"Oh," said Courte-Joie, "we shall not go on without you. Tell me, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, I say."
"Are you wounded?"
"Oh, for that bone-setter of Montbert!" exclaimed Jean Oullier.
"What's that?" said Courte-Joie, who did not catch his meaning.
"I've either broken or turned my ankle by stepping into a hole; at any rate, I can't take another step."
"Trigaud will take you on one shoulder and me on the other."
"Impossible! you could never reach the hedges."
"But if we leave you behind they'll kill you, my Jean."
"Maybe so," said the Vendéan, "but I'll kill a few of them before I die; and by way of a beginning, look at that fellow."