Six o'clock struck in the village. Stephan listened and counted the strokes.
"Good!" he said, "we have twelve hours of darkness before us."
"Can we do anything to-night?" asked Pichegru, eagerly.
"Please God," replied Stephan, "we will take Woerth."
"Stephan," exclaimed Pichegru, "if you keep your word what shall I give you?"
"Your hand," replied Stephan.
"There it is," replied Pichegru, seizing the other's hand, and shaking it heartily. Then, motioning to him to sit down, he continued: "And now, what must we do?"
Stephan placed his organ in a corner, but still remained standing.
"I shall need ten wagons of straw and ten of hay in less than two hours."