"You see, Jean-Claude," said she, "Yegof was right."
"He was right," replied Jean-Claude, "but what does that prove? It would, indeed, be astonishing if a fool--wandering, as he does, everywhere, from village to village--in Alsace, in Lorraine--saw nothing, heard nothing; and if he should not occasionally utter a truth in the midst of his nonsense. Everything is mingled in his head, and you imagine you understand what he does not understand himself. But enough of the fool, Catherine. The Austrians are coming, and the question is whether we shall let them pass quietly through our mountains, or defend ourselves like mountaineers."
"Defend ourselves!" cried the old woman, her pale cheeks flushing. "Think you we have lost the courage of our fathers? Did not the blood of their men, women, and children flow like water, and no one think of yielding?"
"Ay! while a drop of blood remains in my body. Let them come. The old woman will be in their path."
Her long, gray hair in her excitement seemed to quiver upon her head; her cheeks trembled and glowed, and her eyes flashed fire. She seemed even full of a fierce beauty--of a beauty like that of Margareth of whom Yegof spoke. Hullin stretched his hand to her in silence.
"I knew you, Catherine," said he with enthusiasm; "I knew your true heart. But we must look calmly at what is before us. We shall fight, but how? Where are our munitions?"
"Everywhere! axes, scythes, pitchforks--"
"Yes, yes; but muskets and bullets are the best. Muskets we have; every mountaineer's cottage has one hanging over the door; but where is our powder? where are our bullets?"
The old woman became suddenly calm; she pushed back her hair beneath her cap, and looked around thoughtfully.
"Yes," she replied; "we lack powder and ball, it is true, but we shall have them. Marc-Dives the smuggler has plenty. You will see him for me to-morrow, and tell him that Catherine Lefevre will buy all that he has, and pay for it too; yes, though it cost her house, lands, and cattle--all she possesses. Do you understand, Hullin?"
"Splendid! Bah! To drive from our doors those Austrians, those Prussians, the red-bearded race who once already all but exterminated ours! They are our mortal foes! You will buy the powder, and the wretches will see whether their old castles are to be rebuilt by us!"