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massacres of the south-第37章

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carried off by the plague in 1720。

All these sentences were carried out with the utmost rigour。

Thus; as may be seen; the suppression of the revolt proceeded apace;
only two young Camisard chiefs were still at large; both of whom had
formerly served under Cavalier and Catinat。  The name of the one was
Brun and of the other Francezet。  Although neither of them possessed
the genius and influence of Catinat and Ravanel; yet they were both
men to be feared; the one on account of his personal strength; the
other for his skill and agility。  Indeed; it was said of him that he
never missed a shot; and that one day being pursued by dragoons he
had escaped by jumping over the Gardon at a spot where it was
twenty…two feet wide。

For a long time all search was in vain; but one day the wife of a
miller named Semenil came into town ostensibly to buy provisions; but
really to denounce them as being concealed; with two other Camisards;
in her husband's house。

This information was received with an eager gratitude; which showed
the importance which the governor of Nimes attached to their capture。
The woman was promised a reward of fifty Louis if they were taken;
and the Chevalier de la Valla; Grandidier; and fifty Swiss; the major
of the Saint…Sernin regiment; a captain; and thirty dragoons; were
sent off to make the capture。  When they were within a quarter of a
league of the mill; La Valla; who was in command of the expedition;
made the woman give him all the necessary topographical information。

Having learned that besides the door by which they hoped to effect an
entrance; the mill possessed only one other; which opened on a bridge
over the Vistre; he despatched ten dragoons and five Swiss to occupy
this bridge; whilst he and the rest of the troops bore down on the
main entrance。  As soon as the four Camisards perceived the approach
of the soldiers; their first thought was to escape by the bridge; but
one of them having gone up to the roof to make sure that the way was
clear; came down exclaiming that the bridge was occupied。  On hearing
this; the four felt that they were lost; but nevertheless resolved to
defend themselves as valiantly and to sell their lives as dearly as
possible。  As soon as the royals were within musket range of the
mill; four shots were fired; and two dragoons; one Swiss; and one
horse; fell。  M。 de Valla thereupon ordered the troops to charge at
full gallop; but before the mill door was reached three other shots
were heard; and two more men killed。  Nevertheless; seeing they could
not long hold out against such numbers; Francezet gave the signal for
retreat; calling out; 〃Sauve qui petit!〃 at the same instant he
jumped out of a lattice window twenty feet from the ground; followed
by Brun。  Neither of them being hurt; both set off across country;
one trusting to his strength and the other to his fleetness of foot。
The two other Camisards; who had tried to escape by the door; were
captured。

The soldiers; horse and foot; being now free to give all their
attention to Brun and Francezet; a wonderful race began; for the two
fugitives; being strong and active; seemed to play with their
pursuers; stopping every now and then; when they had gained
sufficient headway; to shoot at the nearest soldiers; when Francezet;
proving worthy of his reputation; never missed a single shot。  Then;
resuming their flight and loading their weapons as they ran; they
leaped rivers and ditches; taking advantage of the less direct road
which the troops were obliged to follow; to stop and take breath;
instead of making for some cover where they might have found safety。
Two or three times Brun was on the point of being caught; but each
time the dragoon or Swiss who had got up to him fell; struck by
Francezet's unerring bullet。  The chase lasted four hours; during
which time five officers; thirty dragoons; and fifty Swiss were
baffled by two men; one of whom Francezet was almost a boy; being
only twenty years old!  Then the two Camisards; having exhausted
their ammunition; gave each other the name of a village as a
rendezvous; and each taking a different direction; bounded away with
the lightness of a stag。  Francezet ran in the direction of Milhaud
with such rapidity that he gained on the dragoons; although they put
their horses at full speed。  He was within an inch of safety; when a
peasant named La Bastide; who was hoeing in a field; whence he had
watched the contest with interest from the moment he had first caught
sight of it; seeing the fugitive make for an opening in a wall; ran
along at the foot of the wall on the other side; and; just as
Francezet dashed through the opening like a flash of lightning;
struck him such a heavy blow on the head with his hoe that the skull
was laid open; and he fell bathed in blood。

The dragoons; who had seen in the distance what had happened; now
came up; and rescued Francezet from the hands of his assailant; who
had continued to rain blows upon him; desiring to put an end to him。
The unconscious Camisard was carried to Milhaud; where his wounds
were bandaged; and himself revived by means of strong spirits forced
into mouth and nostrils。

We now return to Brun。  At first it seemed as if he were more
fortunate than his comrade; for; meeting with no obstacle; he was
soon not only out of reach; but out of sight of his enemies。  He now;
however; felt broken by fatigue; and taught caution by the treachery
to which he had almost fallen a victim; he dared not ask for an
asylum; so; throwing himself down in a ditch; he was soon fast
asleep。  The dragoons; who had not given up the search; presently
came upon him; and falling on him as he lay; overpowered him before
he was well awake。

When both Camisards met before the governor; Francezet replied to all
interrogations that since the death of brother Catinat his sole
desire had been to die a martyr's death like him; while Brun said
that he was proud and happy to die in the cause of the Lord along
with such a brave comrade as Francezet。  This manner of defence led
to the application of the question both ordinary and extraordinary;
and to the stake; and our readers already know what such a double
sentence meant。  Francezet and Brun paid both penalties on the 30th
of April; betraying no secrets and uttering no complaints。

Boeton; who had been denounced by Villas when under torture (and who
thereby abridged his agony) as the person in whose house the plot to
carry off the Duke of Berwick and de Baville had been arranged; still
remained to be dealt with。

He was moderate in his religious views; but firm and full of faith;
his principles resembled those of the Quakers in that he refused to
carry arms; he was; however; willing to aid the good cause by all
other means within his reach。  He was at home waiting; with that calm
which perfect trust in God gives; for the day to come which had been
appointed for the execution of the plan; when suddenly his house was
surrounded during the night by the royals。  Faithful to his
principles; he offered no resistance; but held out his hands to be
bound。  He was taken in triumph to Nimes; and from there to the
citadel of Montpellier。  On the way he encountered his wife and his
son; who were going to the latter town to intercede for him。  When
they met him; they dismounted from their horse; for the mother was
riding on a pillion behind the son; and kneeling on the highroad;
asked for Boeton's blessing。  Unfeeling though the soldiers were;
they yet permitted their prisoner to stop an instant; while he;
raising his fettered hands to heaven; gave the double blessing asked
for。  So touched was Baron Saint…Chatte by the scene (be it remarked
in passing that the baron and Boeton were cousins by marriage) that
he permitted them to embrace one another; so for a few moments they
stood; the husband and father clasped to the hearts of his dear ones;
then; on a sign from Boeton; they tore themselves away; Boeton
commanding them to pray for M。 de Saint…Chatte; who had given them
this consolation。  As he resumed his march the prisoner set them the
example by beginning to sing a psalm for the benefit of M。 de
Saint…Chatte。

The next day; despite the intercession of his wife and son; Boeton
was condemned to torture both ordinary and extraordinary; and then to
be broken on the wheel。  On hearing this cruel sentence; he said that
he was ready to suffer every ill that God might send him in order to
prove the steadfastness of his faith。

And indeed he endured his torture with such firmness; that M。 de
Baville; who was present in the hope of obtaining a confession;
became more impatient than the sufferer; and; forgetting his sacred
office; the judge struck and insulted the prisoner。  Upon this Baeton
raised his eyes to heaven and cried; 〃Lord; Lord! how long shall the
wicked triumph?  How long shall innocent blood be shed?  How long
wilt Thou not judge and avenge our blood with cries to Thee?
Remember Thy jealousy; O Lord; and Thy loving…kindness of old!〃  Then
M。 de Baville withdrew; giving orders that he was to be brought to
the scaffold。

The scaffold was erected on the Esplanade: being; as was usual when
this sor
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