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Or occasionally at night； on the tops of the lofty mountains； fires
shone forth which appeared to signal one to another； but on looking
the next night in the same direction all was dark。
So M。 de Broglie； concluding that nothing could be done against
enemies who were invisible； disbanded the troops which had come to
his aid； and went back to Montpellier； leaving a company of fusiliers
at Collet； another at Ayres； one at the bridge of Montvert； one at
Barre； and one at Pompidon； and appointing Captain Poul as their
chief；
This choice of such a man as chief showed that M； de Broglie was a
good judge of human nature； and was also perfectly acquainted with
the situation； for Captain Poul was the very man to take a leading
part in the coming struggle。 〃He was；〃 says Pere Louvreloeil； priest
of the Christian doctrine and cure of Saint…Germain de Calberte； 〃an
officer of merit and reputation； born in Ville…Dubert； near
Carcassonne； who had when young served in Hungary and Germany； and
distinguished himself in Piedmont in several excursions against the
Barbets； ＇ A name applied first to the Alpine smugglers who lived in
the valleys； later to the insurgent peasants in the Cevennes。
Translator's Note。＇ notably in one of the later ones； when； entering
the tent of their chief； Barbanaga； he cut off his head。 His tall
and agile figure； his warlike air； his love of hard work； his hoarse
voice； his fiery and austere character； his carelessness in regard to
dress； his mature age； his tried courage； his taciturn habit； the
length and weight of his sword； all combined to render him
formidable。 Therefore no one could have been chosen more suitable
for putting down the rebels； for forcing their entrenchments； and for
putting them to flight。
Hardly had he taken up a position in the market town of Labarre；
which was to be his headquarters； than he was informed that a
gathering of fanatics had been seen on the little plain of Fondmorte；
which formed a pass between two valleys。 He ordered out his Spanish
steed； which he was accustomed to ride in the Turkish mannerthat
is； with very short stirrups； so that he could throw himself forward
to the horse's ears； or backward to the tail； according as he wished
to give or avoid a mortal blow。 Taking with him eighteen men of his
own company and twenty…five from the town； he at once set off for the
place indicated； not considering any larger number necessary to put
to rout a band of peasants； however numerous。
The information turned out to be correct： a hundred Reformers led by
Esprit Seguier had encamped in the plain of Fondmorte； and about
eleven o'clock in the morning one of their sentinels in the defile
gave the alarm by firing off his gun and running back to the camp；
shouting； 〃To arms！〃 But Captain Poul； with his usual impetuosity；
did not give the insurgents time to form； but threw himself upon them
to the beat of the drum； not in the least deterred by their first
volley。 As he had expected； the band consisted of undisciplined
peasants； who once scattered were unable to rally。 They were
therefore completely routed。 Poul killed several with his own hand；
among whom were two whose heads he cut off as cleverly as the most
experienced executioner could have done； thanks to the marvellous
temper of his Damascus blade。 At this sight all who had till then
stood their ground took to flight； Poul at their heels； slashing with
his sword unceasingly； till they disappeared among the mountains。 He
then returned to the field of battle； picked up the two heads； and
fastening them to his saddlebow； rejoined his soldiers with his
bloody trophies；that is to say； he joined the largest group of
soldiers he could find； for the fight had turned into a number of
single combats； every soldier fighting for himself。 Here he found
three prisoners who were about to be shot； but Poul ordered that they
should not be touched： not that he thought for an instant of sparing
their lives； but that he wished to reserve them for a public
execution。 These three men were Nouvel； a parishioner of Vialon；
Moise Bonnet of Pierre…Male； and Esprit Seguier the prophet。
Captain Poul returned to Barre carrying with him his two heads and
his three prisoners； and immediately reported to M。 Just de Baville；
intendant of Languedoc； the important capture he had made。 The
prisoners were quickly tried。 Pierre Nouvel was condemned to be
burnt alive at the bridge of Montvert； Molise Bonnet to be broken on
the wheel at Deveze； and Esprit Seguier to be hanged at
Andre…de…Lancise。 Thus those who were amateurs in executions had a
sufficient choice。
However； Moise Bonnet saved himself by becoming Catholic； but Pierre
Nouvel and Esprit Seguier died as martyrs； making profession of the
new faith and praising God。
Two days after the sentence on Esprit Seguier had been carried out；
the body disappeared from the gallows。 A nephew of Laporte named
Roland had audaciously carried it off； leaving behind a writing
nailed to the gibbet。 This was a challenge from Laporte to Poul； and
was dated from the 〃Camp of the Eternal God； in the desert of
Cevennes；〃 Laporte signing himself 〃Colonel of the children of God
who seek liberty of conscience。〃 Poul was about to accept the
challenge when he learned that the insurrection was spreading on
every side。 A young man of Vieljeu； twenty…six years of age； named
Solomon Couderc； had succeeded Esprit Seguier in the office of
prophet； and two young lieutenants had joined Laporte。 One of these
was his nephew Roland； a man of about thirty； pock…marked； fair；
thin； cold； and reserved； he was not tall； but very strong； and of
inflexible courage。 The other； Henri Castanet of Massevaques； was a
keeper from the mountain of Laygoal； whose skill as a marksman was so
well known that it was said he never missed a shot。 Each of these
lieutenants had fifty men under him。
Prophets and prophetesses too increased apace； so that hardly a day
passed without reports being heard of fresh ones who were rousing
whole villages by their ravings。
In the meantime a great meeting of the Protestants of Languedoc had
been held in the fields of Vauvert； at which it had been resolved to
join forces with the rebels of the Cevennes； and to send a messenger
thither to make this resolution known。
Laporte had just returned from La Vaunage； where he had been making
recruits； when this good news arrived； he at once sent his nephew
Roland to the new allies with power to pledge his word in return for
theirs； and to describe to them； in order to attract them； the
country which he had chosen as the theatre of the coming war； and
which； thanks to its hamlets； its woods； its defiles； its valleys；
its precipices； and its caves； was capable of affording cover to as
many bands of insurgents as might be employed； would be a good
rallying…ground after repulse； and contained suitable positions for
ambuscades。 Roland was so successful in his mission that these new
〃soldiers of the Lord；〃 as they called themselves； on learning that
he had once been a dragoon； offered him the post of leader； which he
accepted； and returned to his uncle at t