"Of course you are not perfect, yet; but with a quarter of an hour's drill by your commander, every day, at the end of a week you will be able to do it quickly and neatly; and you will certainly find it a great advantage, if you come upon the enemy." A large empty room was allotted to them and, as they sat down on the floor and munched the bread that they had brought with them, they felt quite enthusiastic over their work.

It was a high honour, indeed, to have been praised by Monsieur Cathelineau, and been taught by one of his generals.

They even felt the advantage that the drill had given them, contrasting the quickness with which they had finally formed into line, with their trouble in arranging themselves before Monsieur Cathelineau.

The fact, too, that they were next morning to be furnished with pistols was a great gratification to them and, over and over again, they said to each other: "What will the people at home say, when they hear that Monsieur Cathelineau has praised us, that Monsieur Bonchamp himself has drilled us, and that we are to be provided with pistols ?" In the morning, the pistols and ammunition were served out.

Leigh had, during the previous evening, seen Cathelineau and asked for orders.
"I cannot say exactly the line the Blues are likely to take.