First Consul.
Branche-d'Or--"

"General."

"How many men are stationed along the road from here to La
Roche-Bernard, which the gentleman followed in coming to see me?"

"Six hundred on the Arzal moor, six hundred among the Marzan gorse,
three hundred at Peaule, three hundred at Billiers."

"Total, eighteen hundred. How many between Noyal and Muzillac?"

"Four hundred."

"Two thousand two hundred. How many between here and Vannes?"

"Fifty at Theix, three hundred at the Trinite, six hundred between the
Trinite and Muzillac."

"Three thousand two hundred. And from Ambon to Leguerno?"

"Twelve hundred."

"Four thousand four hundred. And in the village around me, in the
houses, the gardens, the cellars?"

"Five to six hundred, general."

"Thank you, Benedicite."

He made a sign with his head and Benedicite went out.

"You see," said Cadoudal, simply, "about five thousand. Well, with those
five thousand men, all belonging to this country, who know every tree,
every stone, every bush, I can make war against the hundred thousand men
the First Consul threatens to send against me."

Roland smiled.

"You think that is saying too much, don't you?"

"I think you are boasting a little, general; boasting of your men,
rather."

"No; for my auxiliaries are the whole population. None of your generals
can make a move unknown to me; send a despatch without my intercepting
it; find a retreat where I shall not pursue him. The very soil is
royalist and Christian! In default of the inhabitants, it speaks and
tells me: 'The Blues passed here; the slaughterers are hidden there!'
For the rest, you can judge for yourself."

"How?"

"We are going on an expedition about twenty-four miles from here. What
time is it?"

Both young men looked at their watches.

"Quarter to twelve," they said together.

"Good!" said Georges, "our watches agree; that is a good sign. Perhaps
some day our hearts will do the same."

"You were saying, general?"

"I was saying that it was a quarter to twelve, colonel; and that at six
o'clock, before day, we must be twenty miles from here. Do you want to
rest?"

"I!"

"Yes; you can sleep an hour."

"Thanks; it's unnecessary."

"Then we will start whenever you are ready."

"But your men?"

"Oh! my men are ready."

"Where?"

"Everywhere."

"I should like to see them."

"You shall."

"When?"

"Whenever agreeable to you. My men are very discreet, and never show
themselves ti