第 11 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:50      字数:9322
  heretics that they had not realised the danger of the revolt。  He
  immediately proceeded to inspect in person the different points where
  M。 de Broglie had placed detachments of the Tournon and Marsily
  regiments。  It is true that he arrived by the light of thirty burning
  village churches。
  M。 de Broglie; M。 de Baville; M。 de Julien; and Captain Poul met
  together to consult as to the best means of putting an end to these
  disorders。  It was agreed that the royal troops should be divided
  into two bodies; one under the command of M。 de Julien to advance on
  Alais; where it was reported large meetings of the rebels were taking
  place; and the other under M。 de Brogue; to march about in the
  neighbourhood of Nimes。
  Consequently; the two chiefs separated。  M。 le Comte de Broglie at
  the head of sixty…two dragoons and some companies of foot; and having
  under him Captain Poul and M。 de Dourville; set out from Cavayrac on
  the 12th of January at 2 a。 m。; and having searched without finding
  anything the vineyards of Nimes and La Garrigue de Milhau; took the
  road to the bridge of Lunel。  There he was informed that those he was
  in search of had been seen at the chateau of Caudiac the day before;
  he therefore at once set out for the forest which lies around it; not
  doubting to find the fanatics entrenched there; but; contrary to his
  expectations; it was vacant。  He then pushed on to Vauvert; from
  Vauvert to Beauvoisin; from Beauvoisin to Generac; where he learned
  that a troop of rebels had passed the night there; and in the morning
  had left for Aubore。  Resolved to give them no rest; M; de Broglie
  set out at once for this village。
  When half…way there; a member of his staff thought he could
  distinguish a crowd of men near a house about half a league distant;
  M。 de Broglie instantly ordered Sieur de Gibertin; Captain Paul's
  lieutenant; who was riding close by; at the head of his company; to
  take eight dragoons and make a reconnaissance; in order to ascertain
  who these men were; while the rest of the troops would make a halt。
  This little band; led by its officer; crossed a clearing in the wood;
  and advanced towards the farmhouse; which was called the Mas de
  Gafarel; and which now seemed deserted。  But when they were within
  half a gun…shot of the wall the charge was sounded behind it; and a
  band of rebels rushed towards them; while from a neighbouring house a
  second troop emerged; and looking round; he perceived a third lying
  on their faces in a small wood。  These latter suddenly stood up and
  approached him; singing psalms。  As it was impossible for M。 de
  Gibertin to hold his ground against so large a force; he ordered two
  shots to be fired as a warning to de Brogue to advance to meet him;
  and fell back on his comrades。  Indeed; the rebels had only pursued
  him till they had reached a favourable position; on which they took
  their stand。
  M。 de Brogue having surveyed the whole position with the aid of a
  telescope; held a council of war; and it was decided that an attack
  should be made forthwith。  They therefore advanced on the rebels in
  line: Captain Poul on the right; M。 de Dourville on the left; and
  Count Broglie in the centre。
  As they got near they could see that the rebels had chosen their
  ground with an amount of strategical sagacity they had never till
  then displayed。  This skill in making their dispositions was
  evidently due to their having found a new leader whom no one knew;
  not even Captain Poul; although they could see him at the head of his
  men; carbine in hand。
  However; these scientific preparations did not stop M。 de Brogue: he
  gave the order to charge; and adding example to precept; urged his
  horse to a gallop。  The rebels in the first rank knelt on one knee;
  so that the rank behind could take aim; and the distance between the
  two bodies of troops disappeared rapidly; thanks to the impetuosity
  of the dragoons; but suddenly; when within thirty paces of the enemy;
  the royals found themselves on the edge of a deep ravine which
  separated them from the enemy like a moat。  Some were able to check
  their horses in time; but others; despite desperate efforts; pressed
  upon by those behind; were pushed into the ravine; and rolled
  helplessly to the bottom。 At the same moment the order to fire was
  given in a sonorous voice; there was a rattle of musketry; and
  several dragoons near M。 de Broglie fell。
  〃Forward!〃 cried Captain Poul; 〃forward!〃 and putting his horse at a
  part of the ravine where the sides were less steep; he was soon
  struggling up the opposite side; followed by a few dragoons。
  〃Death to the son of Belial!〃 cried the same voice which had given
  the order to fire。  At that moment a single shot rang out; Captain
  Poul threw up his hands; letting his sabre go; and fell from his
  horse; which instead of running away; touched his master with its
  smoking nostrils; then lifting its head; neighed long and low。  The
  dragoons retreated。
  〃So perish all the persecutors of Israel!〃 cried the leader;
  brandishing his carbine。  He then dashed down into the ravine; picked
  up Captain Poul's sabre and jumped upon his horse。  The animal;
  faithful to its old master; showed some signs of resistance; but soon
  felt by the pressure of its rider's knees that it had to do with one
  whom it could not readily unseat。  Nevertheless; it reared and
  bounded; but the horseman kept his seat; and as if recognising that
  it had met its match; the noble animal tossed its head; neighed once
  more; and gave in。  While this was going on; a party of Camisards
  'Name given to the insurgent Calvinists after the Revocation of the
  Edict of Nantes。Translator's Note。' and one of the dragoons had got
  down into the ravine; which had in consequence been turned into a
  battlefield; while those who remained above on either side took
  advantage of their position to fire down at their enemies。  M。 de
  Dourville; in command of the dragoons; fought among the others like a
  simple soldier; and received a serious wound in the head; his men
  beginning to lose ground; M。 de Brogue tried to rally them; but
  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 himse