So saying, Jean-Claude descended from his tribune, and earnest voices began at once to whisper in the crowd. Every village deliberated separately; each mayor proposed his man; time passed; Catherine Lefevre burned with anxiety and impatience. At length she could contain herself no longer, and rising upon her seat she made a sign that she wished to speak. "My friends," said she, "time flies; the enemy is advancing. What do we need? A man whom we can trust; a soldier acquainted with war, and knowing how to profit by the strength of mere positions. Well, why not choose Hullin? Can any among you name a better? I propose Hullin!" "Hullin! Hullin!" cried Labarbe, Dives, Jerome, and many others. "Let us have a vote!" Marc-Dives, climbing the pile of logs, shouted in a voice of thunder: "Let those who are opposed to having Jean-Claude Hullin for our leader, raise their hands!" Not a hand rose. "Let those who wish Jean-Claude Hullin to be our chief, raise their hands!" Every hand rose. "Jean-Claude," said the smuggler, "you are the man. Come hither. Look!" Jean-Claude mounted the logs, and seeing that he was elected, said calmly: "You name me your chief. I accept. Let old Materne, Labarbe of Dagsbourg, Jerome of Saint-Quirin, Marc-Dives, Piorette the sawyer, and Catherine Lefevre enter the saw-mill. We will hold a council, and in twenty minutes I will give my orders. In the meantime let every village detail two men to go to Falkenstein with Marc-Dives for powder and ball." Chapter VIII. Those whom Hullin named met in the hut attached to the saw-mill around the immense chimney. A sober sort of merriment seemed to play about the face of more than one. "For twenty years I have heard people talking of these Russians and Austrians and Cossacks," said old Materne, smiling, "and I shall not be sorry to see one at the muzzle of my rifle." "Yes," answered Labarbe; "we shall see enough of them at last, and the little children of to-day will have many a tale to tell of their fathers and their grandsires. And how the old women of fifty years hence will chatter of it at evening around the winter fire!" {179}