MontvertatthesametimewithtwobattalionsfromHainault,accompaniedbytheMarquisofCanillac,colonelofinfantry,whobroughttwobattalionsofhisownregiment,whichwasstationedinRouergue,withhim,andComtedePayre,whobroughtfifty—fivecompaniesofmilitiafromGevaudan,andfollowedbyanumberofmulesloadedwithcrowbars,axes,andotherironinstrumentsnecessaryforpullingdownhouses。
　　Theapproachofallthesetroopsfollowingcloseontheterribleproclamationswehavegivenabove,producedexactlythecontraryeffecttothatintended。Theinhabitantsoftheproscribeddistrictswereconvincedthattheordertogathertogetherincertainplaceswasgiventhattheymightbeconvenientlymassacredtogether,sothatallthosecapableofbearingarmswentdeeperintothemountains,andjoinedtheforcesofCavalierandRoland,thusreinforcingthemtothenumberoffifteenhundredmen。AlsohardlyhadM。deJuliensethishandtotheworkthanhereceivedinformationfromM。deMontrevel,whohadheardthenewsthroughaletterfromFlechier,thatwhiletheroyaltroopswerebusyinthemountainstheCamisardshadcomedownintotheplain,swarmedoverLaCamargue,andhadbeenseenintheneighbourhoodofSaint—Gilles。Atthesametimewordwassenthimthattwoshipshadbeenseenintheoffing,fromCette,andthatitwasmorethanprobablethattheycontainedtroops,thatEnglandandHollandweresendingtohelptheCamisards。
　　M。deMontrevel;leavingthefurtherconductoftheexpeditiontoMM。
　　deJulienanddeCanillac,hastenedtoCettewitheighthundredmenandtenguns。Theshipswerestillinsight,andwerereally,ashadbeensurmised,twovesselswhichhadbeendetachedfromthecombinedfleetsofEnglandandHollandbyAdmiralSchowel,andwerethebearersofmoney,arms,andammunitiontotheHuguenots。Theycontinuedtocruiseaboutandsignal,butastherebelswereforcedbythepresenceofM。deMontreveltokeepawayfromthecoast,andcouldthereforemakenoanswer,theyputoffatlengthintotheopen,andrejoinedthefleet。AsM。deMontrevelfearedthattheirretreatmightbeafeint,heorderedallthefishermen'shutsfromAigues—MortetoSaint—Gillestobedestroyed,lesttheyshouldaffordsheltertotheCamisards。AtthesametimehecarriedofftheinhabitantsofthedistrictofGuillanandshutthemupinthechateauofSommerez,afterhavingdemolishedtheirvillages。Lastly,heorderedallthosewholivedinhomesteads,farms,orhamlets,toquitthemandgotosomelargetown,takingwiththemalltheprovisionstheywerepossessedof;andheforbadeanyworkmanwhowentoutsidethetowntoworktotakemorethanoneday'sprovisionswithhim。
　　Thesemeasureshadthedesiredeffect,buttheywereterribleintheirresults;theydeprivedtheCamisardsofshelterindeed,buttheyruinedtheprovince。M。deBaville,despitehiswell—knownseveritytriedremonstrances,buttheyweretakeninbadpartbyM。
　　deMontrevel,whotoldtheintendanttomindhisownbusiness,whichwasconfinedtocivilmatters,andtoleavemilitarymattersinhis,M。deMontrevel's,hands;whereuponthecommandantjoinedM。deJulien,whowascarryingontheworkofdestructionwithindefatigablevigour。
　　InspiteofalltheenthusiasmwithwhichM。deJulienwenttoworktoaccomplishhismission,andbeinganewconvert,itwas,ofcourse,verygreat。Materialhindranceshamperedhimateverystep。
　　Almostallthedoomedhouseswerebuiltonvaultedfoundations,andwerethereforedifficulttolaylow;thedistanceofonehousefromanother,too,theiralmostinaccessibleposition,eitheronthepeakofahighmountainorinthebottomofarockyvalley,orburiedinthedepthsoftheforestwhichhidthenlikeaveil,madethedifficultystillgreater;wholedayswereoftenlostbytheworkmenandmilitiainsearchingforthedwellingstheycametodestroy。
　　Theimmensesizeoftheparishesalsocauseddelay:thatofSaint—GermaindeCalberte,forinstance,wasnineleaguesincircumference,andcontainedahundredandelevenhamlets,inhabitedbytwohundredandseventy—fivefamilies,ofwhichonlyninewereCatholic;thatofSaint—EtiennedeValfrancesquewasofstillgreaterextent,anditspopulationwasathirdlarger,sothatobstaclestotheworkmultipliedinaremarkablemanner。Forthefirstfewdaysthesoldiersandworkmenfoundfoodinandaroundthevillages,butthiswassoonatanend,andastheycouldhardlyexpectthepeasantstokeepupthesupply,andtheprovisionstheyhadbroughtwiththembeingalsoexhausted,theyweresoonreducedtobiscuitandwater;
　　andtheywerenotevenabletomakeitintoawarmmessbyheatingthewater,astheyhadnovessels;moreover,whentheirhardday'sworkwasatanend,theyhadbutahandfulofstrawonwhichtolie。
　　Theseprivations,addedtotheirhardandlaboriouslife,broughtonanendemicfever,whichincapacitatedforworkmanysoldiersandlabourers,numbersofwhomhadtobedismissed。Verysoontheunfortunatemen,whowerealmostasmuchtobepitiedasthosewhomtheywerepersecuting,waitednolongertobesentaway,butdesertedinnumbers。
　　M。deJuliensoonsawthatallhiseffortswouldendinfailureifhecouldnotgaintheking'sconsenttoaslightchangeintheoriginalplan。HethereforewrotetoVersailles,andrepresentedtothekinghowlongtheworkwouldtakeifthemeansemployedwereonlyirontoolsandthehumanhand,insteadoffire,theonlytrueinstrumentemployedbyHeaveninitsvengeance。HequotedinsupportofhispetitionthecaseofSodomandGomorrah——thosecitiesaccursedoftheLord。LouisXIV,impressedbythetruthofthiscomparison,senthimbackamessengerpost—hasteauthorisinghimtoemploythesuggestedmeans。
　　"Atonce,"saysPereLouvreloeil,"thestormburst,andsoonofallthehappyhomesteadsnothingwasleft:thehamlets,withtheirbarnsandouthouses,theisolatedfarmhouses,thesinglehutsandcottages,everyspeciesofbuildinginshort,disappearedbeforetheswiftadvancingflamesaswildflowers,weeds,androotsfallbeforetheploughshare。"
　　Thisdestructionwasaccompaniedbyhorriblecruelty。Forinstance,twenty—fiveinhabitantsofacertainvillagetookrefugeinachateau;thenumberconsistedofchildrenandveryoldpeople,andtheywereallthatwasleftoftheentirepopulation。Palmerolle,incommandofthemiquelets,hearingofthis,hastenedthither,seizedthefirsteighthecouldlayholdof,andshotthemonthespot,"toteachthem,"ashesaysinhisreport,"nottochooseashelterwhichwasnotonthelistofthosepermittedtothem。"
　　TheCatholicsalsoofSt。Florent,Senechas,Rousson,andotherparishes,becomingexcitedatseeingtheflameswhichenvelopedthehousesoftheiroldenemies,joinedtogether,andarmingthemselveswitheverythingthatcouldbemadetoserveasaninstrumentofdeath,setouttohunttheconscriptsdown;theycarriedofftheflocksofPerolat,Fontareche,andPajolas,burneddownadozenhousesattheCollet—de—Deze,andfromtherewenttothevillageofBrenoux,drunkwiththelustofdestruction。Theretheymassacredfifty—twopersons,amongthemmotherswithunbornchildren;andwiththesebabes,whichtheytorefromthem,impaledontheirpikesandhalberts,theycontinuedtheirmarchtowardsthevillagesofSt。
　　DenisandCastagnols。
　　Verysoonthesevolunteersorganisedthemselvesintocompanies,andbecameknownunderthenameofCadetsdelaCroix,fromasmallwhitecrosswhichtheyworeontheircoats;sothepoorHuguenotshadanewspeciesofenemytocontendwith,muchmorebloodthirstythanthedragoonsandthemiquelets;forwhiletheselattersimplyobeyedordersfromVersailles,Nimes,orMontpellier,theformergratifiedapersonalhate——ahatewhichhadcomedowntothemfromtheirfathers,andwhichtheywouldpassontotheirchildren。
　　Ontheotherhand,theyoungHuguenotleader,whoeverydaygainedmoreinfluenceoverhissoldiers,triedtomakethedragoonsandCadetsdelaCroixsufferinreturneverythingtheyinflictedontheHuguenots,exceptthemurders。Inthenightfromthe2ndtothe3rdOctober,aboutteno'clock,hecamedownintotheplainandattackedSommieresfromtwodifferentpoints,settingfiretothehouses。Theinhabitantsseizingtheirarms,madeasortie,butCavalierchargedthemattheheadoftheCavalryandforcedthemtoretreat。Thereuponthegovernor,whosegarrisonwastoosmalltoleavetheshelterofthewalls,turnedhisgunsonthemandfired,lessinthehopeofinflictinginjuryonthemthaninthatofbeingheardbytheneighbouringgarrisons。
　　TheCamisardsrecognisingthisdanger,retired,butnotbeforetheyhadburntdownthehotelsoftheCheval—Blanc,theCroix—d'Or,theGrand—Louis,andtheLuxembourg,aswellasagreatnumberofotherhouses,andthechurchandthepresbyteryofSaint—Amand。
　　ThencetheCamisardsproceededtoCaylaandVauvert,intowhichtheyentered,destroyingthefortifications。Theretheyprovidedthemselvesabundantlywithprovisionsformanandbeast。InVauvert,whichwasalmostentirelyinhabitedbyhisco—religionists,Cavalierassembledtheinhabitantsinthemarket—place,andmadethemjoinwithhiminprayertoGod,thatHewouldpreventthekingfromfollowingevilcounsel;healsoexhortedhisbrethrentobereadytosacrificetheirgoodsandtheirlivesforthere—establishmentoftheirreligion,affirmingthattheHolySpirithadrevealedtohimthatthearmoftheLord,whichhadalwayscometotheiraid,wasstillstretchedoutoverthem。
　　CavalierundertookthesemovementsinthehopeofinterruptingtheworkofdestructiongoingoninUpperCevennes;andpartlyobtainedthedesiredresult;forM。deJulienreceivedorderstocomedownintotheopencountryanddispersetheCamisards。
　　Thetroopstriedtofulfilthistask,but,thankstotheknowledgethattherebelshadofthecountry,itwasimpossibletocomeupwiththem,sothatFleshier,whowasinthethickoftheexecutions,conflagrations,andmassacres,butwhostillfoundtimetowriteLatinverseandgallantletters,said,inspeakingofthem,"Theywerenevercaught,anddidallthedamagetheywishedtodowithoutletorhindrance。Welaidtheirmountainswaste,andtheylaidwasteourplain。Therearenomorechurchesleftinourdioceses,andnotbeingableeithertoploughorsowourlands,wehavenorevenues。
　　Wedreadseriousrevolt,anddesiretoavoidareligiouscivilwar;
　　soalloureffortsarerelaxing,weletourarmsfallwithoutknowingwhy,andwearetold,'Youmusthavepatience;itisnotpossibletofightagainstphantoms。'"Nevertheless,fromtimetotime,thesephantomsbecamevisible。TowardstheendofOctober,CavaliercamedowntoUzes,carriedofftwosentinelswhowereguardingthegates,andhearingthecalltoarmswithin,shoutedthathewouldawaitthegovernorofthecity,M。deVergetot,nearLussan。
　　AndindeedCavalier,accompaniedbyhistwolieutenants,RavanelandCatinat,tookhiswaytowardsthislittletown,betweenUzesandBargeac,whichstandsuponaneminencesurroundeduponallsidesbycliffs,whichserveitasrampartsandrenderitverydifficultofaccess。Havingarrivedwithinthreegun—shotsofLussan,CavaliersentRavaneltodemandprovisionsfromtheinhabitants;butthey,proudoftheirnaturalramparts,andbelievingtheirtownimpregnable,notonlyrefusedtocomplywiththerequisition,butfiredseveralshotsontheenvoy,oneofwhichwoundedinthearmaCamisardofthenameofLaGrandeur,whohadaccompaniedRavanel。
　　Ravanelwithdrew,supportinghiswoundedcomrade,followedbyshotsandthehootingsoftheinhabitants。WhentheyrejoinedCavalierandmadetheirreport,theyoungcommanderissuedorderstohissoldierstomakereadytotakethetownthenextmorning;for,asnightwasalreadyfalling,hedidnotventuretostartinthedark。Inthemeantimethebesiegedsentpost—hastetoM。deVergetottowarnhimoftheirsituation;andresolvingtodefendthemselvesaslongastheycould,whilewaitingforaresponsetotheirmessagetheysetaboutbarricadingtheirgates,turnedtheirscythesintoweapons,fastenedlargehooksonlongpoles,andcollectedalltheinstrumentstheycouldfindthatcouldbeusedinattackordefence。AstotheCamisards,theyencampedforthenightnearanoldchateaucalledFan,aboutagun—shotfromLussan。
　　AtbreakofdayloudshoutsfromthetowntoldtheCamisardsthattheexpectedreliefwasinsight,andlookingouttheysawinthedistanceatroopofsoldiersadvancingtowardsthem;itwasM。deVergetatattheheadofhisregiment,accompaniedbyfortyIrishofficers。
　　TheProtestantspreparedthemselves,asusual,byrecitingpsalmsandprayers,noticewithouttakingoftheshoutsandthreatsofanyofthetownspeople,andhavingfinishedtheirinvocations,theymarchedouttomeettheapproachingcolumn。Thecavalry,commandedbyCatinat,madeadetour,takingashelteredwaytoanunguardedbridgeoverasmallrivernotfaroff,soastooutflanktheroyalforces,whichtheyweretoattackintherearassoonasCavalierandRavanelshouldhaveengagedtheminfront。
　　M。deVergetot,onhisside,continuedtoadvance,sothattheCalvinistsandtheCatholicsweresoonfacetoface。Thebattlebeganonbothsidesbyavolley;butCavalierhavingseenhiscavalryemergingfromaneighbouringwood,andcountingupontheirassistance,chargedtheenemyatthedoublequick。Catinatjudgingbythenoiseofthefiringthathispresencewasnecessary,chargedalsoatagallop,fallingontheflankoftheCatholics。
　　Inthischarge,oneofM。deVergetot'scaptainswaskilledbyabullet,andtheotherbyasabre—cut,andthegrenadiersfallingintodisorder,firstlostgroundandthenfled,pursuedbyCatinatandhishorsemen,who,seizingthembythehair,despatchedthemwiththeirswords。Havingtriedinvaintorallyhismen,M,deVergetot,surroundedbyafewIrish,wasforcedinhisturntofly;hewashotlypursued,andonthepointofbeingtaken,whenbygoodluckhereachedtheheightofGamene,withitswallsofrock。Jumpingoffhishorse,heenteredthenarrowpathwaywhichledtothetop,andentrenchedhimselfwithaboutahundredmeninthisnaturalfort。
　　Cavalierperceivingthatfurtherpursuitwouldbedangerous,resolvedtorestsatisfiedwithhisvictory;asheknewbyhisownexperiencethatneithermennorhorseshadeatenforeighteenhours,hegavethesignalfarretreat,andretiredonSeyne,wherehehopedtofindprovisions。
　　Thisdefeatmortifiedtheroyalforcesverydeeply,andtheyresolvedtotaketheirrevenge。HavinglearntbytheirspiesthatonacertainnightinNovemberCavalieraridhisbandintendedtosleeponamountaincalledNages,theysurroundedthemountainduringthenight,sothatatdawnCavalierfoundhimselfshutinoneveryside。
　　Ashewishedtoseewithhisowneyesiftheinvestmentwascomplete,heorderedhistroopstofallintorankonthetopofthemountain,givingthecommandtoRavanelandCatinat,andwithapairofpistolsinhisbeltandhiscarbineonhisshoulder,heglidedfrombushtobushandrocktorock,determined,ifanyweakspotexisted,todiscoverit;buttheinformationhehadreceivedwasperfectlycorrect,everyissuewasguarded。
　　Cavaliernowsetofftorejoinhistroops,passingthrougharavine,buthehadhardlytakenthirtystepswhenhefoundhimselfconfrontedbyacornetandtwodragoonswhowerelyinginambush。Therewasnotimetorunaway,andindeedsuchathoughtneverenteredtheyoungcommander'shead;hewalkedstraightuptothem。Ontheirside,thedragoonsadvancedtowardshim,andthecornetcoveringhimwithhispistol,calledout,"Halt！youareCavalier;Iknowyou。Itisnotpossibleforyoutoescape;surrenderatdiscretion。"Cavalier'sanswerwastoblowoutthecornet'sbrainswithashotfromhiscarbine,thenthrowingitbehindhimasofnofurtheruse,hedrewhistwopistolsfromhisbelt,walkeduptothetwodragoons,shotthembothdead,andrejoinedhiscomradesunwounded。These,whohadbelievedhimlost,welcomedhimwithcheers。
　　ButCavalierhadsomethingelsetodothantocelebratehisreturn;
　　mountinghishorse,heputhimselfattheheadofhismen,andfellupontheroyaltroopswithsuchimpetuositythattheygavewayatthefirstonset。Thenastrangeincidentoccurred。Aboutthirtywomenwhohadcometothecampwithprovisions,carriedawaybytheirenthusiasmatthesightofthissuccess,threwthemselvesupontheenemy,fightinglikemen。Oneyounggirlofaboutseventeen,LucreseGuigonbyname,distinguishedherselfamongsttheothersbyhergreatvalour。Notcontentwithencouragingherbrethrenbythecryof"TheswordoftheLordandofGideon！"shetoresabresfromthehandsofthedeaddragoonstodespatchthedying。Catinat,followedbytenofhismen,pursuedtheflyingtroopsasfarastheplainofCalvisson。
　　Theretheywereabletorally,thankstotheadvanceofthegarrisontomeetthem。
　　Eightydragoonslaydeadonthefieldofbattle,whileCavalierhadonlylostfivemen。
　　Asweshallsee,Cavalierwasnotonlyabravesoldierandaskilfulcaptain,butalsoajustjudge。Afewdaysafterthedeedofarmswhichwehavejustrelated,helearnedthatahorriblemurderhadbeencommittedbyfourCamisards,whohadthenretiredintotheforestofBouquet。Hesentadetachmentoftwentymenwithorderstoarrestthemurderersandbringthembeforehim。Thefollowingarethedetailsofthecrime:
　　ThedaughterofBaronMeyrargues,whowasnotlongmarriedtoagentlemannamedM。deMiraman,hadsetoutonthe29thNovemberforAmbroixtojoinherhusband,whowaswaitingforherthere。Shewasencouragedtodothisbyhercoachman,whohadoftenmetwithCamisardsintheneighbourhood,andalthoughaCatholic,hadneverreceivedanyharmfromthem。Sheoccupiedherowncarriage,andwasaccompaniedbyamaid,anurse,afootman,andthecoachmanwhohadpersuadedhertoundertakethejourney。Two—thirdsofthewayalreadylaysafelybehindthem,whenbetweenLussanandVaudrasshewasstoppedbyfour,men,whomadehergetoutofhercarriageandaccompanythemintotheneighbouringforest。Theaccountofwhatthenhappenedistakenfromthedepositionofthemaid。Wecopyitwordforword:
　　"Thesewretcheshavingforcedus,"saysshe,"towalkintotheforesttillwewereatsomedistancefromthehighroad,mypoormistressgrewsotiredthatshebeggedthemanwhowalkedbesidehertoallowhertoleanonhisshoulder。Helookingroundandseeingthattheyhadreachedalonelyspot,replied,'Weneedhardlygoanyfarther,'
　　andmadeussitdawnonaplotofgrasswhichwastobethesceneofourmartyrdom。Mypoormistressbegantopleadwiththebarbariansinthemosttouchingmanner,andsosweetlythatshewouldhavesoftenedtheheartofademon。Sheofferedthemherpurse,hergoldwaistband,andafinediamondwhichshedrewfromherfinger;butnothingcouldmovethesetigers,andoneofthemsaid,'IamgoingtokillalltheCatholicsatonce,andshallbeginwithyou。''Whatwillyougainbymydeath？'askedmymistress。'Sparemylife。'——
　　'No;shutup！'repliedhe。'Youshalldiebymyhand。Sayyourprayers。'MygoodmistressthrewherselfatonceonherkneesandprayedaloudthatGodwouldshowmercytoherandtohermurderers,andwhileshewasthusprayingshereceivedapistol—shotinherleftbreast,andfell;asecondassassincutheracrossthefacewithhissword,andathirddroppedalargestoneonherhead,whilethefourthkilledthenursewithashotfromhispistol。Whetheritwasthattheyhadnomoreloadedfirearms,orthattheywishedtosavetheirammunition,theyweresatisfiedwithonlygivingmeseveralbayonetwounds。Ipretendedtobedead:theythoughtitwasreallythecase,andwentaway。Sometimeafter,seeingthateverythinghadbecomequiet,andhearingnosound,Idraggedmyself,dyingasIwas,towheremydearmistresslay,andcalledher。Asithappened,shewasnotquitedead,andshesaidinafaintvoice,'Staywithme,Suzon,tillIdie。'Sheadded,afterashortpause,forshewashardlyabletospeak,'Idieformyreligion,andIhopethatGodwillhavepityonme。TellmyhusbandthatIconfideourlittleonetohiscare。'Havingsaidthis,sheturnedherthoughtsfromtheworld,prayingtoGodinbrokenandtenderwords,anddrewherlastbreathasthenightfell。"
　　InobediencetoCavalier'sorders,thefourcriminalsweretakenandbroughtbeforehim。HewasthenwithhistroopsnearSaint—MauricedeCasevielle;hecalledacouncilofwar,andhavinghadtheprisonerstriedfortheiratrociousdeed,hesummeduptheevidenceinasclearamannerasanylawyercouldhavedone,andcalleduponthejudgestopronouncesentence。Allthejudgesagreedthattheprisonersshouldbeputtodeath,butjustasthesentencewasmadeknownoneoftheassassinspushedasidethetwomenwhoguardedhim,andjumpingdownarock,disappearedintheforestbeforeanyattemptcouldbemadetostophim。Thethreeotherswereshot。
　　TheCatholicsalsocondemnedmanytobeexecuted,butthetrialsconductedbythenwerefarfrombeingasremarkableforhonourandjusticeaswasthatwhichwehavejustdescribed。Wemayinstancethetrialofapoorboyoffourteen,thesonofamillerofSaint—Christolwhohadbeenbrokenthewheeljustamonthbefore。
　　Foramomentthejudgeshesitatedtocondemnsoyoungaboytodeath,butawitnesspresentedhimselfwhotestifiedthatthelittlefellowwasemployedbythefanaticstostrangleCatholicchildren。Althoughnoonebelievedtheevidence,yetitwasseized—onasapretext:theunfortunateboywascondemnedtodeath,andhangedwithoutmercyanhourlater。
　　AgreatmanypeoplefromtheparishesdevastatedbyM。deJulienhadtakenrefugeinAussilargues,intheparishofSt。Andre。Drivenbyhungerandmisery,theywentbeyondtheprescribedlimitsinsearchofmeansofsubsistence。Planquehearingofthis,inhisburningzealfortheCatholicfaithresolvednottoleavesuchacrimeunpunished。Hedespatchedadetachmentofsoldierstoarresttheculprits:thetaskwaseasy,fortheywerealloncemoreinsidethebarrierandintheirbeds。Theywereseized,broughttoSt。Andre'sChurchandshutin;then,withouttrialofanykind,——theyweretaken,fiveatatime,andmassacred:somewereshotandsomecutdownwithswordoraxe;allwerekilledwithoutexception——oldandyoungwomenandchildren。Oneofthelatter,whohadreceivedthreeshotswasstillabletoraisehisheadandcry,"Whereisfather？
　　Whydoesn'thecomeandtakemeaway。"
　　FourmenandayounggirlwhohadtakenrefugeinthetownofLasalle,oneoftheplacesgrantedtothehouselessvillagersasanasylum,askedandreceivedformalpermissionfromthecaptainoftheSoissonaisregiment,bynameLaplace,togohomeonimportantprivatebusiness,onconditionthattheyreturnedthesamenight。Theypromised,andintheintentionofkeepingthispromisetheyallmetontheirwaybackatasmallfarmhouse。Justastheyreacheditaterriblestormcameon。Themenwereforcontinuingtheirwayinspiteoftheweather,buttheyounggirlbesoughtthemtowaittilldaylight,asshedidnotdaretoventureoutinthedarkduringsuchastorm,andwoulddieoffrightifleftaloneatthefarm。Themen,ashamedtodeserttheircompanion,whowasrelatedtooneofthem,yieldedtoherentreatiesandremained,hopingthatthestormwouldbeasufficientexcuseforthedelay。Assoonasitwaslight,thefiveresumedtheirjourney。ButthenewsoftheircrimehadreachedtheearsofLaplacebeforetheygotback。Theywerearrested,andalltheirexcuseswereofnoavail。Laplaceorderedthementobetakenoutsidethetownandshot。Theyounggirlwascondemnedtobehanged;andthesentencewastobecarriedoutthatveryday,butsomenunswhohadbeensentfortoprepareherfordeath,havingvainlybeggedLaplacetoshowmercy,entreatedthegirltodeclarethatshewouldsoonbecomeamother。Sheindignantlyrefusedtosaveherlifeatthecostofhergoodname,sothenunstookthelieonthemselvesandmadethenecessarydeclarationbeforethecaptain,begginghimifhehadnopityforthemothertosparethechildatleast,bygrantingareprievetillitshouldbeborn。Thecaptainwas/notforamomentdeceived,buthesentforamidwifeandorderedhertoexaminetheyounggirl。Attheendofhalfanhourshedeclaredthattheassertionofthenunswastrue。
　　"Verywell,"saidthecaptain:"letthembothbekeptinprisonforthreemonths;ifbytheendofthattimethetruthofthisassertionisnotself—evident,bothshallbehanged。"Whenthisdecisionwasmadeknowntothepoorwoman,shewasovercomebyfear,andaskedtoseethe,captainagain,towhomsheconfessedthat,ledawaybytheentreatiesofthenuns,shehadtoldalie。
　　Uponthis,thewomanwassentencedtobepubliclywhipped,andtheyounggirlhangedonagibbetroundwhichwereplacedthecorpsesofthefourmenofwhosedeathshewasthecause。
　　Asmayeasilybesupposed,the"CadetsoftheCross"viedwithbothCatholicsandProtestantsintheworkofdestruction。OneoftheirbandsdevoteditselftodestroyingeverythingbelongingtothenewconvertsfromBeaucairetoNimes。TheykilledawomanandtwochildrenatCampuget,anoldmanofeightyatafarmnearBouillargues,severalpersonsatCicure,ayounggirlatCaissargues,agardeneratNimes,andmanyotherpersons,besidescarryingoffalltheflocks,furniture,andotherpropertytheycouldlayhandson,andburningdownthefarmhousesofClairan,Loubes,Marine,Carlot,CampogetMiraman,LaBergerie,andLarnac——allnearSt。GiliesandManduel。"Theystoppedtravellersonthehighways,"saysLouvreloeil,"andbywayoffindingoutwhethertheywereCatholicornot,madethemsayinLatintheLord'sPrayer,theAveMaria,theSymboloftheFaith,andtheGeneralConfession,andthosewhowereunabletodothiswereputtothesword。InDionsninecorpseswerefoundsupposedtohavebeenkilledbytheirhands,andwhenthebodyofashepherdwhohadbeenintheserviceoftheSieurdeRoussiere,aformerminister,wasfoundhangingtoatree,noonedoubtedwhowerethemurderers。AtlasttheywentsofarthatoneoftheirbandsmeetingtheAbbedeSaintGillesontheroad,orderedhimtodeliveruptothemoneofhisservants,anewconvert,inordertoputhimtodeath。Itwasinvainthattheabberemonstratedwiththem,tellingthemitwasashametoputsuchanaffrontonamanofhisbirthandrank;theypersistednonethelessintheirdetermination,tillatlasttheabbethrewhisarmsroundhisservantandpresentedhisownbodytotheblowsdirectedattheother。"
　　TheauthorofTheTroublesintheCevennesrelatessomethingsurpassingallthiswhichtookplaceatMontelusonthe22ndFebruary"TherewereafewProtestantsintheplace,"hesays,"buttheywerefaroutnumberedbytheCatholics;thesebeingrousedbyaCapuchinfromBergerac,formedthemselvesintoabodyof'CadetsoftheCross,'andhastenedtoservetheirapprenticeshiptotheworkofassassinationatthecostoftheircountrymen。TheythereforeenteredthehouseofoneJeanBernoin,cutoffhisearsandfurthermutilatedhim,andthenbledhimtodeathlikeapig。OncomingoutofthishousetheymetJacquesClas,andshothimintheabdomen,sothathisintestinesobtruded;pushingthemback,hereachedhishouseinaterriblecondition,tothegreatalarmofhiswife,whowasnearherconfinement,andherchildren,whohastenedtothehelpofhusbandandfather。Butthemurderersappearedonthethreshold,and,unmovedbythecriesandtearsoftheunfortunatewifeandthepoorlittlechildren,theyfinishedthewoundedman,andasthewifemadeanefforttopreventthem,theymurderedheralso,treatingherdeadbody,whentheydiscoveredhercondition,inamannertoorevoltingfordescription;whileaneighbour,calledMarieSilliot,whotriedtorescuethechildren,wasshotdead;butinhercasetheydidnotpursuetheirvengeanceanyfurther。TheythenwentintotheopencountryandmeetingPierreandJeanBernard,uncleandnephew,oneagedforty—fiveandtheotherten,seizedonthemboth,andputtingapistolintothehandsofthechild,forcedhimtoshoothisuncle。Inthemeantimetheboy'sfatherhadcomeup,andhimtheytriedtoconstraintoshoothisson;butfindingthatnothreatshadanyeffect,theyendedbykillingboth,onebythesword,theotherbythebayonet。
　　"ThereasonwhytheyputanendtofatherandsonsoquicklywasthattheyhadnoticedthreeyounggirlsofBagnolsgoingtowardsagroveofmulberrytrees,wheretheywereraisingsilk—worms。Themenfollowedthem,andasitwasbroaddaylightandthegirlswerethereforenotafraid,theysooncameupwiththem。Havingfirstviolatedthem,theyhungthembythefeettoatree,andputthemtodeathinahorriblemanner。"
　　AllthistookplaceinthereignofLouistheGreat,andforthegreatergloryoftheCatholicreligion。
　　Historyhaspreservedthenamesofthefivewretcheswhoperpetratedthesecrimes:theywerePierreVigneau,AntoineRey,Jeand'Hugon,Guillaume,andGontanille。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　Suchcrimes,ofwhichwehaveonlydescribedafew,inspiredhorrorinthebreastsofthosewhowereneithermaddenedbyfanaticismnordevouredbythedesireofvengeance。Oneofthese,aProtestant,Barond'Aygaliers,withoutstoppingtoconsiderwhatmeanshehadathiscommandorwhatmeasureswerethebesttotaketoaccomplishhisobject,resolvedtodevotehislifetothepacificationoftheCevennes。Thefirstthingtobeconsideredwas,thatiftheCamisardswereeverentirelydestroyedbymeansofCatholictroopsdirectedbydeBaville,deJulien,anddeMontrevel,theProtestants,andespeciallytheProtestantnobleswhohadneverbornearms,wouldberegardedascowards,whohadbeenpreventedbyfearofdeathorpersecutionfromopenlytakingthepartoftheHuguenots:Hewasthereforeconvincedthattheonlycoursetopursuewastoget,hisco—religioniststoputanendtothestrugglethemselves,astheonewayofpleasingHisMajestyandofshowinghimhowgroundlesswerethesuspicionsarousedinthemindsofmenbytheCatholicclergy。