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away in their flight。 Many were incapacitated for service by their
wounds； and lastly； the cavalry could hardly be said to exist any
longer； as the few men who survived had been obliged to abandon their
horses； in order to get across the high ditches which were their only
cover from the dragoons during the flight。
Meantime the royalists were very active； and Cavalier felt that it
would be imprudent to remain long at Pierredon； so setting out during
the night； and crossing the Gardon； he buried himself in the forest
of Hieuzet； whither he hoped his enemies would not venture to follow
him。 And in fact the first two days were quiet； and his troops
benefited greatly by the rest； especially as they were able to draw
stores of all kindswheat； hay； arms； and ammunitionfrom an
immense cave which the Camisards had used for a long time as a
magazine and arsenal。 Cavalier now also employed it as a hospital；
and had the wounded carried there； that their wounds might receive
attention。
Unfortunately； Cavalier was soon obliged to quit the forest； in spite
of his hopes of being left in peace； for one day on his way back from
a visit to the wounded in the cave； whose existence was a secret； he
came across a hundred miquelets who had penetrated thus far； and who
would have taken him prisoner if he had not； with his； accustomed
presence of mind and courage； sprung from a rock twenty feet high。
The miquelets fired at him； but no bullet reached him。 Cavalier
rejoined his troops； but fearing to attract the rest of the royalists
to the place；retreated to some distance from the cave； as it was of
the utmost importance that it should not be discovered； since it
contained all his resources。
Cavalier had now reached one of those moments when Fortune； tired of
conferring favours； turns her back on the favourite。 The royalists
had often noticed an old woman from the village of Hieuzet going
towards the forest； sometimes carrying a basket in her hand；
sometimes with a hamper on her head； and it occurred to them that she
was supplying the hidden Camisards with provisions。 She was arrested
and brought before General Lalande； who began his examination by
threatening that he would have her hanged if she did not at once
declare the object of her frequent journeys to the forest without
reserve。 At first she made use of all kinds of pretexts； which only
strengthened the suspicions of Lalande； who； ceasing his questions；
ordered her to be taken to the gallows and hanged。 The old woman
walked to the place of execution with such a firm step that the
general began to think he would get no information from her； but at
the foot of the ladder her courage failed。 She asked to be taken
back before the general； and having been promised her life； she
revealed everything。
M。 de Lalande put himself at once at the head of a strong detachment
of miquelets； and forced the woman to walk before them till they
reached the cavern； which they never would have discovered without a
guide； so cleverly was the entrance hidden by rocks and brushwood。
On entering； the first thing that met their eye was the wounded；
about thirty in number。 The miquelets threw themselves upon them and
slaughtered them。 This deed accomplished； they went farther into the
cave； which to their great surprise contained a thousand things they
never expected to find thereheaps of grain； sacks of flour； barrels
of wine； casks of brandy； quantities of chestnuts and potatoes； and
besides all this； chests containing ointments； drugs and lint； and
lastly a complete arsenal of muskets； swords； and bayonets； a
quantity of powder ready…made； and sulphur； saltpetre； and
charcoal…in short； everything necessary for the manufacture of more；
down to small mills to be turned by hand。 Lalande kept his word： the
life of an old woman was not too much to give in return for such a
treasure。
Meantime M。 de Villars； as he had promised； took up Baron d'Aygaliers
in passing through Lyons； so that during the rest of the journey the
peacemaker had plenty of time to expatiate on his plans。 As M。 de
Villars was a man of tact and a lover of justice； and desired above
all things to bring a right spirit to bear on the performance of the
duties of his new office； in which his two predecessors had failed；
he promised the baron 〃to keep；〃 as he expressed himself； his 〃two
ears open〃 and listen to both sides； and as a first proof of
impartialityhe refused to give any opinion until he had heard M； de
Julien； who was coming to meet him at Tournon。
When they arrived at Tournon； M。 de Julien was there to receive them；
and had a very different story to tell from that which M。 de Villars
had heard from d'Aygaliers。 According to him； the only pacific
ration possible was the complete extermination of the Camisards。 He
felt himself very hardly treated in that he had been allowed to
destroy only four hundred villages and hamlets in the Upper Cevennes；
assuring de Villars with the confidence of a man who had studied
the matter profoundly； that they should all have been demolished
without exception； and all the peasants killed to the last man。
So it came to pass that M。 de Villars arrived at Beaucaire placed
like Don Juan between the spirits of good and evil； the one advising
clemency and the other murder。 M。 de Villars not being able to make
up his mind； on reaching Nimes； d'Aygaliers assembled the principal
Protestants of the town； told them of his plan； showing them its
practicability； so that also joined in the good work； and drew up a
document in which they asked the marechal to allow them to take up
arms and march against the rebels； as they were determined either to
bring them back into the good way by force of example or to fight
them as a proof of their loyalty。
This petition； which was signed by several nobles and by almost all
the lawyers and merchants of the city of Nimes； was presented to M。
de Villars on Tuesday； 22nd April； 1704； by M。 de Albenas； at the
head of seven or eight hundred persons of the Reformed religion。
M。 de Villars received the request kindly； thanked its bearer and
those who accompanied him； assuring them that he had no doubt of the
sincerity of their professions； and that if he were in want of help
he would have recourse to them with as much confidence as if they
were old Catholics。 He hoped； however； to win the rebels back by
mildness； and he begged them to second his efforts in this direction
by spreading abroad the fact that an amnesty was offered to all those
who would lay down arms and return to their houses within a week。
The very next day but one； M。 de Villars set out from Nimes to visit
all the principal towns； in order to make himself acquainted with
men； things； and places。
Although the answer to the petition had been a delicate refusal；
d'Aygaliers was not discouraged； but followed M。 de Villars
everywhere。 When the latter arrived at Alais； the new governor sent
for MM。 de Lalande and de Baville； in order to consult them as to the
best means of inducing the Camisards to lay down their arms。 Baron
d'Aygaliers was summoned to this consultation； and described his plan
to the