These peasants, nearly two thousand in number, were indignant at not
finding their leader awaiting them at the rendezvous.
"Where is he?" they asked. "Who knows but he is afraid at the last
moment? Perhaps he is concealing himself while we are risking our lives
and the bread of our children here."
And already the epithets of mischief-maker and traitor were flying from
lip to lip, and increasing the anger in every breast.
Some were of the opinion that the crowd should disperse; others wished
to march against Montaignac without Lacheneur, and that, immediately.
But these deliberations were interrupted by the furious gallop of a
horse.
A carriage appeared, and stopped in the centre of the open space.
Two men alighted; Baron d'Escorval and Abbe Midon.
They were in advance of Lacheneur. They thought they had arrived in
time.
Alas! here, as on the Reche, all their efforts, all their entreaties,
and all their threats were futile.
They had come in the hope of arresting the movement; they only
precipitated it.
"We have gone too far to draw back," exclaimed one of the neighboring
farmers, who was the recognized leader in Lacheneur's absence.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268