“We will! we will!  We will hang up Coustard by the heels.”

“We will strip him rather of his spurs and his epaulettes, of his sword and blue coat, and send him back to the Convention, that they may see what will become of the heroes, whom they send to seek for glory in La Vendee.  Thanks, my friends; thanks for your kindness.  I will lead you to no dangers which I will not share with you.  You shall suffer no hardship of which I will not partake.  I will look for no glory in which you shall not be my partners.”

During the time that the Mayor had been giving his invitation to the people, and Henri had been speaking to them, Father Jerome had been busily employed with Jacques Chapeau over six or seven little lists which he held in his hand.  These were lists of the names of able-bodied men, which had been drawn out by the Cure of the parish, and Jacques had already marked those of one or two whom he had found to be absent, and among them the names of Michael Stems’ two stalwart sons.  Father Jerome again handed the lists to Jacques, and as Henri descended from the wall, amid the greeting of the populace, he ascended it, and gave them a little clerical admonition.

“My children,” said he, “it delights my heart to find that so few of you are absent from us this morning—­from the whole parish there are but five, I believe, who have not readily come forward to proclaim their zeal for their God, their King, and their Church:  those five, I doubt not, will be here when we proceed to check the names.  Let it not be said that there was one recreant in Echanbroignes—­one man afraid to answer when called for by his country.  Is there danger in the bloody battle we have before us?—­let us all share it, and it will be lighter.  Is it a grievous thing for you to leave your wives and your children?—­let no man presume to think that he will be happier than his neighbours, for that man shall assuredly be the most miserable.  It is possible that some of you may leave your bodies beneath the walls of Saumur, be it so; will you complain because the Creator may require from some of you the life which he has given?  Is it not enough for you to know, that he who falls fighting with this blessed symbol before his eyes, shall that night rest among the angels of Heaven?” and the Cure held up on high, above the people, a huge cross, which he bad had brought to him out of the church.  “God has blessed you, my children, in giving you the sacred privilege of fighting in His cause.  You would indeed be weak—­senseless as the brutes—­unfeeling as the rocks—­aye, impious as the republicans, had you not replied to the summons as you have done; but you have shown that you know your duty.  I see, my children, that you are true Vendeans.  I bless you now, and on tomorrow week, I will be among you before the walls of Saumur.”