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〃But； judging by your tone；〃 said Cavalier； who had till now remained
silent while toying with his pistol； 〃you seem to be in command here；
have we changed； parts without my being aware？〃
〃It is possible；〃 said Ravanel。
Cavalier burst out laughing。
〃It seems to astonish you；〃 said Ravanel； 〃but it is true。 Make
peace for yourself； lay down what conditions suit you； sell yourself
for whatever you will bring； my only reply is； You are a coward and a
traitor。 But as to the troops； they will not lay down arms except on
the conditions formulated by me。〃
Cavalier tried to get at Ravanel； but seeing from his paleness and
his smile that terrible things would happen if he reached his
lieutenant； Vincel and Cappon； backed by some Camisards； threw
themselves before his horse。 Just then the whole band shouted with
one voice； 〃No peace！ no peace！ no reconciliation till our temples
are restored！〃 Cavalier then saw for the first time that things were
more serious than he had believed； but Vincel； Cappon； Berlie； and
about twenty Camisards surrounded the young chief and forced him to
enter a house； it was the house of Vincel。
They had hardly got indoors when the 'generale' was sounded：
resisting all entreaties； Cavalier sprang to the door； but was
detained by Berlie； who said that the first thing he ought to do was
to write M。 de Villars an account of what had happened； who would
then take measures to put things straight。
〃You are right；〃 said Cavalier； 〃as I have so many enemies； the
general might be told if I were killed that I had broken my word。
Give me pen and ink。〃
Writing materials were brought； and he wrote to M。 de Villars。
〃Here；〃 he said； giving the letter unsealed to Vincel； 〃set out for
Nimes and give this to the marechal； and tell him； if I am killed in
the attempt I am about to make； I died his humble servant。〃
With these words； he darted out of the house and mounted his horse；
being met at the door by twelve to fifteen men who had remained
faithful to him。 He asked them where Ravanel and his troops were；
not seeing a single Camisard in the streets； one of the soldiers
answered that they were probably still in town； but that they were
moving towards Les Garrigues de Calvisson。 Cavalier set off at a
gallop to overtake them。
In crossing the market…place he met Catinat； walking between two
prophets； one called Moses and the other Daniel Guy； Catinat was just
back from a visit to the mountains； so that he had taken no part in
the scene of insubordination that had so lately been enacted。
Cavalier felt a ray of hope； he was sure he could depend on Catinat
as on himself。 He hurried to greet him； holding out his hand； but
Catinat drew back his。
〃What does this mean？〃 cried Cavalier； the blood mounting to his
forehead。
〃It means；〃 answered Catinat； 〃that you are a traitor； and I cannot
give my hand to a traitor。〃
Cavalier gave a cry of rage； and advancing on Catinat； raised his
cane to strike him； but Moses and Daniel Guy threw themselves
between； so that the blow aimed at Catinat fell on Moses。 At the
same moment Catinat； seeing Cavalier's gesture； drew a pistol from
his belt。 As it was at full cock； it went off in his hand； a bullet
piercing Guy's hat； without； however； wounding him。
At the noise of the report shouts were heard about a hundred yards
away。 It was the Camisards； who had been on the point of leaving the
town； but hearing the shot had turned back； believing that some of
their brethren were being murdered。 On seeing them appear； Cavalier
forgot Catinat； and rode straight towards them。 As soon as they
caught sight of him they halted； and Ravanel advanced before them
ready for every danger。
〃Brethren；〃 he cried； 〃the traitor has come once more to tempt us。
Begone； Judas！ You have no business here。〃
〃But I have；〃 exclaimed Cavalier。 〃I have to punish a scoundrel
called Ravanel； if he has courage to follow me。〃
〃Come on； then；〃 cried Ravanel； darting down a small side…street；
〃and let us have done with it。〃 The Camisards made a motion as if to
follow them； but Ravanel turning towards them ordered them to remain
where they were。
They obeyed； and thus Cavalier could see that； insubordinate as they
had been towards him； they were ready to obey another。
Just at the moment as he turned into the narrow street where the
dispute was to be settled once for all； Moses and Guy came up； and
seizing the bridle of his horse stopped him； while the Camisards who
were on the side of Cavalier surrounded Ravanel and forced him to
return to his soldiers。 The troops struck up a psalm； and resumed
their march； while Cavalier was held back by force。
At last； however； the young Cevenol succeeded in breaking away from
those who surrounded him； and as the street by which the Camisards
had retired was blocked； he dashed down another。 The two prophets
suspecting his intention； hurried after the troops by the most direct
route； and got up with them； just as Cavalier； who had made the
circuit of the town； came galloping across the plain to intercept
their passage。 The troops halted； and Ravanel gave orders to fire。
The first rank raised their muskets and took aim； thus indicating
that they were ready to obey。 But it was not a danger of this kind
that could frighten Cavalier； he continued to advance。 Then Moses
seeing his peril； threw himself between the Camisards and him；
stretching out his arms and shouting； 〃Stop！ stop！ misguided men！
Are you going to kill Brother Cavalier like a highwayman and thief？
You must pardon him； my brethren！ you must pardon him！ If he has
done wrong in the past； he will do better in future。〃
Then those who had taken aim at Cavalier grounded their muskets； and
Cavalier changing menace for entreaty； begged them not to break the
promise that he had made in their name； whereupon the prophets struck
up a psalm； and the rest of the soldiers joining in； his voice was
completely drowned。 Nevertheless； Cavalier did not lose heart； but
accompanied them on their march to Saint…Esteve； about a league
farther on； unable to relinquish all hope。 On reaching Saint…Esteve
the singing ceased for a moment； and he made another attempt to
recall them to obedience。 Seeing； however； that it was all in vain；
he gave up hope； and ％… calling out； 〃At least defend yourselves as
well as you can； for the dragoons will soon be on you；〃 he set his
horse's head towards the town。 Then turning to them for the last
time； he said； 〃Brethren； let those who love me follow me！〃 He
pronounced these words in tones so full of grief and affection that
many were shaken in their resolution； but Ravanel and Moses seeing
the effect he had produced； began to shout； 〃The sword of the Lord！〃
Immediately all the troops turned their back on Cavalier except about
forty men who had joined him on his first appearance。
Cavalier went into a house near by； and wrote another letter to M。 de
Villars； in which he told him what had just taken place； the efforts
he had made to win back his troops； and the conditions they demanded。
He ended by assuring him that he would make still further efforts；
and promised