At the same moment, Cathelineau leapt into the trench at the point
nearest to the road by which he had come, and his men followed him
enthusiastically, shouting at the top of their voices "Vive le roi!" "A
bas la republique." Hitherto they had been successful in every effort
they had made. The republican troops had fled from every point which had
been attacked; the Vendeans had, as yet, met no disasters, and they
thought themselves, by the special favour of the Almighty, invincible
when fighting against the enemies of the King.
The camp at Varin was not a regularly fortified position; but it was
surrounded by a deep trench, with steep earth-works thrown up inside it.
These were high enough to afford great protection to those within, and
steep enough to offer a considerable obstacle to any attacking party:
but the earth was still soft, and the foremost among the Vendeans were
not long in finding themselves within the entrenchment; but when there
they met a terribly hot reception.
The feigned attack made by Larochejaquelin had just served to warn the
republicans, and by the time the real attack was made, every man was
under arms.
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