Presently a few lights were seen flickering on the height.
Little by little they increased in number and in size, until four or five camp fires lit up with a ruddy glow the sparse vegetation which grew among the rocks.
"This is very strange if their guide is still with them," said Jean Oullier. "However, as they are certain to go by the Ragot crossways in any case, take your men there, Guérin," he said to the Chouan, who by this time had returned to his side.
"Very good," said the latter.
"If they continue their way, you know what you have to do; if, on the contrary, they have really bivouacked up there, you can let them take their ease beside their fires. It is useless to attack them."
"Why so?" asked Joseph Picaut.
Thus directly questioned as to his own order, Jean Oullier was forced to reply.
"Because," he said, "it is a crime to uselessly expose the lives of brave men."
"Say rather--"
"What?" demanded the old keeper, violently.