"Yes. Things are going ill there, my poor Jerome. The Kaiserliks attacked the farm-house when we left the plateau. We could see only white coats on every side. They began to cross the abatis—"
"Then you think Hullin will be forced to abandon the road?"
"It is possible, indeed, if Pivrette does not come to his assistance."
The partisans had neared the fire. Marc-Dives bent over the coals to light his pipe; as he rose, he cried:
"Jerome, I ask only one thing of you; I know that they fought well where you commanded—"
"They did their duty," interrupted the shoemaker; "sixty men lie stretched on the side of Grossmann, who will bear witness to it on the judgment-day."
"Yes; but who guided the Germans? They never could find of themselves the pass of Blutfeld."
"It was Yegof—the fool Yegof," replied Jerome, and his gray eyes, surrounded with deep wrinkles and thick white lashes and brows, glittered through the darkness.
"Are you very sure of it?"
"Labarbe's men saw him ascend, leading the others."