The dancers who tired withdrew without interrupting the dance, and when they had rested, they re-entered it.

During the whole time we watched this peculiar performance, the crowd stopped only once, while the musicians drank some cider; then, when they had finished, the lines formed anew and the dance began again.

At the entrance of the yard was a table covered with nuts; beside it stood a pitcher of brandy and on the ground was a keg of cider; near by stood a citizen in a green frock coat and a leather cap; a little farther away was a man wearing a jacket and a sword suspended from a white shoulder-belt; they were the _commissaire de police_, of Pont-l'Abbe and his _garde-champetre_.

Suddenly, M.le commissaire pulled out his watch and motioned to the _garde_.

The latter drew several peasants aside, spoke to them in a low tone, and presently the assembly broke up.
All four of us returned to the city together, which afforded us the opportunity of again admiring mother of the harmonious combinations of Providence which had created this _commissaire de police_ for this _garde-champetre_ and this _garde-champetre_ for his _commissaire de police_.