Then, suddenly, with
the agility already shown by Marche-a-Terre, the wounded were taken
over the brow of the eminence to the right of the road, while half the
others followed them slowly to occupy the summit, where nothing could
be seen of them by the Blues but their bold heads. There they made a
rampart of the trees and pointed the muzzles of their guns on the
Republicans, who were rapidly reformed under reiterated orders from
Hulot and turned to face the remainder of the Chouans, who were still
before them in the road. The latter retreated slowly, disputing the
ground and wheeling so as to bring themselves under cover of their
comrades' fire. When they reached the broad ditch which bordered the
road, they scaled the high bank on the other side, braving the fire of
the Republicans, which was sufficiently well-directed to fill the
ditch with dead bodies. The Chouans already on the summit answered
with a fire that was no less deadly. At that moment the National Guard
of Fougeres reached the scene of action at a quick step, and its mere
presence put an end to the affair. The Guard and some of the soldiers
crossed the road and began to enter the woods, but the commandant
called to them in his martial voice, "Do you want to be annihilated
over there?"
The victory remained to the Republicans, though not without heavy
loss.
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