“Cathelineau will not shrink from the burden which the Lord has called upon him to bear,” said Father Jerome.

“Providence,” said d’Elbee, “has summoned the good Cathelineau to this high duty; he will not, I am sure, oppose its decrees.”

And thus Cathelineau found himself seated in the Mayor’s chair at the head of the table, whilst the highest noblemen and gentry of the country took their places around it, and from that moment Cathelineau became the General-in-Chief of the Vendeans.

Each leader then gave in the numbers of the men who had come with him, and it was found that the army consisted of above fifteen thousand men.  Lists were then made out of the arms and accoutrements which they possessed, and the men in a rude way were drafted into regiments under the command of the leaders who had brought them.  There was a small body of cavalry equipped in most various manners, and mounted on horses, which resembled anything rather than a regular squadron of troopers:  these were under the immediate command of Henri Larochejaquelin.

“Gentlemen,” said Cathelineau, “we have, you know, three different attacks to make, three positions to carry, before we can be masters of Saumur.”

“Yes,” said Bonchamps, “there in the camp at Varin on the right, and the redoubts of Bournan on the left; the fortifications of the town itself lie between them, and a little to the rear of both.”

“Exactly, M. Bonchamps; the town itself, I take, is the easiest task of the three; but as we are situated it must be the last.”

“I think you will find that Varin is their strongest point,” said de Lescure.

“M. de Lescure is right,” said Cathelineau.  “We shall find them very strong in their camp.  I had with me, yesterday, two men from Saumur; they knew nothing of General Quetineau’s intentions, but they had seen detachments of men constantly going to and fro between Saumur and the camp; they calculate that we shall think that the weaker side.”

“Bournan is right on our way,” said Bonchamps; “but the ground lies so advantageously for them, that they will cut us to pieces if we attempt to push our way up the hill against the heavy artillery they will have there.”

“M.  Bonchamps is quite right there,” said Cathelineau.  “I think we should not attack Bournan, till we can do so from the side of the town.  I think Bournan should not be our first object; but nevertheless, we must be prepared to meet at Varin the great body of the army; we must drive them from thence back into the town.”

“Yes,” said Henri, “and follow them in, as we are driving them.  The sight of their comrades in disorder will itself conquer the men in the citadel; it is always so with the blues.”

“We must remember, Henri,” said de Lescure, “these are not conscripts, nor yet merely the Marsellaise, we have to deal with:  the men who fought at Jemappes and at Valmy are here; the old cuirassiers of the French army.”