"
"I shall not leave your side!" she said, resolutely.
"Oh, mademoiselle!" cried Jeannotte, in a great fright.
"You may fall back, if you like," said Julie to her. "I shall not."
All this time we were going forward and the governor's troops were
rapidly nearing the junction. We could now plainly hear the noise they
made, which, because of that made by ourselves, we had not heard sooner.
They were looking at us with curiosity, and were evidently determined to
intercept us.
"Julie, consider! There may be great danger."
"If you are endangered, why should not I be? This is not the night,
Ernanton, on which you should ask me to leave you."
"Then I shall at least remain here," said I. "Go to the head, Blaise. But
if there is a challenge, I shall answer it. Perhaps they will not know us
and we can make them think we are friends."
He rode forward with sparkling eyes, although not before casting one
glance of solicitude at Jeannotte, who did not leave her mistress.
The men eagerly looked to their arms as they rode, and they exchanged
conjectures in low, quick tones, casting many a curious look at the
approaching force. Julie and I kept silence, I wondering what would be
the outcome of this encounter.
Suddenly, when the head of their long, somewhat straggling line had just
reached the junction, and Blaise was but a short distance from it, came
from their leader--La Chatre's equerry, I think--the order to halt, and
then the clear, sharp cry:
"Who goes there?"
Before I could answer, a familiar voice near their leader cried out:
"It is his company,--La Tournoire's,--I swear it! I know the big fellow
at the head.
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