the chouans-第53章

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ld　be　understood。　Round　each　field；　and　from　time　immemorial；　the　peasants　have　piled　mud　walls；　about　six　feet　high；　and　prismatic　in　shape；　on　the　top　of　which　grow　chestnuts；　oaks　and　beeches。　The　walls　thus　planted　are　called　hedges　（Norman　hedges）　and　the　long　branches　of　the　trees　sweeping　over　the　pathways　arch　them。　Sunken　between　these　walls　（made　of　a　clay　soil）　the　paths　are　like　the　covered　ways　of　a　fortification；　and　where　the　granite　rock；　which　in　these　regions　comes　to　the　surface　of　the　ground；　does　not　make　a　sort　of　rugged　natural　pavement；　they　become　so　impracticable　that　the　smallest　vehicles　can　only　be　drawn　over　them　by　two　pairs　of　oxen　or　Breton　horses；　which　are　small　but　usually　vigorous。　These　by…ways　are　so　swampy　that　foot…passengers　have　gradually　by　long　usage　made　other　paths　beside　them　on　the　hedge…banks　which　are　called　〃rotes〃；　and　these　begin　and　end　with　each　division　into　fields。　In　order　to　cross　from　one　field　to　another　it　is　necessary　to　climb　the　clay　banks　by　means　of　steps　which　are　often　very　slippery　after　a　rain。

Travellers　have　many　other　obstacles　to　encounter　in　these　intricate　paths。　Thus　surrounded；　each　field　is　closed　by　what　is　called　in　the　West　an　/echalier/。　That　is　a　trunk　or　stout　branch　of　a　tree；　one　end　of　which；　being　pierced；　is　fitted　to　an　upright　post　which　serves　as　a　pivot　on　which　it　turns。　One　end　of　the　/echalier/　projects　far　enough　beyond　the　pivot　to　hold　a　weight；　and　this　singular　rustic　gate；　the　post　of　which　rests　in　a　hole　made　in　the　bank；　is　so　easy　to　work　that　a　child　can　handle　it。　Sometimes　the　peasants　economize　the　stone　which　forms　the　weight　by　lengthening　the　trunk　or　branch　beyond　the　pivot。　This　method　of　enclosure　varies　with　the　genius　of　each　proprietor。　Sometimes　it　consists　of　a　single　trunk　or　branch；　both　ends　of　which　are　embedded　in　the　bank。　In　other　places　it　looks　like　a　gate；　and　is　made　of　several　slim　branches　placed　at　regular　distances　like　the　steps　of　a　ladder　lying　horizontally。　The　form　turns；　like　the　/echalier/；　on　a　pivot。　These　〃hedges〃　and　/echaliers/　give　the　region　the　appearance　of　a　huge　chess…board；　each　field　forming　a　square；　perfectly　isolated　from　the　rest；　closed　like　a　fortress　and　protected　by　ramparts。　The　gate；　which　is　very　easy　to　defend；　is　a　dangerous　spot　for　assailants。　The　Breton　peasant　thinks　he　improves　his　fallow　land　by　encouraging　the　growth　of　gorse；　a　shrub　so　well　treated　in　these　regions　that　it　soon　attains　the　height　of　a　man。　This　delusion；　worthy　of　a　population　which　puts　its　manure　on　the　highest　spot　in　the　courtyard；　has　covered　the　soil　to　a　proportion　of　one　fourth　with　masses　of　gorse；　in　the　midst　of　which　a　thousand　men　might　ambush。　Also　there　is　scarcely　a　field　without　a　number　of　old　apple…trees；　the　fruit　being　used　for　cider；　which　kill　the　vegetation　wherever　their　branches　cover　the　ground。　Now；　if　the　reader　will　reflect　on　the　small　extent　of　open　ground　within　these　hedges　and　large　trees　whose　hungry　roots　impoverish　the　soil；　he　will　have　an　idea　of　the　cultivation　and　general　character　of　the　region　through　which　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　now　passing。

It　is　difficult　to　say　whether　the　object　of　these　enclosures　is　to　avoid　all　disputes　of　possession；　or　whether　the　custom　is　a　lazy　one　of　keeping　the　cattle　from　straying；　without　the　trouble　of　watching　them；　at　any　rate　such　formidable　barriers　are　permanent　obstacles；　which　make　these　regions　impenetrable　and　ordinary　warfare　impossible。　There　lies　the　whole　secret　of　the　Chouan　war。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　saw　plainly　the　necessity　the　Republic　was　under　to　strangle　the　disaffection　by　means　of　police　and　by　negotiation；　rather　than　by　a　useless　employment　of　military　force。　What　could　be　done；　in　fact；　with　a　people　wise　enough　to　despise　the　possession　of　towns；　and　hold　to　that　of　an　open　country　already　furnished　with　indestructible　fortifications？　Surely；　nothing　except　negotiate；　especially　as　the　whole　active　strength　of　these　deluded　peasants　lay　in　a　single　able　and　enterprising　leader。　She　admired　the　genius　of　the　minister　who；　sitting　in　his　study；　had　been　able　to　grasp　the　true　way　of　procuring　peace。　She　thought　she　understood　the　considerations　which　act　on　the　minds　of　men　powerful　enough　to　take　a　bird's…eye　view　of　an　empire；　men　whose　actions；　criminal　in　the　eyes　of　the　masses；　are　the　outcome　of　a　vast　and　intelligent　thought。　There　is　in　these　terrible　souls　some　mysterious　blending　of　the　force　of　fate　and　that　of　destiny；　some　prescience　which　suddenly　elevates　them　above　their　fellows；　the　masses　seek　them　for　a　time　in　their　own　ranks；　then　they　raise　their　eyes　and　see　these　lordly　souls　above　them。

Such　reflections　as　these　seemed　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　to　justify　and　even　to　ennoble　her　thoughts　of　vengeance；　this　travail　of　her　soul　and　its　expectations　gave　her　vigor　enough　to　bear　the　unusual　fatigues　of　this　strange　journey。　At　the　end　of　each　property　Galope…Chopine　made　the　women　dismount　from　their　donkeys　and　climb　the　obstructions；　then；　mounting　again；　they　made　their　way　through　the　boggy　paths　which　already　felt　the　approach　of　winter。　The　combination　of　tall　trees；　sunken　paths；　and　enclosed　places；　kept　the　soil　in　a　state　of　humidity　which　wrapped　the　travellers　in　a　mantle　of　ice。　However；　after　much　wearisome　fatigue；　they　managed　to　reach　the　woods　of　Marignay　by　sunrise。　The　journey　then　became　less　difficult；　and　led　by　a　broad　footway　through　the　forest。　The　arch　formed　by　the　branches；　and　the　great　size　of　the　trees　protected　the　travellers　from　the　weather；　and　the　many　difficulties　of　the　first　half　of　their　way　did　not　recur。

They　had　hardly　gone　a　couple　of　miles　through　the　woods　before　they　heard　a　confused　noise　of　distant　voices　and　the　tinkling　of　a　bell；　the　silvery　tones　of　which　did　not　have　the　monotonous　sound　given　by　the　movements　of　cattle。　Galope…Chopine　listened　with　great　attention；　as　he　walked　along；　to　this　melody；　presently　a　puff　of　wind　brought　several　chanted　words　to　his　ear；　which　seemed　to　affect　him　powerfully；　for　he　suddenly　turned　the　wearied　donkeys　into　a　by…path；　which　led　away　from　Saint…James；　paying　no　attention　to　the　remonstrances　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　whose　fears　were　increased　by　the　darkness　of　the　forest　path　along　which　their　guide　now　led　them。　To　right　and　left　were　enormous　blocks　of　granite；　laid　one　upon　the　other；　of　whimsical　shape。　Across　them　huge　roots　had　glided；　like　monstrous　serpents；　seeking　from　afar　the　juicy　nourishment　enjoyed　by　a　few　beeches。　The　two　sides　of　the　road　resembled　the　subterranean　grottos　that　are　famous　for　stalactites。　Immense　festoons　of　stone；　where　the　darkling　verdure　of　ivy　and　holly　allied　itself　to　the　green…gray　patches　of　the　moss　and　lichen；　hid　the　precipices　and　the　openings　into　several　caves。　When　the　three　travellers　had　gone　a　few　steps　through　a　very　narrow　path　a　most　surprising　spectacle　suddenly　unfolded　itself　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　eyes；　and　made　her　understand　the　obstinacy　of　her　Chouan　guide。

A　semi…circular　basin　of　granite　blocks　formed　an　ampitheatre；　on　the　rough　tiers　of　which　rose　tall　black　pines　and　yellowing　chestnuts；　one　above　the　other；　like　a　vast　circus；　where　the　wintry　sun　shed　its　pale　colors　rather　than　poured　its　light；　and　autumn　had　spread　her　tawny　carpet　of　fallen　leaves。　About　the　middle　of　this　hall；　which　seemed　to　have　had　the　deluge　for　its　architect；　stood　three　enormous　Druid　stones；a　vast　altar；　on　which　was　raised　an　old　church…banner。　About　a　hundred　men；　kneeling　with　bared　heads；　were　praying　fervently　in　this　natural　enclosure；　where　a　priest；　assisted　by　two　other　ecclesiastics；　was　saying　mass。　The　poverty　of　the　sacerdotal　vestments；　the　feeble　voice　of　the　priest；　which　echoed　like　a　murmur　through　the　open　space；　the　praying　men　filled　with　conviction　and　united　by　one　and　the　same　sentiment；　the　bare　cross；　the　wild　and　barren　temple；　the　dawning　day；　gave　the　primitive　character　of　the　earlier　times　of　Christianity　to　the　scene。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　struck　with　admiration。　This　mass　said　in　the　depths　of　the　woods；　this　worship　driven　back　by　persecutio