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y。 A painter would have stopped to admire the night effects of this scene； but Marie； not wishing to enter into conversation with Barbette； who sat up in bed and began to show signs of amazement at recognizing her； left the hovel to escape its fetid air and the questions of its mistress。 She ran quickly up the stone staircase behind the cottage； admiring the vast details of the landscape； the aspect of which underwent as many changes as spectators made steps either upward to the summits or downward to the valleys。 The moonlight was now enveloping like a luminous mist the valley of Couesnon。 Certainly a woman whose heart was burdened with a despised love would be sensitive to the melancholy which that soft brilliancy inspires in the soul； by the weird appearance it gives to objects and the colors with which it tints the streams。
The silence was presently broken by the braying of a donkey。 Marie went quickly back to the hut； and the party started。 Galope…Chopine； armed with a double…barrelled gun； wore a long goatskin； which gave him something the look of Robinson Crusoe。 His blotched face； seamed with wrinkles； was scarcely visible under the broad…brimmed hat which the Breton peasants still retain as a tradition of the olden time； proud to have won； after their servitude； the right to wear the former ornament of seignorial heads。 This nocturnal caravan； protected by a guide whose clothing； attitudes； and person had something patriarchal about them； bore no little resemblance to the Flight into Egypt as we see it represented by the sombre brush of Rembrandt。 Galope…Chopine carefully avoided the main…road and guided the two women through the labyrinth of by…ways which intersect Brittany。
Mademoiselle de Verneuil then understood the Chouan warfare。 In threading these complicated paths； she could better appreciate the condition of a country which when she saw it from an elevation had seemed to her so charming； but into which it was necessary to penetrate before the dangers and inextricable difficulties of it could 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 p