He declined, however, saying that he had found a sphere in which he could be useful, and that he would stick to the work till it was all done, or till his strength failed him.

De Lescure pressed his hand, and begged his blessing, and told him that if there were many such as him in the country, La Vendee might still carry her head high, in spite of all that the Republic could do against her.

This praise made the old man's heart light once again, and he returned to his boat, and passed back to St.
Florent with his comrade and Arthur, ready to recommence his labours.
In the meantime de Lescure and his wife and sister were warmly welcomed on the Breton side of the river, and before night he, for the first time since the battle of Cholet, found himself in comparative security and peace.
When Arthur got back he found that another plan had been started for carrying over the Vendeans, which, if it did not drown them altogether, would be certainly much more expeditious than that of the boats.

It had originated with Chapeau, under whose guidance the operations were about to commence.
He had come down to the water-side with his master, and on seeing the way in which the men were working, had calculated that it would yet take above a week to carry over all who remained, and as it was probable that they would be attacked before twenty-four hours were over, he had observed that they might as well give themselves up for lost if they could devise no other scheme of passing over.
"We will do the best we can," said Henri.

"If we can get over the women, and children, and wounded, the rest of us can fight our way to the bridge of Ancenis." "Why not make a raft ?" said Chapeau.
"Make one if you can," said Henri, "but it will only go down the stream.
Besides, you have neither timber nor iron ready to do it." Chapeau, however, determined to try, and he employed the men from Durbelliere, who knew him, and would work for him, to get together every piece of timber they could collect.