e probably
depending upon it!

About six miles before coming to Varennes, the party observed a horseman
passing, at a gallop, from behind, close by the coach-window. In
passing, he shouted something which the noise of their carriage-wheels
prevented their hearing exactly. They caught the sound, however; and
when all was over, agreed that he must have said, "You are discovered!"
They did not know whether to take this man for a friend or an enemy.
They received another warning from one who was no enemy. A beggar, who
asked alms of the king at a place where the coach stopped, said, with
much feeling, "Your Majesty is known. May God take care of you! May
Providence watch over you!"

The quarter-master, on reaching Clermont after them, called up the
dragoons who were gone to bed; and a _few_ of them followed the royal
carriage, under the command of a Cornet Remy. But they lost their way
in the dark, and floundered about in fields and lanes, stumbling over
fences, before they found the direction in which they should go to
Varennes. The rest of the dragoons at Clermont,--all but two,--struck
their swords into the scabbard when ordered to draw, and declared for
the people, instead of the king.

The Duke de Choiseul, with his hussars, was all the while stumbling
about in the cross country, finding it difficult enough to get to
Varennes, as he must avoid the high roads. Some of his troop fell and
were hurt; and their comrades refused to go on without them. Towards
midnight, the alarm-bell of Varennes was heard through the darkness.
The duke said it was no doubt some fire: but in his heart he had strong
fears of the truth.

Bouille, junior, sent by his father, had been waiting with his troop six
hours at Varennes: and he, supposing that the party would not arrive
this day, was in bed and asleep when the berlin reached the village, at
eleven o'clock. His troop were, some of them, drinking in the
public-houses. None of them were ready; and the royal party tried in
vain to discover through the thick darkness any sign of a friendly
guard, where they had made sure of meeting one. If they could but find
these hussars, they believed they should be safe; for they had now no
more towns to pass through, and no great way to go.

The berlin stood on the top of the hill, at the entrance of Varennes,
while their pretended couriers were riding about, rousing the sleeping
village, in search of horses to go on with. The horses w