scrutinised the sportsmen with a strange air of mingled indignation and
sympathy. From this moment she grew animated, yielding to the feverish
quiver which the insurgents' songs awakened.

The column, which had just begun the "Marseillaise" afresh, was still
marching down as though lashed on by the sharp blasts of the "Mistral."
The men of La Palud were followed by another troop of workmen, among
whom a goodly number of middle class folks in great-coats were to be
seen.

"Those are the men of Saint-Martin-de-Vaulx," Silvere resumed. "That
_bourg_ rose almost at the same time as La Palud. The masters joined the
workmen. There are some rich men there, Miette; men whose wealth would
enable them to live peacefully at home, but who prefer to risk their
lives in defence of liberty. One can but admire them. Weapons are very
scarce, however; they've scarcely got a few fowling-pieces. But do you
see those men yonder, Miette, with red bands round their left elbows?
They are the leaders."

The contingents descended the hill more rapidly than Silvere could
speak. While he was naming the men from Saint-Martin-de-Vaulx, two
battalions had already crossed the ray of light which blanched the
roadway.

"Did you see the insurgents from Alboise and Les Tulettes pass by just
now?" he asked. "I recognised Burgat the blacksmith. They must have
joined the band to-day. How they do run!"

Miette was now leaning forward, in order to see more of the little bands
described to her by the young man. The quiver she felt rose from her