"'What means this?' he demanded, his voice trembling with rage.
"'It is easy to understand,' coolly replied M. de Vaudrey.
"'Why have you upset our pump?'
"'To prevent your pumping.'
"'And why do you prevent our pumping?'
"'Because those who lighted the fire shall not put it out. It pleased you to see yonder wooden columns burn, it pleases me to see the poplar blaze.'
"'Raise the pump,' said the captain to his men, with an imperious air. 'We will see who dares upset it again.'
"'And we will see who dares raise it, when I forbid!' retorted the baron, calmly folding his muscular arms across his vast chest.
"A murmur was heard; but nobody stirred.
"'Cowards!' cried Toussaint Gilles, with a furious glance at his friends; 'are you all afraid of one man?'