"Do you mean the children?"
"Yes."
"They are our hostages. Send them on to the Tourgue."
So saying, the Marquis started for the barricade, and directly after his arrival things took on another aspect. The barricade was not well constructed for artillery; there was room for but two cannon; the Marquis placed in position the two sixteen-pounders for which embrasures were made. As he was leaning on one of the cannon, watching the enemy's battery through the embrasure, he caught sight of Gauvain.
"It is he!" he cried.
Then, taking the swab and the ramrod, he loaded the piece, adjusted the sight, and took aim.
Three times he aimed at Gauvain and missed him, but the third shot knocked off his hat.
"Bungler!" murmured Lantenac. "A little lower, and I should have had his head."
Suddenly the torch went out, and he had only darkness before him.
"Well, let it go," he said.