"
"That is just it," said Peter. "They mean to retreat down the river, and
you are to remain just where you are."
As might be expected, M. d'Elbee was completely puzzled, and he sent off
three or four men, to endeavour to get fresh orders, either from
Cathelineau or from de Lescure; and while waiting to receive them, he
kept his useless position by the river side.
In the mean time, Cathelineau and de Lescure had hurried off, at the top
of their horses' speed, to endeavour to head the column of madmen who
were rushing towards almost certain destruction. They will, at any rate,
meet Larochejaquelin on his return, and he will stop them. This thought
occurred to both of them, but neither of them spoke; indeed, they were
moving too quickly, and with too much trouble to be able to speak. There
object now was not to stop the men who thronged the roads; they only
wanted to head them before they came to the portion of the road which
passed close by the trenches of the camp at Varin.
They were so far successful, that they found themselves nearly at the
head of the column by the time they came within sight of the great banks
which the royalists had thrown up.
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