"They call it a leaping-pole."
"Do you know how to use it?"
"Am I not a Breton peasant? The leaping-pole is our friend. It makes our arms bigger, our legs longer."
"That is to say, it reduces the enemy and shortens the way. An excellent machine."
"Once, with my leaping-pole, I stood my ground against three salt-tax men armed with sabres."
"When was that?"
"Ten years ago."