"The Blues are in force," he said, "and my scouts report that reinforcements are reaching them."
"So much the better," cried Petit-Pierre; "they will be so many more to tell France how we died."
"You cannot mean that, Madame!"
"I am not Madame here; I am a soldier. Fight on, without regard to me; advance your line of skirmishers and double their fire."
"Yes; but first, to the rear!"
"To the rear! who?"
"You, in God's name!"
"Nonsense! to the front you mean."
Snatching Gaspard's sword, Petit-Pierre put her hat on the point of it as she sprang in the direction of the village crying out:--
"Those who love me, follow me!"