In two hours time he will have
enough to do to cover our retreat."
"We shall, at any rate, have the darkness in our favour," said de
Lescure.
"We shall; but we have two dreadful hours of light before that time
comes: here are our horses--let us mount; there is nothing for us now
but a hard ride, a good drubbing--and then, the best face we can put
upon it tomorrow."
Orders were then given to Peter Berrier to make the best of his way
across to M. d'Elbee, and to explain to him what had occurred, and bid
him keep his men in reserve under arms, and as near to the waggons as
he could. "And be sure," said Catheineau, "be sure, Peter, to make him
understand, that he is at once to leave the river and come across to the
road, to keep his men, you know, immediately close to the waggons."
"I understand," said Peter, "I understand," and he at once started off
on his important errand.
"It is a bad messenger, I fear," said Cathelineau; "but we have no
better; indeed we are lucky even to find him."
"I wonder," said Peter Berrier to himself, as he ran across the fields,
"I wonder whether they'll make nothing of this job, too, as they did of
that day at St.
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