should be held in the midst of these ruins, and even that the farmers of the environs had anything to sell; but my host told me that scarcely anything was brought to this market but cattle from distant districts; on the other hand, although no one had yet done anything to repair the disasters of the war, the amnesty was nearly terminated by general Hoche, and if republican soldiers were still found in the country it was that they might keep down the chouans,[1] who were becoming formidable.
I went to the market early the next day, and thinking to take advantage of it, I accosted a cattle-dealer, whose face was familiar to me, asking him to listen to me for a moment. He looked at me with distrust, taking me probably for a spy, but I hastened to relieve his suspicions, telling him that it was only a personal affair. We then entered a hovel where they sold brandy, and I then told him, that having deserted from the 36th demi-brigade to see my parents, who lived at Paris, I was desirous of getting some situation which would allow me to reach my destination without fear of arrest. This good fellow told me that he had no situation to offer me, but that if I would drive a drove of oxen as far as Sceaux, I might go with him. No proposal was ever accepted with more readiness, and I entered on my duties instantly, anxious to show my new master all the return I could testify for his kindness.
In the afternoon he sent me to carry a letter to a person in the town, who asked me if my master had desired me to take anything back with me; I said no, "Never mind," said the person, who was, I believe,
- ↑ Chouans, a contraction of the word chat-huant, a screech-owl; a title given to parties of Vendéeans, and afterwards to bands formed for plunder, who ravaged the western part of France subsequently to 1793, and were called by this name because, like owls, they came out only at night.—Translator.
