merry Crew. By Florence Coombe.

Sir Wilfrid's Grandson. By Geialdine Mockler.

Sydney's Chums : a story of East and West London By H F
Gethen. ^

Daddy Samuels' Darling-. By tim Antiior of "Ti,e two Dorothys"

May, Guy, and Jim. By Ellinor Davenport Adams.

A Girl in Spring--time. By Mrs, Mansergh.

Neish. With

Wd. By J. a F,X«- ^'-"8 tl.e A,iv.„t„« „, Hun.ph,.,- Sal-
Wilful Joyce. B, W. L. Ro„P„„

Proud Miss Sydney Kv p

Q«ee„ Of the^Daffodils!' XZZ r""'""

TheGirleen. B, .„„. j^Jl"; ''-■»■

School Days in France, b^ a.v o.„ g,^"

The Bavensworth SclioIarshiD p m

Sir Walter's Ward- at77m , ^ '• "'"■"' '^"»''«-

Bars Ranche A 4! 'irir"^"'"'- '^^'"■■'- '=— •

The Joyous Story of Toto « t

Our Dolly w.r w T . ^ ""'' ^ boards.

Pol ,, '' """^ ^»''* »ml Ways. ByMrs R n „
Fairy Fanov wi. . ■ ,, "Jiara. k. h. Bead.

"ttle Tottie, „„, L oll^frt T ' '"°'°" "°--
Naughty Miss Bunny bv 7, « '"' '*"™'"'-
Adventures of Mrs 'wish n^ro^^-r;"-
An Unexpected Hero. >?, e,,! , "^ °' ''"'""'■>''■

The Bushranger's Se ret r^l "-'"""'"■
The White Squall n t '' """ """" ''"«'"=. "a.

The.oneiyCLd?^t; ,";::r■
Ba?rxr;^«'•-'''•V'■H'tL,.

Brave andVrr'* 1 ?""""'™'- »^- '»«■ ^"o-.
The Light p'™;:: B ;'°""- "^ """-™ «-
Sam Silvan's Sacrifice ""-"" "'" ''°"'"-°-

Insect Ways

By Je.sse Colm.

on Slimmer Days

Susan. BvAmvW...^ "'tl /O illustrations.

By Amy Walton,

A Pair of Clogs. By

Amy Walton.

BLACKIE AND SON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

TWO-SHILLING SERIES-Continued.

In crown 8vo, cloth extra. Illustrated.
The Hawthorns. By Amy Walton.
Dorothy's Dilemma. By Caroline Austin.
Marie's Home. By Caroline Austin.
A Warrior King*. By J. Evelyn.

Aboard the "Atalanta". By Henry Frith.

The Wreck of the "Nancy Bell". By John c. Hutcheson.

The Penang- Pirate^ By John C. Hutcheson.

Teddy: The story of a "Little Pickle". By John C. Hutcheson.

A Rash Promise. By Cecilia Selby Lowndes.

Linda and the Boys. By Cecilia Selby Lowndes.

Swiss stories for Children. From the German of Madam Jo-
HANNA Spyrl By Lucy Whkelock.

The Squire's Grandson. By j. m. Callwell.
Magna Charta Stories. Edited by Arthur Gilman, a.m.

The Wings of Courag-e; and The Cloud-Spinner. Translated
from the French of George Sand, by Mrs. Corkran.

Chirp and Chatter : or, Lessons from Field and Tree. By Alice
Banks. With 54 Illustrations by Gordon Browne.

Four Little Mischiefs. By Rosa Mulholland (Lady Gilbert).

Mrs. PITMAN'S POPULAR STORIES.

Florence Godfrey's Faith : a story of Australian Life. By Mrs.

E. R. Pitman. Illustrated by Paul Hardy. 2s.

"The story is full of adventure and heroic struggles, and ought to stimulate courage and
Christian activity."— Christian Commonwealth.

Life's Daily Ministry: a story of Everyday Service for Others.
By Mrs. E. R. Pitman. Illustrated by G. Demain Hammond, r.l 2s.
"The story is full of pathos, touching incident, and enchanting interest. "—C/irt8«ia>i Ujiion.

My Governess Life: or, Ea-ning my Living. By Mrs. E. R.

Pitman. Illustrated by A. Pearse. 2s.

"A very giapliic story. The book is well worth reading, and the deep religious tone that
pervades it will be a further recnrnmenAation."— Educational Times.

Garnered Sheaves: A Tale for Boys. By Mrs. E. E. Pitman.

Illustrated by Paul Hardy. 2s.

" Nothing could be better told than its incidents and adventure, and its sound moral
teaching is beyond all praise."— C/imtian Globe.

OPLR.

Hdtcheson.
[utcheson.

of Madam Jo-
in, A.M.
ER. Translated

REE. By Alice
fidy Gilbert).

lES.

Life. By Mrs.
niulate courage and
'ice for Otliers.

Nn, R.I. 28.

"— Christian Union.

3y Mrs. E. E.

religious tone that
E. E. Pitman.
ad its sound moral

LIBRARY OF FAMOUS BOOKS

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

In cro^n 8vo, cloth e.tra. Price Is. eack. Illustrated.

Alcotfs Little Women.

Anson's Voyage Round the World

Austen's Northanger Abbey.

Autobiographies of Boyhood.

Basket of Flowers.

Byron's Wreclt of the " Wager "

Coolidge's What Katy Did.

Coolidge-s What Katy Did at School

Cooper's Deerslayep.

Cooper's Pathfinder.

Cummins' Lamplighter.

Damplers Life and Voyages.

Danas Two Years Before the Itfast.

Edgeworth's Good Governess

Edgeworth's Moral Tales

Edward's (M. B.) Life of a Galley-siave.

Franklin's (Bei^Jamin) Autobiography.

Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield
Gore's (Mrs.) The Snowstorm
Halls Log-book of a Midshipman.
Lamb's Tales from Shakspeare

Lives of Drake and Cavendish
Macaulay's Essays on English History
Marryat's Children of the New Forest
Marryat's Masterman Ready
Marryat's Poor Jack.
Marryat's Settlers in Canada.
Martlneau's Feats on the Fiord
Mitford's Our Village.
Parry's Third Voyage.
Plutarch's Lives of Greek Heroes
Poe's Tales of Romance and Fantasy.
Reid s (Mayne) Rifle Rangers.
Scott's (M.) Cruise of the Midge

Scott's (M) Tom Cringle's Log "

Scott's Downfall of Napoleon. *

Scott's Talisman.

Sinclair's Holiday House.

SoufKey's Life of Nelson.

Spectator, The. Selections from

Waterton's Wanderings.

White's Natural History of Selborne

BLACKIE'S EIGHTEENPENNY SERIES,

Tn crown Svo, cloth extra.
Admiralty House. By Edith Kino Hall

^%hIII^I "*' K'tt'e-boy. By JENNIE

By Claricb

""marc"'*^ ^*"'°«' Days

'''VWTlaII^^ "^"^^ House. By
Holidays at Sandy Bay. By e. s. buch-
Best of Intentions. ByGERALWNE Mock-
An Africander Trio. By jank H. Spetti-

A Chum Worth Havfp^ r,. i-iorpv^.
CooMbi;. °' ' *loresce

Penelope and the Others. By Amv Wal-
The •• Saucy May ". By Hknry Frim.

With Illustrations.
''^GK,«'^(^om„Next Door.

The Ball of Fortune. Byc.PEARSE
The Family Failing. By D. Dale
Warner's Chase. By annie s. swan.

into the Haven. ByANNiE s. Swan
Down and Up Again. By Oreoson Gow.

"^1^?;f^«"'^t*'^«- ^y ANNIE E. ARM.

'''Vm^°"S«^.R^.rot J-.l-P''^ °' Little
The Happy Lad. By B. Bjornson.

Olive and Robin. By Mrs. Martin.

BLACKIE AND SON's BOOKS FOR YOUNG PKOPLE.

EIGHTEENPENNY SERIES-Continued.

In crown 8vo, cloth elegant. With Illustrations.
Mona's Trust. By p. Leslie. , !„ „ <:»»<>„ „<.»'„ n ^ \.

Little Jimmy: A story of Adventure. By '" ^C^S.^"'" ' <'^'''»^"- By Constance
Rev. D. KICE-JOISES, M.A. T«„, p. . , „ ,

Pleasures and Pranks. By Isabella ! Toni^,^ineh s Monkey. By j. c. Hitche-

PKAK^ON. j

Miss Grantley's Girls. By Thos. archer. I KowslfLL.*^"*^ '^'^ °°^- ^y Mary c.

Littiebourne Lock. By F. Bayford
Hakiuson.

Wild Meg and Wee Dickie. By irARY

ii. Ropes.

Grannie. By Elizabeth J. Lysaght.

The Seed She Sowed. By Emma

Leslie.

Unlucky: A Fni^'ment of a Girl's Life

By CAROLINE Austin.
Everybody's Business. By Ismay

JllOliN.

Tales of Daring and Danger. By

<-'. A. HENTV.

The Seven Golden Keys. By James

E. Aii.NoLli.

The Story of a Queen, By Mary c.

RowsKi.i,.

Edwy : or, Was he a CoVvard? By Ann-
ette I.YSTER.

The Battlefleld Treasure. By F

BAYFORD Harrison.

Joan's Adventures at the North

Pole. By Alice corkran.
Filled with Gold. By J. Perrett.
Our General. By E. .r. Lysaght.

Aunt Hesba'9 Charge. By Eliza-

liETii J. Lysaght.

By Order of Queen Maude. By Louisa
('row.

The Late Miss Hollingford. By Rosa

AIui.HOLLANl) (Lady Gilbert).
Our Frank. By Amy Walton.
A Terrible Coward. By O. Manville

I'ENN.

Yarns on the Beach. By 0. A.

IlENTY.

A Soldier's Son. By Annette Lyster.

Town Mica in the Country. By M. E.

Francis.

Prim's Story, By L. E. Tiddeman.

"Vivian finds that lie has been 'sent to Coventry'."
Jtedwe(lfrim"A CHUM WORTH HAVING".

Mischief and Merry-making. By Ihk-
BELLA Pearson.

Phil, and his Father, By Ismay Thorn.

.%*Aho a axnje selection of Rewards at Is., 9(1. Gd., .Id.. 3d., and id.-
A complete list will be sent post free on application.

LONDON

BLACKIE & SON, Limited, 50 OLD BAILEY, E,C.

'KOPLE.

ed.

'ona.

'den. By Constance

y. By J. C. HUTCHE-

Dog. By Mary c.
ak. By ¥. Bayfori)
ee Dickie. By i[ARY

ZABETH J. LysAGHT.

Sowed. By Emma
iiieiit o( a Gill's Life.

IL'STIN.

siness. By Ismay
and Danger. By
n Keys. By James
tueen. By Mary c.
a Coward? By Ann-
Treasure. By F.

IISON.

es at the North

K COliKRAN.

By J. Pkurett.
E. J. Lysagiit.
large. By Eliza-

IT.

I Maude. By Louisa

llngford. By Rosa
iady Gilbert).

MY Walton.

d. By G. Manville

each. By o. A.

y Annette Lyster.
Juntry. By M. E.

:. TIKDEMAN.

3d., and Id.-
on.

E.C.