"As you please, then, and I confess I dislike killing a defenseless man.
Adieu, monsieur. But first, I will choose one of these horses."

"Take mine; I know what it can do."

"Oh! that is too generous."

"I have not so much need as you have to go quickly."

Chicot made no more compliments, but got on Ernanton's horse and
disappeared.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

ERNANTON DE CARMAINGES.

Ernanton remained on the field of battle, much embarrassed what to do
with the two men, who would shortly open their eyes. As he deliberated,
he saw a wagon coming along, drawn by two oxen, and driven by a peasant.
Ernanton went to the man and told him that a combat had taken place
between the Huguenots and Catholics, that four had been killed, but that
two were still living. The peasant, although desperately frightened,
aided Ernanton to place first M. de Mayenne and then the soldier in the
wagon. The four bodies remained.

"Monsieur," said the peasant, "were they Catholics or Huguenots?"

"Huguenots," said Ernanton, who had seen the peasant cross himself in
his first terror.

"In that case there will be no harm in my searching them, will there?"

"None," replied Ernanton, who thought it as well that the peasant should
do it, as the first passer-by. The man did not wait to be told twice,
but turned out their pockets. It seemed that he was far from
disappointed, for his face looked smiling when he had finished the
operation, and he drove on his oxen at their quickest pace, in order to
reach his home with his treasure.

It was in the stable of this excellent Catholic, on a bed of straw, that
M. de Mayenne recovered his consciousness. He opened his eyes, and
looked at the men and the things surrounding him with a surprise easy to
imagine. Ernanton immediately dismissed the peasant.

"Who are you, monsieur?" asked Mayenne.

Ernanton smiled.

"Do you not recognize me?" said he.

"Yes, I do now; you are he who came to the assistance of my enemy."

"Yes, but I am he who prevented your enemy from killing you."

"That must be true, since I live; unless, indeed, he thought me dead."

"He went away knowing you to be alive."

"Then he thought my wound mortal."

"I do not know; but had I not opposed him, he would have given you one
which certainly would have been so."

"But then, monsieur, why did you aid him in killing my men?"

"Nothing more simple, monsieur; and I am astonished that a gentleman, as
you seem to be, does