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his men； who had been sent to find out where the Camisards were； had
suddenly come upon them。
The infantry formed； the cavalry sprang to their saddles； Cavalier
leaped on his horse； and drawing his sword； led his soldiers as usual
against the dragoons； and these； as was also usual； ran away； leaving
twelve of their number dead on the field。 The Camisard cavalry soon
gave up the pursuit； as they found themselves widely separated from
the infantry and from their leader； for Cavalier had been unable to
keep up with them； his horse having received a bullet through its
neck。
Still they followed the flying dragoons for a good hour； from time to
time a wounded dragoon falling from his horse； till at last the
Camisard cavalry found itself confronted by the Charolais regiment；
drawn up in battle array； and behind them the royal dragoons； who had
taken refuge there； and were re…forming。
Carried on by the rapidity of their course； the Camisards could not
pull up till they were within a hundred yards of the enemy； they
fired once； killing several； then turned round and retreated。
When a third of the way； back had been covered； they met their chief；
who had found a fresh horse by the wayside standing beside its dead
master。 He arrived at full gallop； as he was anxious to unite his
cavalry and infantry at once； as he had seen the forces of the
marechal advancing； who； as we have already said； had turned in the
direction of the firing。 Hardly had Cavalier effected the desired
junction of his forces than he perceived that his retreat was cut
off。 He had the royal troops both before and behind him。
The young chief saw that a desperate dash to right or left was all
that remained to him； and not knowing this country as well as the
Cevennes； he asked a peasant the way from Soudorgues to Nages； that
being the only one by which he could escape。 There was no time to
inquire whether the peasant was Catholic or Protestant； he could only
trust to chance； and follow the road indicated。 But a few yards from
the spot where the road from 5oudorgues to Nages joins the road to
Nimes he found himself in face of Marechal Montrevel's troops under
the command of Menon。 However； as they hardly outnumbered the
Camisards； these did not stop to look for another route； but bending
forward in their saddles； they dashed through the lines at full
gallop； taking the direction of Nages； hoping to reach the plain
round Calvisson。 But the village； the approaches； the issues were
all occupied by royal troops； and at the same time Grandval and the
marechal joined forces； while Menon collected his men together and
pushed forward。 Cavalier was completely surrounded： he gave the
situation a comprehensive glancehis foes； were five to one。
Rising in his stirrups； so that he could see over every head；
Cavalier shouted so loud that not only his own men heard but also
those of the enemy：。 〃My children； if our hearts fail us now； we
shall be taken and broken on the wheel。 There is only one…means of
safety： we must cut our way at full gallop through these people。
Follow me； and keep close order！〃
So speaking； he dashed on the nearest group； followed by all his men；
who formed a compact mass； round which the three corps of royal
troops closed。 Then there was everywhere a hand…to…hand battle there
was no time to load and fire； swords flashed and fell； bayonets
stabbed； the royals and the Camisards took each other by the throat
and hair。 For an hour this demoniac fight lasted； during which
Cavalier lost five hundred men and slew a thousand of the enemy。 At
last he won through； followed by about two hundred of his troops； and
drew a long breath； but finding himself in the centre of a large
circle of soldiers； he made for a bridge； where alone it seemed
possible to break through； it being only guarded by a hundred
dragoons。
He divided his men into two divisions； one to force the bridge； the
other to cover the retreat。 Then he faced his foes like a wild boar
driven to bay。
Suddenly loud shouts behind him announced that the bridge was forced；
but the Camisards； instead of keeping the passage open for their
leader； scattered over the plain and sought safety in flight。 But
a child threw himself before them； pistol in hand。 It was Cavalier's
young brother； mounted on one of the small wild horses of Camargues
of that Arab breed which was introduced into Languedoc by the Moors
from Spain。 Carrying a sword and carbine proportioned to his size；
the boy addressed the flying men。 〃Where are you going？〃 he cried；
〃Instead of running away like cowards； line the river banks and
oppose the enemy to facilitate my brother's escape。〃 Ashamed of
having deserved such reproaches； the Camisards stopped； rallied；
lined the banks of the river； and by keeping up a steady fire；
covered Cavalier's retreat； who crossed without having received a
single wound； though his horse was riddled with bullets and he had
been forced to change his sword three times。
Still the combat raged； but gradually Cavalier managed to retreat： a
plain cut by trenches； the falling darkness； a wood which afforded
cover； all combined to help him at last。 Still his rearguard；
harassed by the enemy； dotted the ground it passed over with its
dead； until at last both victors and vanquished were swallowed up by
night。 The fight had lasted ten hours； Cavalier had lost more than
five hundred men； and the royals about a thousand。
〃Cavalier；〃 says M。 de Villars； in his Memoirs； 〃acted on this day in
a way which astonished everyone。 For who could help being astonished
to see a nobody； inexperienced in the art of warfare； bear himself in
such difficult and trying circumstances like some great general？ At
one period of the day he was followed everywhere by a dragoon；
Cavalier shot at him and killed his horse。 The dragoon returned the
shot； but missed。 Cavalier had two horses killed under him； the
first time he caught a dragoon's horse； the second time he made one
of his own men dismount and go on foot。〃
M。 de Montrevel also showed himself to be a gallant soldier； wherever
there was danger there was he； encouraging officers and soldiers by
his example： one Irish captain was killed at his side； another
fatally wounded； and a third slightly hurt。 Grandval； on his part；
had performed miracles： his horse was shot under him； and M。 de
Montrevel replaced it by one of great value； on which he joined in
the pursuit of the Camisards。 After this affair M； de Montrevel gave
up his place to M。 de Villars； leaving word for Cavalier that it was
thus he took leave of his friends。
Although Cavalier came out of this battle with honour； compelling
even his enemies to regard him as a man worthy of their steel； it had
nevertheless destroyed the best part of his hopes。 He made a
halt…near Pierredon to gather together the remnant of his troops； and
truly it was but a remnant which remained。 Of those who came back
the greater number were without weapons； for they had thrown them
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