Instantly he turned his horse. The animal bounded into the centre of the living whirlpool, and the old soldier caught Jean Oullier as he had caught Aubin Courte-Joie, and threw him across the pommel of his own saddle. Then the stones began to rain, and the cudgels rose. The _gendarmes_ held firm, presenting their bayonets to the crowd, which dared not attack them at close quarters and was forced to content itself by flinging projectiles. They advanced in this way to about sixty feet from the inn. Here the position of the general and his men became critical. The peasants, who seemed determined that Jean Oullier should not be left in the enemy's power, grew more and more aggressive. Already the bayonets were stained with blood, and the fury of the rioters was evidently increasing. Fortunately the general was now near enough to the courtyard of the inn for his voice to reach it. "Here! grenadiers of the 32d!" he shouted. At the same instant the gates opened, and the soldiers poured forth with fixed bayonets and drove back the crowd. The general and the _gendarmes_ entered the yard. Here the general encountered the sub-prefect, who was awaiting him. "There's your man," he said, flinging Jean Oullier to him, as if the Chouan were a bale of goods; "and trouble enough he has cost us! God grant he is worth his price." Just then a brisk firing was heard from the farther end of the market-place. "What's that?" cried the general, listening with all his ears, and his nostrils open. "The National Guard, no doubt," replied the sub-prefect. "I ordered them out, and they must have met the rioters." "Who ordered them to fire?" "I did, general. I was bound to go to your rescue." "Ten thousand thunders! Can't you see that I rescued myself?" said the old soldier. Then, shaking his head, he added, "Monsieur, remember this: to shed blood in civil war is worse than a crime; it is a blunder." An officer galloped into the courtyard. "General," he said, "the rioters are flying in all directions. The chasseurs are here. Shall we pursue them?" "Not a man is to stir," said the general. "Leave the National Guard to manage the affair. They are friends; they'll settle it." A second discharge of musketry proved that the militia and the peasantry were indeed settling it. This was the firing heard at La Logerie by Baron Michel. "Ah!" said the general, "now we must see what profit we can get out of this melancholy business." Pointing to Jean Oullier, he added, "We have but one chance, and that is that no one but this man is in the secret. Did he have any communication with any one after you arrested him, _gendarmes_?" "No, general, not even by signs, for his hands were bound." "Didn't he make any gestures with his head, or say a word to anybody? You know very well that a nod or a single word is enough with these fellows." "No, general, not one."