bosom to her throat. Then a battalion larger and better disciplined than
the others appeared. The insurgents composing it were nearly all dressed
in blue blouses, with red sashes round their waists. One would have
thought they were arrayed in uniform. A man on horseback, with a sabre
at his side, was in the midst of them. And most of these improvised
soldiers carried guns, probably carbines and old muskets of the National
Guard.

"I don't know those," said Silvere. "The man on horseback must be the
chief I've heard spoken of. He brought with him the contingents from
Faverolles and the neighbouring villages. The whole column ought to be
equipped in the same manner."

He had no time to take breath. "Ah! see, here are the country people!"
he suddenly cried.

Small groups of ten or twenty men at the most were now advancing behind
the men of Faverolles. They all wore the short jacket of the Southern
peasantry, and as they sang they brandished pitchforks and scythes. Some
of them even only carried large navvies' shovels. Every hamlet, however,
had sent its able-bodied men.

Silvere, who recognised the parties by their leaders, enumerated them in
feverish tones. "The contingent from Chavanoz!" said he. "There are
only eight men, but they are strong; Uncle Antoine knows them. Here's
Nazeres! Here's Poujols! They're all here; not one has failed to answer
the summons. Valqueyras! Hold, there's the parson amongst them; I've
heard about him, he's a staunch Republican."

He was becoming intoxicated with the spectacle. Now that each battalion