He looked on himself in the light in
which classic readers look on Helen, and felt sure that the whole
struggle had been commenced, and was continued on his account. He was
amazed to find how little deference was paid to him, not only by the
Vendeans in general, but even by his own town's-people.
"I shall never be made to understand this business of Cholet," said he
to his master, "never. There must have been sad want there of a good
head; aye, and of a good heart too, I fear. Well, well, to turn and run!
Vendean soldiers to turn and run before those beggarly blues!"
"You'd have been the first, Peter, to show a clean pair of heels
yourself, if you'd been there," said the landlord.
"Me show a clean pair of heels! I didn't run away at Saumur, nor yet at
Fontenay, nor yet at many another pitched battle I saw. I didn't run
away here at St. Florent, I believe, when a few of us took the barracks
against a full regiment of soldiers."
"You couldn't well run then, for you were tied by the leg in the stable
there.
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