t reasoning, it seems to me."

"He said the West must be fought in the East and the Midi."

"Like England in India."

"Consequently he gave citizen Fouche full powers, and, even if it cost a
million and he had to kill five hundred men, he must have our heads."

"Well, he knows his man when he makes his demand; remains to be seen if
we let him have them."

"So citizen Fouche went home furious, and vowed that before eight days
passed there should not be a single Companion of Jehu left in France."

"The time is short."

"That same day couriers started for Lyons, Macon, Sons-le-Saulnier,
Besancon and Geneva, with orders to the garrison commanders to do
personally all they could for our destruction; but above all to obey
unquestioningly M. Roland de Montrevel, aide-de-camp to the First
Consul, and to put at his disposal as many troops as he thought
needful."

"And I can add," said Morgan, "that M. Roland de Montrevel is already in
the field. He had a conference with the captain of the gendarmerie, in
the prison at Bourg, yesterday."

"Does any one know why?" asked a voice.

"The deuce!" said another, "to engage our cells."

"Do you still mean to protect him?" asked d'Assas.

"More than ever."

"Ah! that's too much!" muttered a voice.

"Why so," retorted Morgan imperiously, "isn't it my right as a
Companion?"

"Certainly," said two other voices.

"Then I use it; both as a Companion and as your leader."

"But suppose in the middle of the fray a stray ball should take him?"
said a voice.

"Then, it is not a right I claim, nor an order that I give, but an
entreaty I make. My friends, promise me, on your honor, that the life of
Roland de Montrevel will be sacred to you."

With unanimous voice, all stretching out their hands, they replied: "We
swear on our honor!"

"Now," resumed Morgan, "let us look at our position under its true
aspect, without deluding ourselves in any way. Once an intelligent
police force starts out to pursue us, and makes actual war against us,
it will be impossible for us to resist. We may trick them like a fox, or
double like a boar, but our resistance will be merely a matter of time,
that's all. At least that is my opinion."

Morgan questioned his companions with his eyes, and their acquiescence
was unanimous, though it was with a smile on their lips that they
recognized their doom. But that was the way in those strange days. Men
went to their death without fear, and they dealt