"Tell me--how were they taken?"

I was leading my horse, and we were walking through the deep grove.

"Eh bien, I am not able to tell," said he, shaking his head
soberly. "You remember that morning--well, I have twenty men there
for two days. They are armed, they surround the Hermitage, they
keep a good watch. The wasp he is very troublesome, but they see
no soldier. They stay, they burn the smudge. By and by I think
there is nothing to fear, and I bring them home, but I leave three
men. The baroness and the two girls and their servants they stay
awhile to pack the trunk. They are coming to the chateau. It is
in the evening; the coach is at the door; the servants have
started. Suddenly--the British! I do not know how many. They
come out of the woods like a lightning, and bang! bang! bang! they
have killed my men. They take the baroness and the Misses de
Lambert, and they drive away with them. The servants they hear the
shots, they return, they come, and they tell us. We follow. We
find the coach; it is in the road, by the north trail. Dieu! they
are all gone! We travel to the river, but--" here he lifted his
shoulders and shook his head dolefully--"we could do nothing."

"The general may let me go after them with a force of cavalry," I
said. "I want you to come with me and talk to him."

"No, no, my capitaine!" said he; "it would not be wise. We must
wait. We do not know where they are. I have friends in Canada;
they are doing their best, and when we hear from them--eh bien, we
shall know what is necessary."