The inhabitants were greatly surprised at their appearance, and an old man, who was the head of the little community, came out and asked Leigh who they were.
"We are Cathelineau's scouts," he replied.

"We have orders to watch the movements of the enemy.

We wish to be of no trouble.

If there is an empty shed, we should be glad of it; still more so if there is a truss or two of straw." "These you can have," the old man said.

"If Cathelineau's orders had been that we were to turn out of our houses for you, we should have done so, willingly." "A shed will do excellently for us.