I thought we were as good as dead men then.

I'm sure I for one can't guess how we ever got out alive." "And yet, M.Henri wasn't wounded," said Jean; "well it was wonderful.
After all, General d'Elbee must be right; Providence must give a shake to a rebel's arm, just as he's firing, so as to send his bullet anywhere but where it's meant to go." "Yes," said Bourdin, "and it directs the shot of a royalist right into a rebel's heart." "Well, if that be so," said Lolotte, "I'm sure I for one wouldn't like to fight on the rebel's side.

They must be wonderful brave men to hold out at all, when Providence goes against them in that way." "But they don't hold out, girl," said Jean, "they always run away; how they did run, Bourdin, when M.Henri led us into the town, through the broken wall; well, I believe they all thought at that time, the devil himself was coming for them out of the moat." "Only think, girls, three or four thousand men running away as fast as their feet could carry them, from two hundred fellows, who hadn't a charge of dry powder among them, and who were all themselves dripping wet through; well that was fine." Jacques Chapeau and Annot Stein had not joined any of these parties; they had disappeared soon after mass, and were not heard of for three or four hours afterwards; they took a long ramble by themselves, down by the mill-stream, and far beyond the mill; sitting down, every now and then among the willows, and then getting up and strolling on a bit further; they did not, this day, waste their time in foolish quarrels and fond reconciliations; but discoursed together, sundry serious matters of important business, as becomes people to do, when they think of arranging a partnership concern, from which each intends to get a comfortable means of living for the remainder of his or her life; upon the whole, they had but very few subjects of difference, and by their return to the smith's house at supper-time, they had fully agreed that no further time ought to be lost, in establishing a firm under the name of Jacques and Annot Chapeau and Co.

The Co.

being left to come afterwards or not, as God might please.
After supper was over, Annot had no difficulty in inducing her brothers to leave the house, and thus the coast was left clear for Jacques to ask the father's consent to his intended marriage.