"I tell you I must be at Souday in ten minutes, and when Jean Oullier says 'I must,' it is because it _must_ be done. If you can delay the soldiers half an hour that's all I want." "Jean Oullier! Jean Oullier!" "What?" "Suppose I can't make the _gars_ wait for the soldiers in the open?" "Order them in the name of the good God." "If it were you who ordered them they would obey; but me-- Besides, there's Joseph Picaut among them, and you know Joseph Picaut will only do as he chooses." "But if I don't go to Souday I have no one to send." "Let me go, Monsieur Jean Oullier," said a voice from the earth. "Who spoke?" said the wolf-keeper. "A prisoner I have just made," said Guérin. "What's his name?" "I did not ask his name." "I am the Baron de la Logerie," said the young man, managing to sit up; for the Chouan's grip was loosened and he had more freedom to move and breathe. "Ah! Michel's son! You here!" muttered Jean Oullier, in a savage voice. "Yes. When Monsieur Guérin stopped me I was on my way to Souday to warn my friend Bonneville and Petit-Pierre that their presence in the château was known." "How came you to know that?" "I heard it last evening. I overheard a conversation between my mother and Courtin." "Then why, as you had such fine intentions, didn't you go sooner to warn your friend?" retorted Jean Oullier, in a tone of doubt and also of sarcasm. "Because the baroness locked me into my room, and that room is on the second floor, and I could not get out till to-night through the window, and then at the risk of my life." Jean Oullier reflected a moment. His prejudice against all that came from la Logerie was so intense, his hatred against all that bore the name of Michel so deep, that he could not endure to accept a service from the young man. In fact, in spite of the latter's ingenuous frankness, the distrustful Vendéan suspected that such a show of good-will meant treachery. He knew, however, that Guérin was right, and that he alone in a crucial moment could give the Chouans confidence enough in themselves to let the enemy come openly up to them, and therefore that he alone could delay their march to Souday. On the other hand, he felt that Michel could explain to the Comte de Bonneville better than any peasant the danger that threatened him, and so he resigned himself, though sulkily, to be under an obligation to one of the Michel family. "Ah, wolf-cub!" he muttered, "I can't help myself." Then aloud, "Very well, so be it. Go!" he said; "but have you the legs to do it?" "Steel legs." "Hum!" grunted Jean Oullier. "If Mademoiselle Bertha were here she would certify to them." "Mademoiselle Bertha!" exclaimed Jean Oullier, frowning. "Yes; I fetched the doctor for old Tinguy, and I took only fifty minutes to go seven miles and a half there and back." Jean Oullier shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied.