The men had brought 'Marie Jeanne' with them; but in the species of
attack which they had made, the cannon was not of the slightest use; it
had not been once discharged. A great effort was now made to take it
back with them, but the attempt was unsuccessful: they had not dragged
it above five hundred yards, when they heard that the republicans were
following them; and then, as every man was obliged to think of himself,
poor 'Marie Jeanne' was left to her fate.
It was soon evident to Cathelineau and de Lescure, that they were
pursued; but the night was dark, and they calculated that M. d'Elbee's
men would be drawn up at the waggons; it was more than probable that
they would then be able, not only to stop the pursuit, but to avenge
themselves on their pursuers. What then was their surprise on reaching
the waggons, to find them utterly deserted--there was not a single man
with them.
This was a great aggravation to the misery of their predicament. They
had no resource but to fly on to Montreuil, which was still above two
leagues distant from them; and should the republican troops persevere
in the pursuit, their loss upon the road would be terrific.
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