Surrendering was still fighting in this fatal war, where on both sides
the prisoners were shot--on the one side, because Chouans and Vendeans
were considered brigands; on the other, because they knew not where to
put the captives.

The Republicans threw their guns away, that they might not be forced to
surrender them. When their captors approached them every cartridge-box
was open; every man had fired his last shot.

Cadoudal walked back to Roland.

During the whole of this desperate struggle the young man had remained
on the mound. With his eyes fixed on the battle, his hair damp with
sweat, his breast heaving, he waited for the result. Then, when he saw
the day was lost, his head fell upon his hands, and he still sat on, his
forehead bowed to the earth.

Cadoudal reached him before he seemed to hear the sound of footsteps. He
touched the young man's shoulder. Roland raised his head slowly without
attempting to hide the two great tears that were rolling down his
cheeks.

"General," said Roland, "do with me what you will. I am your prisoner."

"I can't make the First Consul's ambassador a prisoner," replied
Cadoudal, laughing, "but I can ask him to do me a service."

"Command me, general."

"I need a hospital for the wounded, and a prison for prisoners; will you
take the Republican soldiers, wounded and prisoners, back to Vannes."

"What do you mean, general?" exclaimed Roland.

"I give them, or rather I confide them to you. I regret that your horse
was killed; so is mine. But there is still that of Brise-Bleu; accept
it."

The young man made a motion of rejection.

"Until you can obtain another, of course," added Cadoudal, bowing.

Roland felt that he must put himself, at least in simplicity, on a level
with the man with whom he was dealing.

"Shall I see you again, general?" he asked, rising.

"I doubt it, sir. My operations call me to the coast near Port-Louis;
your duty recalls you to the Luxembourg."

"What shall I tell the First Consul, general?"

"What you have seen, sir. He must judge between the Abbe Bernier's
diplomacy and that of Georges Cadoudal."

"After what I have seen, sir, I doubt if you ever have need of me," said
Roland; "but in any case remember that you have a friend near the First
Consul."

And he held out his hand to Cadoudal. The royalist took it with the same
frankness and freedom he had shown before the battle.

"Farewell, Monsieur de Montrevel," said he, "I need not a