Having delivered his message, he is to return to you, for you must continue to send off messengers until you hear that there is fighting at Saumur.

If the commander of the Blues at Thouars has not moved by that time, you need remain no longer, but return with your party and join the army." After Andre had left, Leigh marched with Pierre and the others to a spot up the river, ten miles above Saumur.
"Can any of you swim ?" he asked.
Three only of the party were able to reply in the affirmative.
"Do you think that you could swim across the Loire ?" All of them expressed great doubt of being able to do so.
"Well, at any rate, I must take you with me," he said.

"To be able to swim a little is a good deal better than not to be able to swim at all, for by making a faggot you will gain such support as will enable you to get across.
"Now, Pierre, you must for the present remain here.

Tomorrow morning you can go into the village, whose church tower you can see over there, and find out whether the people there are for us or for the Blues.

If they are for us you can show them Cathelineau's order, of which you have a copy, and they will certainly provide you with a boat.