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without avail； and while he was thus occupied his own troop ran away；
so seeing there was no prospect of winning the battle； he and a few
valiant men who had remained near him dashed forward to extricate M。
Dourville； who； taking advantage of the opening thus made； retreated；
his wound bleeding profusely。 On the other hand； the Camisards
perceiving at some distance bodies of infantry coming up to reinforce
the royals； instead of pursuing their foes； contented themselves with
keeping up a thick and well…directed musketry…fire from the position
in which they had won such a quick and easy victory。
As soon as the royal forces were out of reach of their weapons； the
rebel chief knelt down and chanted the song the Israelites sang when；
having crossed the Red Sea in safety； they saw the army of Pharaoh
swallowed up in the waters； so that although no longer within reach
of bullets the defeated troops were still pursued by songs of
victory。 Their thanksgivings ended； the Calvinists withdrew into the
forest； led by their new chief； who had at his first assay shown the
great extent of his knowledge； coolness； and courage。
This new chief； whose superiors were soon to become his lieutenants；
was the famous Jean Cavalier。
Jean Cavalier was then a young man of twenty…three； of less than
medium height； but of great strength。 His face was oval； with
regular features； his eyes sparkling and beautiful； he had long
chestnut hair falling on his shoulders； and an expression of
remarkable sweetness。 He was born in 168o at Ribaute； a village in
the diocese of Alais； where his father had rented a small farm； which
he gave up when his son was about fifteen； coming to live at the farm
of St。 Andeol； near Mende。
Young Cavalier； who was only a peasant and the son of a peasant；
began life as a shepherd at the Sieur de Lacombe's； a citizen of
Vezenobre； but as the lonely life dissatisfied a young man who was
eager for pleasure； Jean gave it up； and apprenticed himself to a
baker of Anduze。
There he developed a great love for everything connected with the
military； he spent all his free time watching the soldiers at their
drill； and soon became intimate with some of them； amongst others
with a fencing…master who gave him lessons； and a dragoon who taught
him to ride。
On a certain Sunday； as he was taking a walk with his sweetheart on
his arm； the young girl was insulted by a dragoon of the Marquis de
Florae's regiment。 Jean boxed the dragoon's ears； who drew his
sword。 Cavalier seized a sword from one of the bystanders； but the
combatants were prevented from fighting by Jean's friends。 Hearing
of the quarrel； an officer hurried up： it was the Marquis de Florae
himself； captain of the regiment which bore his name； but when he
arrived on the scene he found； not the arrogant peasant who had dared
to attack a soldier of the king； but only the young girl； who had
fainted； the townspeople having persuaded her lover to decamp。
The young girl was so beautiful that she was commonly called la belle
Isabeau； and the Marquis de Florac； instead of pursuing Jean
Cavalier； occupied himself in reviving Isabeau。
As it was； however； a serious affair； and as the entire regiment had
sworn Cavalier's death； his friends advised him to leave the country
for a time。 La belle Isabeau； trembling for the safety of her lover；
joined her entreaties to those of his friends； and Jean Cavalier
yielded。 The young girl promised him inviolable fidelity； and he；
relying on this promise； went to Geneva。
There he made the acquaintance of a Protestant gentleman called Du
Serre； who having glass…works at the Mas Arritas； quite near the farm
of St。 Andeol； had undertaken several times； at the request of Jean's
father； Jerome； to convey money to Jean； for Du Serre went very often
to Geneva； professedly on business affairs； but really in the
interests of the Reformed faith。 Between the outlaw and the apostle
union was natural。 Du Serre found in Cavalier a young man of robust
nature； active imagination； and irreproachable courage； he confided
to him his hopes of converting all Languedoc and Vivarais。 Cavalier
felt himself drawn back there by many ties； especially by patriotism
and love。 He crossed the frontier once more； disguised as a servant；
in the suite of a Protestant gentleman； he arrived one night at
Anduze； and immediately directed his steps to the house of Isabeau。
He was just about to knock； although it was one o'clock in the
morning； when the door was opened from within； and a handsome young
man came out； who took tender leave of a woman on the threshold。 The
handsome young man was the Marquis de Florac； the woman was Isabeau。
The promised wife of the peasant had become the mistress of the
noble。
Our hero was not the man to suffer such an outrage quietly。 He
walked straight up to the marquis and stood right in his way。 The
marquis tried to push him aside with his elbow； but Jean Cavalier；
letting fall the cloak in which he was wrapped； drew his sword。 The
marquis was brave； and did not stop to inquire if he who attacked him
was his equal or not。 Sword answered sword； the blades crossed； and
at the end of a few instants the marquis fell； Jean's sword piercing
his chest。
Cavalier felt sure that he was dead； for he lay at his feet
motionless。 He knew he had no time to lose； for he had no mercy to
hope for。 He replaced his bloody sword in the scabbard； and made for
the open country； from the open country he hurried into the
mountains； and at break of day he was in safety。
The fugitive remained the whole day in an isolated farmhouse whose
inmates offered him hospitality。 As he very soon felt that he was in
the house of a co…religionist； he confided to his host the
circumstances in which he found himself； and asked where he could
meet with an organised band in which he could enrol himself in order
to fight for the propagation of the Reformed religion。 The farmer
mentioned Generac as being a place in which he would probably find a
hundred or so of the brethren gathered together。 Cavalier set out
the same evening for this village； and arrived in the middle of the
Camisards at the very moment when they had just caught sight of M。 de
Broglie and his troops in the distance。 The Calvinists happening to
have no leader； Cavalier with governing faculty which some men
possess by nature； placed himself at their head and took those
measures for the reception of the royal forces of which we have seen
the result； so that after the victory to which his head and arm had
contributed so much he was confirmed in the title which he had
arrogated to himself； by acclamation。
Such was the famous Jean Cavalier when the Royalists first learned of
his existence； through the repulse of their bravest troops and the
death of their most intrepid captain。
The news of this victory soon spread through the Cevennes； and fresh
conflagrations lit up the mountains in sign of joy。 The beacons were
formed of the chateau de la Bastide； the residence of the Marquis de
Chambonnas； the church of Samson； and the village of Grouppieres；
where of eighty houses only seven were left standing。
Thereupon M。 de Julien wrote to the king； explaining the serious turn
things had taken； and telling him that it was no longer a few
fanatics wandering through the mountains and flying at the sight of a
dragoon whom they had to put down； but organised companies well led
and officered； which if united would form an army twelve to fifteen
hundred strong。 The king replied by sending M。 le Comte de Montrevel
to Nimes。 He was the son of the Marechal de Montrevel； chevalier of
the Order of the Holy Spirit； major…general； lieutenant of the king
in Bresse and Charolais； and captain of a hundred men…at…arms。
In their struggle against shepherds； keepers； and peasants； M。 de
Brogue； M。 de Julien； and M。 de Baville were thus joined together
with the head of the house of Beaune； which had already at this epoch
produced two cardinals； three archbishops； two bishops； a viceroy of
Naples； several marshals of France； and many governors of Savoy；
Dauphine； and Bresse。
He was followed by twenty p