The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an Historical Novel Vol. II.

Excerpt

CHAPTER I.

The next morning Edmond felt himself considerably better. Cavalier continually flitted before his eyes, and it appeared to him as if arms lifted him from his couch, in order to follow his friends. When Eustace had fallen asleep towards noon, he arose quietly, took his rifle and with light footsteps hastily descended the mountain path. He felt light and well, it seemed as if he had never yet walked so rapidly and so indefatigably. He avoided the high road, and again a sort of instinctive knowledge conducted him through the shortest and safest ways.

When the sun went down and the shadows became darker, images arose in his imagination more clear and defined with the encreasing obscurity. When night came on, he also distinguished the other forms in the group, his father, Franz, the paternal home and the little slumbering Eveline appeared to him, dark figures were lurking about, threatening destruction.

An hour before midnight, he was standing on the top of a mountain, beneath him lay a dark valley, a large house, lights gleamed from only a few of the windows. What was his surprise on recovering his recollection. It was his home, and he arrived at it by a road that he had never before trodden. Here he had lately waved a last farewell to his father. He descended. He heard whisperings in the vineyard, he perceived figures moving along creeping. Familiar as he was with the place, he easily gained the back of a rocky wall of a grotto in which he heard voices speaking. "It must soon take place," said a hoarse voice, "and truly as I have arranged, it would be better from the garden, let us all assemble in the vaulted passage, from thence we shall with greater facility reach the lower window. Two or three others might in the mean while ascend the ladder and enter by the window there above. The old man, the child and the domestics must be put to death. But no shooting, I tell you, for there are royal troops quite close, who would most certainly forbid us to plunder, on that account also you must not set fire to the house."

Edmond stole down, behind the barn he found Cavalier and his troop, who were amazed at seeing him so suddenly and rejoiced at the news he brought. He conducted them by a different way into the garden and posted them at the back of the entwined arbour, which, moreover, had no opening at the sides. He took half of the troops with him to guard the entrance. The robbers were already in the dark beach avenue; when they saw men advancing towards them they retreated, but Edmond pursued them; a fray ensued in the obscurity, and Cavalier and his party now also appeared and surrounded the assassins. Cavalier quickly caused a torch to be lighted and after a short, but murderous combat, when the bravest of the robbers had fallen, the rest were compelled to surrender, Cavalier caused them to be bound and carried away by his soldiers.

Edmond accompanied by a few followers went in the stillness of night round the house. He found a ladder ready placed by which it was evident that some of the robbers intended to enter....