"To defend ourselves!" cried the old woman, whose white cheeks trembled: "if we shall have courage to defend ourselves! Surely it is not to me that you speak, Hullin. What! are we not worthy of our ancestors? Did they not defend themselves? Were they not exterminated--men, women, and children?" "Then you are for the defence, Catherine?" "Yes, yes; so long as there remains to me a bit of skin on my bones. Let them come! The oldest of the women is ready!" Her masses of gray hair shook on her head, her pale rigid cheeks quivered, and her eyes sent forth lightnings. She was beautiful to see--beautiful, like that old Margareth of whom Yégof had spoken. Hullin held out his hand silently, and gave an enthusiastic smile. "Excellent," said he--"excellent! We are always the same in this family. I know you, Catherine: you are ready now; but be calm and listen to me. We are going to fight, and in what way?" "In every way; all are good--axes, scythes, pitchforks." "No doubt; but the best are muskets and the balls. We have muskets: every mountaineer keeps his above his door; unfortunately powder and balls are scarce." The old dame became quieter all of a sudden; she pushed her hair back under her cap, and looked anxiously about. "Yes," she rejoined brusquely; "the powder and balls are wanting, it is true, but we shall have some. Marc Divès, the smuggler, has some. You shall go and see him to-morrow from me. You shall tell him that Catherine Lefèvre will buy all his powder and balls; that she will pay him; that she will sell her cattle, her farm, land, everything--everything--to have some. Do you understand, Hullin?" "I understand. What you would do, Catherine, is noble." "Bah! it is noble--it is noble!" replied the old dame. "It is quite simple; I wish to revenge myself. These Austrians--these red men who have already exterminated us--well! I hate them, I detest them, from father to son. There! you will buy powder, and these mad ruffians shall see if we will rebuild their castles." Hullin then perceived that she still thought of Yégof's tale; but seeing how exasperated she was, and that, besides, her idea contributed to the defence of the country, made no observation on that subject, and said calmly,--"So, Catherine, it is settled; I am to go over to Marc Divès's to-morrow!" "Yes! you shall buy all his powder and lead. Some one ought also to go the round of the mountain villages, to warn the people of what is coming, and to arrange a signal beforehand for bringing them together in case of attack." "Do not fear," said Jean-Claude. "I will undertake to charge myself with that."