Qna . . . Here ' If only . . . were to

64. Brusquer, ' To precipitate mattem ' {ta. to carry tlie barricade by a sharp, sudden attack).

68. Jean Chouan. Chouan was the name under which were known the four brotbers Cottoreau, smugglers of the departmeiit of Mayenne. They were so oalled becanse, in their nocturnal incursions, they adopted as their rallying cry the note of the screeoh-owl, oommonly known in Brittany under the name of chouan. They were scouring the district round Laval, in 1793, wfaen, joined to other vagabonds, they betliought themselves of waging war in the name of Louis XVUL Their leader was Georges Cailoudal. The Ciiouans did not figlit as regular t'oops, but waged a sort of guérilla warlare, making use of ambushes and surprises, or iiring from wo^s and ravines upon tlie Bepublicau tronps.

66. se eraohaient . . . avee rage, ' belched furth their grupe-shot witfa undiminished fury.'