"Comrades!" said Hullin; "here is your mother; she who gave you powder and food that you might defend your homes; and here is my child. Save them!"
And all answered:
"We will save them or die with them."
"And remember to warn Dives to remain at Falkenstein until further orders."
"We shall not fail."
"Then forward, doctor, forward," cried the brave old man.
"And you, Hullins?" asked Catherine.
"My place is here. Our position must be defended to the death."
"Father Jean-Claude!" cried Louise, stretching her arms toward him.
But he had, already turned the corner; the doctor whipped up his horse; the sledge crunched the snow, and behind it Frantz Materne and his men, their rifles on their shoulders, strode on, while the roll and clatter of the musketry continued. The old mistress of Bois-de-Chênes, remembering her dream, was silent. Louise dried her tears and threw a last long gaze on the plateau, which was lighted up as if by a fire. The horse galloped beneath the blows of the doctor, so that the mountaineers of the escort could scarcely keep up with it; but it was long ere the tumult, the shouts of battle, the clatter and crash of the shots, and the whistling of the balls, cutting through the branches of the trees, and growing more and more indistinct, were heard no more; then all seemed vanished like a dream.