“Wholly, or in part?”
“How many did you say were with you?”
“Three hundred.”
“Well, I want to see one hundred and fifty.”
“Halt!” cried Cadoudal.
Putting his hands to his mouth he gave the hoot of the screech-owl, followed by the cry of an owl; but he threw the hoot to the right and the cry to the left.
Almost instantly, on both sides of the road, human forms could be seen in motion, bounding over the ditch which separated the bushes from the road, and then ranging themselves beside the horses.
“Who commands on the right?” asked Cadoudal.
“I, Moustache,” replied a peasant, coming near.
“Who commands on the left?” repeated the general.