d'Elbee stood up and said, 'Brethren,' said
he, 'let us ask the assistance of our Saviour:' so down they went on
their knees, and he said an awful long prayer, for all the world like
a priest. And then again before we fired a shot, he bade all the
soldiers kneel down, and down we went, the republicans firing at us all
the time. The soldiers call him Old Providence, for they say he talks
a deal about Providence when he is fighting."
"You may be sure that's what makes Father Jerome so fond of him," said
Jean. "I knew he was a good man."
"And he was a desperate fellow to fight afterwards," continued Chapeau.
"But he walked into the thick of the fighting just as he is now."
"But he had a sword, or a gun, or a spear?" said Jean.
"Neither the one or the other; he was just as he is this minute, giving
orders, and directing some of the men there who knew him well.
Presently, he said to a young gentleman who was near him: 'Lend me that
sword a moment, will you?' and he took it out of his hands, and made a
rush through the gate of Fontenay, and I saw no more of him that day.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190