He now separated himself from Cathelineau, and galloped before the trenches to an open space where Larochejaquelin had stationed himself with the cavalry.  Henri had completely surprised the sentinels on duty in the camps; he and about twenty others had dismounted, had shot four or five sentries at their post, and had again retreated to their horses before the republicans were able to return his fire.  But what was his surprise on preparing to remount his horse, to hear the rush of his own men coming along the road, and to see the cloud of dust which enveloped them.  Henri tried to speak to them, and to learn what new plan brought them there; but the foremost men were too much out of breath to speak to him:  however, they shouted and hurraed at seeing him, and slackened their pace a little.  They were then almost within musket shot of the republicans, and the balls from the trenches began to drop very near them.  Henri was still in an agony of suspense, not knowing what to do or to propose, when de Lescure emerged from out of the cloud of dust, and galloped up to him.

“What on earth has brought you here, Charles?” said Henri.  “Why have the men come on in this way?  Every man within the camp will have a musket in his hand in five minutes time.”

“It is too late now to help it,” said de Lescure; “if we both live over this night, I will explain it to you.  Cathelineau is behind there; we must lead the men to the attack; he will be in the trenches immediately.”

“Lead on,” said Henri, jumping off his horse, “or rather I will go first; but stop, the men must have five minutes to get their breath; they are all choked with running.  Come, my men,” said he, turning to the crowds who were clustering round them, “we will disturb the dreams of these republicans; the blues are not fond of fighting by night, but if they are asleep I think we will soon wake them,” and accompanied by his friend, he rushed down into the trenches, and the men followed him by hundreds, covered with dust, choked with thirst, breathless with their long run, and utterly ignorant what they were going to do, or how they were to for an entrance into the camp.

At the same moment, Cathelineau leapt into the trench at the point nearest to the road by which he had come, and his men followed him enthusiastically, shouting at the top of their voices “Vive le roi!” “A bas la republique.”  Hitherto they had been successful in every effort they had made.  The republican troops had fled from every point which had been attacked; the Vendeans had, as yet, met no disasters, and they thought themselves, by the special favour of the Almighty, invincible when fighting against the enemies of the King.

The camp at Varin was not a regularly fortified position; but it was surrounded by a deep trench, with steep earth-works thrown up inside it.  These were high enough to afford great protection to those within, and steep enough to offer a considerable obstacle to any attacking party:  but the earth was still soft, and the foremost among the Vendeans were not long in finding themselves within the entrenchment; but when there they met a terribly hot reception.