Thisplanpresented,especiallytoBarond\'Aygaliers,twoapparentlyinsurmountabledifficulties,foritcouldonlybecarriedoutbyinducingthekingtorelaxhisrigorousmeasuresandbyinducingtheCamisardstosubmit。Nowthebaronhadnoconnectionwiththecourt,andwasnotpersonallyacquaintedwithasingleHuguenotchief。
ThefirstthingnecessarytoenablethebarontobeginhiseffortswasapassportforParis,andhefeltsurethatashewasaProtestantneitherM。deBavillenorM。deMontrevelwouldgivehimone。Aluckyaccident,however,relievedhisembarrassmentandstrengthenedhisresolution,forhethoughthesawinthisaccidentthehandofProvidence。
Barond\'AygaliersfoundonedayatthehouseofafriendaM。deParatte,acolonelintheking\'sarmy,andwhoafterwardsbecamemajor—general,butwhoatthetimewearespeakingofwascommandantatUzes。Hewasofaveryimpulsivedisposition,andsozealousinmattersrelatingtotheCatholicreligionandintheserviceoftheking,thathenevercouldfindhimselfinthepresenceofaProtestantwithoutexpressinghisindignationatthosewhohadtakenuparmsagainsttheirprince,andalsothosewhowithouttakinguparmsencouragedtherebelsintheirdesigns。M。d\'Aygaliersunderstoodthatanallusionwasmeanttohimself,andheresolvedtotakeadvantageofit。
SothenextdayhepaidavisittoM。deParatte,andinsteadofdemandingsatisfaction,asthelatterquiteexpected,fortherudenessofhisremarksonthepreviousday,heprofessedhimselfverymuchobligedforwhathehadsaid,whichhadmadesuchadeepimpressiononhimthathehadmadeuphismindtogiveproofofhiszealandloyaltybygoingtoParisandpetitioningthekingforapositionatcourt。DeParatte,charmedwithwhathehadheard,andenchantedwithhisconvert,embracedd\'Aygaliers,andgavehim,saysthechronicler,hisblessing;andwiththeblessingapassport,andwishedhimallthesuccessthatafathercouldwishforhisson。
D\'Aygaliershadnowattainedhisobject,andfurnishedwiththeluckysafe—conduct,hesetoutforParis,withouthavingcommunicatedhisintentionstoanyone,noteventohismother。
OnreachingParisheputupatafriend\'shouse,anddrewupastatementofhisplan:itwasveryshortandveryclear。
\"TheundersignedhasthehonourtopointouthumblytoHisMajesty:
\"Thattheseveritiesandthepersecutionswhichhavebeenemployedbysomeofthevillagepriestshavecausedmanypeopleinthecountrydistrictstotakeuparms,andthatthesuspicionswhichnewconvertsexcitedhavedrivenagreatmanyofthemtojointheinsurgents。Intakingthissteptheywerealsoimpelledbythedesiretoavoidimprisonmentorremovalfromtheirhomes,whichweretheremedieschosentokeepthemintheoldfaith。Thisbeingthecase,hethinksthatthebestmeansofputtinganendtothisstateofthingswouldbetotakemeasuresexactlythecontraryofthosewhichproducedit,suchasputtinganendtothepersecutionsandpermittingacertainnumberofthoseoftheReformedreligiontobeararms,thattheymightgototherebelsandtellthemthatfarfromapprovingoftheiractionstheProtestantsasawholewishedtobringthembacktotherightwaybysettingthemagoodexample,ortofightagainsttheminordertoshowthekingandFrance,attheriskoftheirlives,thattheydisapprovedoftheconductoftheirco—religionists,andthatthepriestshadbeeninthewronginwritingtothecourtthatallthoseoftheReformedreligionwereinfavourofrevolt。\"
D\'Aygaliershopedthatthecourtwouldadoptthisplan;foriftheydid,oneoftwothingsmusthappen:eithertheCamisards,byrefusingtoacceptthetermsofferedtothem,wouldmakethemselvesodioustotheirbrethren（ford\'AygaliersintendedtotakewithhimonhismissionofpersuasiononlymenofhighreputationamongtheReformers,whowouldberepelledbytheCamisardsiftheyrefusedtosubmit）,orelse;bylayingdowntheirarmsandsubmitting,theywouldrestorepeacetotheSouthofFrance,obtainlibertyofworship,setfreetheirbrethrenfromtheprisonsandgalleys,andcometothehelpofthekinginhiswaragainstthealliedpowers,bysupplyinghiminamomentwithalargebodyofdisciplinedtroopsreadytotakethefieldagainsthisenemies;fornotonlywouldtheCamisards,iftheyweresuppliedwithofficers,beavailableforthispurpose,butalsothosetroopswhichwereatthemomentemployedinhuntingdowntheCamisardswouldbesetfreeforthisimportantduty。
Thispropositionwassoclearandpromisedtoproducesuchusefulresults,thatalthoughtheprejudiceagainsttheReformerswasverystrong,Barond\'AygaliersfoundsupporterswhowereatonceintelligentandgenuineintheDukedeChevreuseandtheDukedeMontfort,hisson。ThesetwogentlemenbroughtaboutameetingbetweenthebaronandChamillard,andthelatterpresentedhimtotheMarechaldeVillars,towhomheshowedhispetition,begginghimtobringittothenoticeoftheking;butM,deVillars,whowaswellacquaintedwiththeobstinacyofLouis,who,asBarondePekensays,\"onlysawtheReformersthroughthespectaclesofMadamedeMaintenon,\"toldd\'Aygaliersthatthelastthingheshoulddowouldbetogivethekinganyhintofhisplans,unlesshewishedtoseethemcometonothing;onthecontrary,headvisedhimtogoatoncetoLyonsandwaitthereforhim,M。deVillars;forhewouldprobablybepassingthroughthattowninafewdays,beingalmostcertaintobeappointedgovernorofLanguedocinplaceofM。deMontrevel,whohadfallenundertheking\'sdispleasureandwasabouttoberecalled。
Inthecourseofthethreeinterviewswhichd\'AygaliershadhadwithM。deVillars,hehadbecomeconvincedthatdeVillarswasamancapableofunderstandinghisobject;hethereforefollowedhisadvice,ashebelievedhisknowledgeofthekingtobecorrect,andleftParisforLyons。
TherecallofM。deMontrevelhadbeenbroughtaboutinthefollowingmanner:——M。deMontrevelhavingjustcometoUzes,learnedthatCavalierandhistroopswereintheneighbourhoodofSainte—Chatte;
heimmediatelysentM。deLaJonquiere,withsixhundredpickedmarinesandsomecompaniesofdragoonsfromtheregimentofSaint—
Sernin,buthalfanhourlater,ithavingoccurredtohimthattheseforceswerenotsufficient,heorderedM。deFoix,lieutenantofthedragoonsofFimarqon,tojoinM。deLaJonquiereatSainte—Chattewithahundredsoldiersofhisregiment,andtoremainwithhimifhewerewanted;ifnot,toreturnthesamenight。
M。deFoixgavethenecessaryorders,choseahundredofhisbravestmen,puthimselfattheirhead,andjoinedM。deLaJonquiere,showinghimhisorders;butthelatter,confidinginthecourageofhissoldiersandunwillingtosharewithanyonethegloryofavictoryofwhichhefeltassured,notonlysentawayM。deFoix,butbeggedhimtogobacktoUzes,declaringtohimthathehadenoughtroopstofightandconqueralltheCamisardswhomhemightencounter;consequentlythehundreddragoonswhomthelieutenanthadbroughtwithhimwerequiteuselessatSainte—Chatte,whileonthecontrarytheymightbeverynecessarysomewhereelse。M。deFoixdidnotconsiderthatitwashisdutytoinsistonremainingunderthesecircumstances,andreturnedtoUzes,whileM。deLaJonquierecontinuedhisrouteinordertopassthenightatMoussac。CavalierleftthetownbyonegatejustasM。deLaJonquiereenteredattheother。ThewishesoftheyoungCatholiccommanderwerethusinafairwaytobefulfilled,forinallprobabilityhewouldcomeupwithhisenemythenextday。
Asthevillagewasinhabitedforthemostpartbynewconverts,thenightinsteadofbeingspentinreposewasdevotedtopillage。
ThenextdaytheCatholictroopsreachedMoussac,whichtheyfounddeserted,sotheywentontoLascours—de—Gravier,alittlevillagebelongingtothebaronyofBoucairan,whichM。deLaJonquieregaveuptopillage,andwherehehadfourProtestantsshot——aman,awoman,andtwoyounggirls。Hethenresumedhisroute。Asithadrained,hesooncameonthetrailoftheCamisards,theterriblegamewhichhewashuntingdown。Forthreehoursheoccupiedhimselfinthispursuit,marchingattheheadofhistroops,lestsomeoneelselesscarefulthanheshouldmakesomemistake,when,suddenlyraisinghiseyes,heperceivedtheCamisardsonasmalleminencecalledLesDevoisdeMaraignargues。Thiswasthespottheyhadchosentoawaitattackin,beingeagerfortheapproachingcombat。
AssoonasCavaliersawtheroyalsadvancing,heorderedhismen,accordingtocustom,toofferupprayerstoGod,andwhenthesewerefinishedhedisposedhistroopsforbattle。Hisplanwastotakeuppositionwiththegreaterpartofhismenontheothersideofaravine,whichwouldthusformakindofmoatbetweenhimandtheking\'ssoldiers;healsoorderedaboutthirtyhorsementomakeagreatround,thusreachingunseenalittlewoodabouttwohundredyardstohisleft,wheretheycouldconcealthemselves;andlastly,hesenttoapointontherightsixtyfoot—soldierschosenfromhisbestmarksmen,whomheorderednottofireuntiltheroyalforceswereengagedinthestrugglewithhim。
M。deLaJonquierehavingapproachedtowithinacertaindistance,halted,andsentoneofhislieutenantsnameddeSainte—Chattetomakeareconnaissance,whichhedid,advancingbeyondthemeninambush,whogavenosignoftheirexistence,whiletheofficerquietlyexaminedtheground。ButSainte—Chattewasanoldsoldieroffortuneandnoteasilytakenin,soonhisreturn,whileexplainingtheplanofthegroundchosenbyCavalierforthedispositionofhistroopstoM。deLaJonquiere,headdedthatheshouldbeverymuchastonishediftheyoungCamisardhadnotemployedthelittlewoodonhisleftandthelieofthegroundonhisrightascoverforsoldiersinambush;butM。deLaJonquierereturnedthattheonlythingofimportancewastoknowthepositionoftheprincipalbodyoftroopsinordertoattackitatonce。Sainte—Chattetoldhimthattheprincipalbodywasthatwhichwasbeforehiseyes,andthatonthissubjecttherecouldbenomistake;forhehadapproachednearenoughtorecogniseCavalierhimselfinthefrontrank。
ThiswasenoughforM。deLaJonquiere:heputhimselfattheheadofhismenandrodestraighttotheravine,beyondwhichCavalierandhiscomradesawaitedhiminorderofbattle。Havinggotwithinapistol—shot,M。deLaJonquieregavetheordertofire,buthewassonearthatCavalierheardthewordsandsawthemotionmadebythemenastheymadeready;hethereforegavearapidsigntohismen,whothrewthemselvesontheirfaces,asdidtheirleader,andthebulletspassedoverthemwithoutdoinganyharmM。M。deLaJonquiere,whobelievedthemalldead,wasastonishedwhenCavalierandhisCamisardsroseupandrushedupontheroyaltroops,advancingtothesoundofapsalm。Atadistanceoftenpacestheyfired,andthenchargedtheenemyatthepointofthebayonet。Atthismomentthesixtymeninambushtotherightopenedfire,whilethethirtyhorsementotheleft,utteringloudshouts,chargedatagallop。
Hearingthisnoise,andseeingdeathapproachtheminthreedifferentdirections,theroyalsbelievedthemselvessurrounded,anddidnotattempttomakeastand;themen,throwingawaytheirweapons,tooktotheirheels,theofficersaloneandafewdragoonswhomtheyhadsucceededinrallyingmakingadesperateresistance。
Cavalierwasridingoverthefieldofbattle,sabringallthefugitiveswhomhemet,whenhecaughtsightofagroup,composedoftennavalofficers;standingclosetogetherandbacktoback,spontooninhand,facingtheCamisards,whosurroundedthem。Hespurreduptothem,passingthroughtheranksofhissoldiers,andnotpausingtillhewaswithinfifteenpacesofthem,althoughtheyraisedtheirweaponstofire。Thenmakingasignwithhishandthathewishedtospeaktothem,hesaid,\"Gentlemen,surrender。Ishallgivequarter,andinreturnforthetenlivesInowspareyou,willaskthatmyfather,whoisinprisonatNimes,bereleased。\"
Forsoleanswer,oneoftheofficersfiredandwoundedtheyoungchief\'shorseinthehead。Cavalierdrewapistolfromhisbelt,tookaimattheofficerandkilledhim,thenturningagaintotheothers,heasked,\"Gentlemen,areyouasobstinateasyourcomrade,ordoyouacceptmyoffer？\"Asecondshotwasthereply,andabulletgrazedhisshoulder。Seeingthatnootheranswerwastobehopedfor,Cavalierturnedtohissoldiers。\"Doyourduty,\"saidhe,andwithdrew,toavoidseeingthemassacre。Thenineofficerswereshot。
M。deLaJonquiere,whohadreceivedaslightwoundinthecheek,abandonedhishorseinordertoclimboverawall。Ontheothersidehemadeadragoondismountandgivehimhishorse,onwhichhecrossedtheriverGardon,leavingbehindhimonthebattlefieldtwenty—fiveofficersandsixhundredsoldierskilled。Thisdefeatwasdoublydisastroustotheroyalcause,deprivingitoftheflowerofitsofficers,almostallofthosewhofellbelongingtothenoblestfamiliesofFrance,andalsobecausetheCamisardsgainedwhattheysobadlyneeded,muskets,swords,andbayonetsingreatquantities,aswellaseightyhorses,theselatterenablingCavaliertocompletetheorganisationofamagnificenttroopofcavalry。
TherecalloftheMarechaldeMontrevelwastheconsequenceofthisdefeat,andM。deVillars,ashehadanticipated,wasappointedinhisplace。ButbeforegivinguphisgovernorshipMontrevelresolvedtoeffacethememoryofthecheckwhichhislieutenant\'sfoolhardinesshadcaused,butforwhich,accordingtotherulesofwar,thegeneralhadtopaythepenalty。HisplanwasbyspreadingfalserumoursandmakingfeignedmarchestodrawtheCamisardsintoatrapinwhichthey,intheirturn,wouldbecaught。ThiswasthelessdifficulttoaccomplishastheirlatestgreatvictoryhadmadeCavalieroverconfidentbothinhimselfandhismen。
Infact,sincetheincidentconnectedwiththenavalofficersthetroopsofCavalierhadincreasedenormouslyinnumbers,everyonedesiringtoserveundersobraveachief,sothathehadnowunderhimoveronethousandinfantryandtwohundredcavalry;theywerefurnished,besides,justlikeregulartroops,withabuglerforthecavalry,andeightdrumsandafifefortheinfantry。
ThemarechalfeltsurethathisdeparturewouldbethesignalforsomeexpeditionintothelevelcountryunderCavalier,soitwasgivenoutthathehadleftforMontpellier,andhadsentforwardsomeofhisbaggage—waggonstothatplace。OnApril15thhewasinformedthatCavalier,deceivedbythefalsenews,hadsetoutonthe16thApril,intendingtopassthenightatCaveyrac,asmalltownaboutaleaguefromNimes,thathemightbereadynextdaytomakeadescentonLaVannage。ThisnewswasbroughttoM。deMontrevelbyavillagepriestcalledVerrien,whohadinhispayvigilantandfaithfulspiesinwhomhehadeveryconfidence。
MontrevelaccordinglyorderedthecommandantofLunel,M。deGrandval,tosetoutthenextday,veryearlyinthemorning,withtheCharolaisregimentandfivecompaniesoftheFimarconandSaint—
Sernindragoons,andtorepairtotheheightsofBoissieres,whereinstructionswouldawaithim。Sandricourt,governorofNimes,wasatthesametimedirectedtowithdrawasmanymenaspossiblefromthegarrison,bothSwissanddragoons,andsendthembynighttowardsSaint—ComeandClarensac;lastly,hehimselfsetout,ashehadsaid,butinsteadofgoingontoMontpellier,hestoppedatSommieres,whencehecouldobservethemovementsofCavalier。
Cavalier,asM。deMontrevelalreadyknew,wastosleeponthe15thatCaveyrac。OnthisdayCavalierreachedtheturning—pointinhismagnificentcareer。Asheenteredthetownwithhissoldiers,drumsbeatingandflagsflying,hewasatthezenithofhispower。HerodethesplendidhorseM。deLaJonquierehadabandonedinhisflight;
behindhim,servingaspage,rodehisyoungbrother,agedten,followedbyfourgrooms;hewasprecededbytwelveguardsdressedinred;andashiscolleagueRolandhadtakenthetitleofComte,heallowedhimselftobecalledDukeoftheCevennes。
Athisapproachhalfofthegarrison,whichwascommandedbyM。deMaillan,tookpossessionofthechurchandhalfofthecitadel;butasCavalierwasmorebentonobtainingfoodandrestforhissoldiersthanofdisturbingthetown,hebilletedhismenonthetownspeople,andplacedsentinelsatthechurchandfortress,whoexchangedshotsallthenightthroughwiththeroyaltroops。Thenextmorning,havingdestroyedthefortifications,hemarchedoutofthetownagain,drumsbeatingandflagsflyingasbefore。WhenalmostinsightofNimeshemadehistroops,whichhadneverbeforebeensonumerousorsobrilliant,performagreatmanyevolutions,andthencontinuedhiswaytowardsNages。
M。deMontrevelreceivedareportatnineo\'clockinthemorningofthedirectionCavalierandhistroopshadtaken,andimmediatelyleftSommieres,followedbysixcompaniesofFimarqondragoons,onehundredIrishfree—lances,threehundredrankandfileoftheHainaultregiment,andonecompanyeachoftheSoissonnais,Charolais,andMenonregiments,forminginallacorpsoverninehundredstrong。TheytookthedirectionofVaunages,aboveClarensac;butsuddenlyhearingtherattleofmusketrybehindthem,theywheeledandmadeforLanglade。
TheyfoundthatGrandvalhadalreadyencounteredtheCamisards。
ThesebeingfatiguedhadwithdrawnintoahollowbetweenBoissieresandthewindmillatLanglade,inordertorest。Theinfantrylaydown,theirarmsbesidethem;thecavalryplacedthemselvesatthefeetoftheirhorses,thebridleonarm。Cavalierhimself,Cavaliertheindefatigable,brokenbythefatiguesoftheprecedingdays,hadfallenasleep,withhisyoungbrotherwatchingbesidehim。Suddenlyhefelthimselfshakenbythearm,androusingup,heheardonallsidescriesof\"Kill！Kill！\"and\"Toarms！Toarms！\"Grandvalandhismen,whohadbeensenttofindoutwheretheCamisardswere,hadsuddenlycomeuponthem。
Theinfantryformed,thecavalrysprangtotheirsaddles,Cavalierleapedonhishorse,anddrawinghissword,ledhissoldiersasusualagainstthedragoons,andthese,aswasalsousual,ranaway,leavingtwelveoftheirnumberdeadonthefield。TheCamisardcavalrysoongaveupthepursuit,astheyfoundthemselveswidelyseparatedfromtheinfantryandfromtheirleader;forCavalierhadbeenunabletokeepupwiththem,hishorsehavingreceivedabulletthroughitsneck。
Stilltheyfollowedtheflyingdragoonsforagoodhour,fromtimetotimeawoundeddragoonfallingfromhishorse,tillatlasttheCamisardcavalryfounditselfconfrontedbytheCharolaisregiment,drawnupinbattlearray,andbehindthemtheroyaldragoons,whohadtakenrefugethere,andwerere—forming。
Carriedonbytherapidityoftheircourse,theCamisardscouldnotpulluptilltheywerewithinahundredyardsoftheenemy;theyfiredonce,killingseveral,thenturnedroundandretreated。
Whenathirdoftheway,backhadbeencovered,theymettheirchief,whohadfoundafreshhorsebythewaysidestandingbesideitsdeadmaster。Hearrivedatfullgallop,ashewasanxioustounitehiscavalryandinfantryatonce,ashehadseentheforcesofthemarechaladvancing,who,aswehavealreadysaid,hadturnedinthedirectionofthefiring。HardlyhadCavaliereffectedthedesiredjunctionofhisforcesthanheperceivedthathisretreatwascutoff。Hehadtheroyaltroopsbothbeforeandbehindhim。
Theyoungchiefsawthatadesperatedashtorightorleftwasallthatremainedtohim,andnotknowingthiscountryaswellastheCevennes,heaskedapeasantthewayfromSoudorguestoNages,thatbeingtheonlyonebywhichhecouldescape。TherewasnotimetoinquirewhetherthepeasantwasCatholicorProtestant;hecouldonlytrusttochance,andfollowtheroadindicated。Butafewyardsfromthespotwheretheroadfrom5oudorguestoNagesjoinstheroadtoNimeshefoundhimselfinfaceofMarechalMontrevel\'stroopsunderthecommandofMenon。However,astheyhardlyoutnumberedtheCamisards,thesedidnotstoptolookforanotherroute,butbendingforwardintheirsaddles,theydashedthroughthelinesatfullgallop,takingthedirectionofNages,hopingtoreachtheplainroundCalvisson。Butthevillage,theapproaches,theissueswerealloccupiedbyroyaltroops,andatthesametimeGrandvalandthemarechaljoinedforces,whileMenoncollectedhismentogetherandpushedforward。Cavalierwascompletelysurrounded:hegavethesituationacomprehensiveglance——hisfoes,werefivetoone。
Risinginhisstirrups,sothathecouldseeovereveryhead,Cavaliershoutedsoloudthatnotonlyhisownmenheardbutalsothoseoftheenemy:。\"Mychildren,ifourheartsfailusnow,weshallbetakenandbrokenonthewheel。Thereisonlyone—meansofsafety:wemustcutourwayatfullgallopthroughthesepeople。
Followme,andkeepcloseorder！\"
Sospeaking,hedashedonthenearestgroup,followedbyallhismen,whoformedacompactmass;roundwhichthethreecorpsofroyaltroopsclosed。Thentherewaseverywhereahand—to—handbattletherewasnotimetoloadandfire;swordsflashedandfell,bayonetsstabbed,theroyalsandtheCamisardstookeachotherbythethroatandhair。Foranhourthisdemoniacfightlasted,duringwhichCavalierlostfivehundredmenandslewathousandoftheenemy。Atlasthewonthrough,followedbyabouttwohundredofhistroops,anddrewalongbreath;butfindinghimselfinthecentreofalargecircleofsoldiers,hemadeforabridge,wherealoneitseemedpossibletobreakthrough,itbeingonlyguardedbyahundreddragoons。
Hedividedhismenintotwodivisions,onetoforcethebridge,theothertocovertheretreat。Thenhefacedhisfoeslikeawildboardriventobay。
Suddenlyloudshoutsbehindhimannouncedthatthebridgewasforced;
buttheCamisards,insteadofkeepingthepassageopenfortheirleader,scatteredovertheplainandsoughtsafetyinflight。Butachildthrewhimselfbeforethem,pistolinhand。ItwasCavalier\'syoungbrother,mountedononeofthesmallwildhorsesofCamarguesofthatArabbreedwhichwasintroducedintoLanguedocbytheMoorsfromSpain。Carryingaswordandcarbineproportionedtohissize,theboyaddressedtheflyingmen。\"Whereareyougoing？\"hecried,\"Insteadofrunningawaylikecowards,linetheriverbanksandopposetheenemytofacilitatemybrother\'sescape。\"Ashamedofhavingdeservedsuchreproaches,theCamisardsstopped,rallied,linedthebanksoftheriver,andbykeepingupasteadyfire,coveredCavalier\'sretreat,whocrossedwithouthavingreceivedasinglewound,thoughhishorsewasriddledwithbulletsandhehadbeenforcedtochangehisswordthreetimes。
Stillthecombatraged;butgraduallyCavaliermanagedtoretreat:aplaincutbytrenches,thefallingdarkness,awoodwhichaffordedcover,allcombinedtohelphimatlast。Stillhisrearguard,harassedbytheenemy,dottedthegrounditpassedoverwithitsdead,untilatlastbothvictorsandvanquishedwereswallowedupbynight。Thefighthadlastedtenhours,Cavalierhadlostmorethanfivehundredmen,andtheroyalsaboutathousand。
\"Cavalier,\"saysM。deVillars,inhisMemoirs,\"actedonthisdayinawaywhichastonishedeveryone。Forwhocouldhelpbeingastonishedtoseeanobody,inexperiencedintheartofwarfare,bearhimselfinsuchdifficultandtryingcircumstanceslikesomegreatgeneral？Atoneperiodofthedayhewasfollowedeverywherebyadragoon;
Cavaliershotathimandkilledhishorse。Thedragoonreturnedtheshot,butmissed。Cavalierhadtwohorseskilledunderhim;thefirsttimehecaughtadragoon\'shorse,thesecondtimehemadeoneofhisownmendismountandgoonfoot。\"
M。deMontrevelalsoshowedhimselftobeagallantsoldier;wherevertherewasdangertherewashe,encouragingofficersandsoldiersbyhisexample:oneIrishcaptainwaskilledathisside,anotherfatallywounded,andathirdslightlyhurt。Grandval,onhispart,hadperformedmiracles:hishorsewasshotunderhim,andM。deMontrevelreplaceditbyoneofgreatvalue,onwhichhejoinedinthepursuitoftheCamisards。AfterthisaffairM,deMontrevelgaveuphisplacetoM。deVillars,leavingwordforCavalierthatitwasthushetookleaveofhisfriends。
AlthoughCavaliercameoutofthisbattlewithhonour,compellingevenhisenemiestoregardhimasamanworthyoftheirsteel,ithadneverthelessdestroyedthebestpartofhishopes。Hemadeahalt—nearPierredontogathertogethertheremnantofhistroops,andtrulyitwasbutaremnantwhichremained。Ofthosewhocamebackthegreaternumberwerewithoutweapons,fortheyhadthrownthemawayintheirflight。Manywereincapacitatedforservicebytheirwounds;andlastly,thecavalrycouldhardlybesaidtoexistanylonger,asthefewmenwhosurvivedhadbeenobligedtoabandontheirhorses,inordertogetacrossthehighditcheswhichweretheironlycoverfromthedragoonsduringtheflight。
Meantimetheroyalistswereveryactive,andCavalierfeltthatitwouldbeimprudenttoremainlongatPierredon,sosettingoutduringthenight,andcrossingtheGardon,heburiedhimselfintheforestofHieuzet,whitherhehopedhisenemieswouldnotventuretofollowhim。Andinfactthefirsttwodayswerequiet,andhistroopsbenefitedgreatlybytherest,especiallyastheywereabletodrawstoresofallkinds——wheat,hay,arms,andammunition——fromanimmensecavewhichtheCamisardshadusedforalongtimeasamagazineandarsenal。Cavaliernowalsoemployeditasahospital,andhadthewoundedcarriedthere,thattheirwoundsmightreceiveattention。
Unfortunately,Cavalierwassoonobligedtoquittheforest,inspiteofhishopesofbeingleftinpeace;foronedayonhiswaybackfromavisittothewoundedinthecave,whoseexistencewasasecret,hecameacrossahundredmiqueletswhohadpenetratedthusfar,andwhowouldhavetakenhimprisonerifhehadnot,withhis,accustomedpresenceofmindandcourage,sprungfromarocktwentyfeethigh。
Themiqueletsfiredathim,butnobulletreachedhim。Cavalierrejoinedhistroops,butfearingtoattracttherestoftheroyaliststotheplace,——retreatedtosomedistancefromthecave,asitwasoftheutmostimportancethatitshouldnotbediscovered,sinceitcontainedallhisresources。
CavalierhadnowreachedoneofthosemomentswhenFortune,tiredofconferringfavours,turnsherbackonthefavourite。TheroyalistshadoftennoticedanoldwomanfromthevillageofHieuzetgoingtowardstheforest,sometimescarryingabasketinherhand,sometimeswithahamperonherhead,anditoccurredtothemthatshewassupplyingthehiddenCamisardswithprovisions。ShewasarrestedandbroughtbeforeGeneralLalande,whobeganhisexaminationbythreateningthathewouldhaveherhangedifshedidnotatoncedeclaretheobjectofherfrequentjourneystotheforestwithoutreserve。Atfirstshemadeuseofallkindsofpretexts,whichonlystrengthenedthesuspicionsofLalande,who,ceasinghisquestions,orderedhertobetakentothegallowsandhanged。Theoldwomanwalkedtotheplaceofexecutionwithsuchafirmstepthatthegeneralbegantothinkhewouldgetnoinformationfromher,butatthefootoftheladderhercouragefailed。Sheaskedtobetakenbackbeforethegeneral,andhavingbeenpromisedherlife,sherevealedeverything。
M。deLalandeputhimselfatonceattheheadofastrongdetachmentofmiquelets,andforcedthewomantowalkbeforethemtilltheyreachedthecavern,whichtheyneverwouldhavediscoveredwithoutaguide,socleverlywastheentrancehiddenbyrocksandbrushwood。
Onentering,thefirstthingthatmettheireyewasthewounded,aboutthirtyinnumber。Themiqueletsthrewthemselvesuponthemandslaughteredthem。Thisdeedaccomplished,theywentfartherintothecave,whichtotheirgreatsurprisecontainedathousandthingstheyneverexpectedtofindthere——heapsofgrain,sacksofflour,barrelsofwine,casksofbrandy,quantitiesofchestnutsandpotatoes;andbesidesallthis,chestscontainingointments,drugsandlint,andlastlyacompletearsenalofmuskets,swords,andbayonets,aquantityofpowderready—made,andsulphur,saltpetre,andcharcoal—inshort,everythingnecessaryforthemanufactureofmore,downtosmallmillstobeturnedbyhand。Lalandekepthisword:thelifeofanoldwomanwasnottoomuchtogiveinreturnforsuchatreasure。
MeantimeM。deVillars,ashehadpromised,tookupBarond\'AygaliersinpassingthroughLyons,sothatduringtherestofthejourneythepeacemakerhadplentyoftimetoexpatiateonhisplans。AsM。deVillarswasamanoftactandaloverofjustice,anddesiredaboveallthingstobringarightspirittobearontheperformanceofthedutiesofhisnewoffice,inwhichhistwopredecessorshadfailed,hepromisedthebaron\"tokeep,\"asheexpressedhimself,his\"twoearsopen\"andlistentobothsides,andasafirstproofofimpartiality——herefusedtogiveanyopinionuntilhehadheardM,deJulien,whowascomingtomeethimatTournon。
WhentheyarrivedatTournon,M。deJulienwastheretoreceivethem,andhadaverydifferentstorytotellfromthatwhichM。deVillarshadheardfromd\'Aygaliers。Accordingtohim,theonlypacificrationpossiblewasthecompleteexterminationoftheCamisards。HefelthimselfveryhardlytreatedinthathehadbeenallowedtodestroyonlyfourhundredvillagesandhamletsintheUpperCevennes,——assuringdeVillarswiththeconfidenceofamanwhohadstudiedthematterprofoundly,thattheyshouldallhavebeendemolishedwithoutexception,andallthepeasantskilledtothelastman。
SoitcametopassthatM。deVillarsarrivedatBeaucaireplacedlikeDonJuanbetweenthespiritsofgoodandevil,theoneadvisingclemencyandtheothermurder。M。deVillarsnotbeingabletomakeuphismind,onreachingNimes,d\'AygaliersassembledtheprincipalProtestantsofthetown,toldthemofhisplan,showingthemitspracticability,sothatalsojoinedinthegoodwork,anddrewupadocumentinwhichtheyaskedthemarechaltoallowthemtotakeuparmsandmarchagainsttherebels,astheyweredeterminedeithertobringthembackintothegoodwaybyforceofexampleortofightthemasaproofoftheirloyalty。