Republicans, who were rapidly reformed under reiterated orders from
Hulot and turned to face the remainder of the Chouans, who were still
before them in the road. The latter retreated slowly, disputing the
ground and wheeling so as to bring themselves under cover of their
comrades' fire. When they reached the broad ditch which bordered the
road, they scaled the high bank on the other side, braving the fire of
the Republicans, which was sufficiently well-directed to fill the
ditch with dead bodies. The Chouans already on the summit answered
with a fire that was no less deadly. At that moment the National Guard
of Fougeres reached the scene of action at a quick step, and its mere
presence put an end to the affair. The Guard and some of the soldiers
crossed the road and began to enter the woods, but the commandant
called to them in his martial voice, "Do you want to be annihilated
over there?"

The victory remained to the Republicans, though not without heavy
loss. All the battered old hats were hung on the points of the
bayonets and the muskets held aloft, while the soldiers shouted with
one voice: "Vive la Republique!" Even the wounded, sitting by the
roadside, shared in the general enthusiasm; and Hulot, pressing
Gerard's hand, exclaimed:--

"Ha, ha! those are what I call /veterans/!"

Merle was directed to bury the dead in a ravine; while another party
of men attended to the removal of the wounded. The carts and horses of
the neighborhood were put into requisition, and the suffering men were
carefully laid on the clothing of the dead. Before the little column
started, the National Guard of Fougeres turned over to Hulot a Chouan,
dangerously wounded, whom they had captured at the foot of the slope