massacres of the south-第42章

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rendezvous；　and　each　taking　a　different　direction；　bounded　away　with
the　lightness　of　a　stag。　　Francezet　ran　in　the　direction　of　Milhaud
with　such　rapidity　that　he　gained　on　the　dragoons；　although　they　put
their　horses　at　full　speed。　　He　was　within　an　inch　of　safety；　when　a
peasant　named　La　Bastide；　who　was　hoeing　in　a　field；　whence　he　had
watched　the　contest　with　interest　from　the　moment　he　had　first　caught
sight　of　it；　seeing　the　fugitive　make　for　an　opening　in　a　wall；　ran
along　at　the　foot　of　the　wall　on　the　other　side；　and；　just　as
Francezet　dashed　through　the　opening　like　a　flash　of　lightning；
struck　him　such　a　heavy　blow　on　the　head　with　his　hoe　that　the　skull
was　laid　open；　and　he　fell　bathed　in　blood。

The　dragoons；　who　had　seen　in　the　distance　what　had　happened；　now
came　up；　and　rescued　Francezet　from　the　hands　of　his　assailant；　who
had　continued　to　rain　blows　upon　him；　desiring　to　put　an　end　to　him。
The　unconscious　Camisard　was　carried　to　Milhaud；　where　his　wounds
were　bandaged；　and　himself　revived　by　means　of　strong　spirits　forced
into　mouth　and　nostrils。

We　now　return　to　Brun。　　At　first　it　seemed　as　if　he　were　more
fortunate　than　his　comrade；　for；　meeting　with　no　obstacle；　he　was
soon　not　only　out　of　reach；　but　out　of　sight　of　his　enemies。　　He　now；
however；　felt　broken　by　fatigue；　and　taught　caution　by　the　treachery
to　which　he　had　almost　fallen　a　victim；　he　dared　not　ask　for　an
asylum；　so；　throwing　himself　down　in　a　ditch；　he　was　soon　fast
asleep。　　The　dragoons；　who　had　not　given　up　the　search；　presently
came　upon　him；　and　falling　on　him　as　he　lay；　overpowered　him　before
he　was　well　awake。

When　both　Camisards　met　before　the　governor；　Francezet　replied　to　all
interrogations　that　since　the　death　of　brother　Catinat　his　sole
desire　had　been　to　die　a　martyr's　death　like　him；　while　Brun　said
that　he　was　proud　and　happy　to　die　in　the　cause　of　the　Lord　along
with　such　a　brave　comrade　as　Francezet。　　This　manner　of　defence　led
to　the　application　of　the　question　both　ordinary　and　extraordinary；
and　to　the　stake；　and　our　readers　already　know　what　such　a　double
sentence　meant。　　Francezet　and　Brun　paid　both　penalties　on　the　30th
of　April；　betraying　no　secrets　and　uttering　no　complaints。

Boeton；　who　had　been　denounced　by　Villas　when　under　torture　（and　who
thereby　abridged　his　agony）　as　the　person　in　whose　house　the　plot　to
carry　off　the　Duke　of　Berwick　and　de　Baville　had　been　arranged；　still
remained　to　be　dealt　with。

He　was　moderate　in　his　religious　views；　but　firm　and　full　of　faith；
his　principles　resembled　those　of　the　Quakers　in　that　he　refused　to
carry　arms；　he　was；　however；　willing　to　aid　the　good　cause　by　all
other　means　within　his　reach。　　He　was　at　home　waiting；　with　that　calm
which　perfect　trust　in　God　gives；　for　the　day　to　come　which　had　been
appointed　for　the　execution　of　the　plan；　when　suddenly　his　house　was
surrounded　during　the　night　by　the　royals。　　Faithful　to　his
principles；　he　offered　no　resistance；　but　held　out　his　hands　to　be
bound。　　He　was　taken　in　triumph　to　Nimes；　and　from　there　to　the
citadel　of　Montpellier。　　On　the　way　he　encountered　his　wife　and　his
son；　who　were　going　to　the　latter　town　to　intercede　for　him。　　When
they　met　him；　they　dismounted　from　their　horse；　for　the　mother　was
riding　on　a　pillion　behind　the　son；　and　kneeling　on　the　highroad；
asked　for　Boeton's　blessing。　　Unfeeling　though　the　soldiers　were；
they　yet　permitted　their　prisoner　to　stop　an　instant；　while　he；
raising　his　fettered　hands　to　heaven；　gave　the　double　blessing　asked
for。　　So　touched　was　Baron　Saint…Chatte　by　the　scene　（be　it　remarked
in　passing　that　the　baron　and　Boeton　were　cousins　by　marriage）　that
he　permitted　them　to　embrace　one　another；　so　for　a　few　moments　they
stood；　the　husband　and　father　clasped　to　the　hearts　of　his　dear　ones；
then；　on　a　sign　from　Boeton；　they　tore　themselves　away；　Boeton
commanding　them　to　pray　for　M。　de　Saint…Chatte；　who　had　given　them
this　consolation。　　As　he　resumed　his　march　the　prisoner　set　them　the
example　by　beginning　to　sing　a　psalm　for　the　benefit　of　M。　de
Saint…Chatte。

The　next　day；　despite　the　intercession　of　his　wife　and　son；　Boeton
was　condemned　to　torture　both　ordinary　and　extraordinary；　and　then　to
be　broken　on　the　wheel。　　On　hearing　this　cruel　sentence；　he　said　that
he　was　ready　to　suffer　every　ill　that　God　might　send　him　in　order　to
prove　the　steadfastness　of　his　faith。

And　indeed　he　endured　his　torture　with　such　firmness；　that　M。　de
Baville；　who　was　present　in　the　hope　of　obtaining　a　confession；
became　more　impatient　than　the　sufferer；　and；　forgetting　his　sacred
office；　the　judge　struck　and　insulted　the　prisoner。　　Upon　this　Baeton
raised　his　eyes　to　heaven　and　cried；　〃Lord；　Lord！　how　long　shall　the
wicked　triumph？　　How　long　shall　innocent　blood　be　shed？　　How　long
wilt　Thou　not　judge　and　avenge　our　blood　with　cries　to　Thee？
Remember　Thy　jealousy；　O　Lord；　and　Thy　loving…kindness　of　old！〃　　Then
M。　de　Baville　withdrew；　giving　orders　that　he　was　to　be　brought　to
the　scaffold。

The　scaffold　was　erected　on　the　Esplanade：　being；　as　was　usual　when
this　sort　of　death　was　to　be　inflicted；　a　wooden　platform　five　or　six
feet　high；　on　which　was　fastened　flat　a　St。　Andrew's　cross；　formed　of
two　beams　of　wood　in　the　form　of　an　X。　　In　each　of　the　four　arms　two
square　pieces　were　cut　out　to　about　half　the　depth　of　the　beam；　and
about　a　foot　apart；　so　that　when　the　victim　was　bound　on　the　cross
the　outstretched　limbs　were　easy　to　break　by　a　blow　at　these　points；
having　no　support　beneath。　　Lastly；　near　the　cross；　at　one　corner　of
the　scaffold　an　upright　wooden　post　was　fixed；　on　which　was　fastened
horizontally　a　small　carriage　wheel；　as　on　a　pivot；　the　projecting
part　of　the　nave　being　sawn　off　to　make　it　flat。　　On　this　bed　of　pain
the　sufferer　was　laid；　so　that　the　spectators　might　enjoy　the　sight
of　his　dying　convulsions　when；　the　executioner　having　accomplished
his　part；　the　turn　of　death　arrived。

Boeton　was　carried　to　execution　in　a　cart；　and　drums　were　beaten　that
his　exhortations　might　not　be　heard。　　But　above　the　roll　of　drums　his
voice　rose　unfalteringly；　as　he　admonished　his　brethren　to　uphold
their　fellowship　in　Christ。

Half…way　to　the　Esplanade　a　friend　of　the　condemned　man；　who　happened
to　be　in　the　street；　met　the　procession；　and　fearing　that　he　could
not　support　the　sight；　he　took　refuge　in　a　shop。　　When　Boeton　was
opposite　the　door；　he　stopped　the　cart　and　asked　permission　of　the
provost　to　speak　to　his　friend。　　The　request　being　granted；　he　called
him　out；　and　as　he　approached；　bathed　in　tears；　Boeton　said；　〃Why　do
you　run　away　from　me？　　Is　it　because　you　see　me　covered　with　the
tokens　of　Jesus　Christ？　　Why　do　you　weep　because　He　has　graciously
called　me　to　Himself；　and　all　unworthy　though　I　be；　permits　me　to
seal　my　faith　with　my　blood？〃　　Then；　as　the　friend　threw　himself　into
Boeton's　arms　and　some　signs　of　sympathetic　emotion　appeared　among
the　crowd；　the　procession　was　abruptly　ordered　to　move　on；　but　though
the　leave…taking　was　thus　roughly　broken　short；　no　murmur　passed　the
lips　of　Boeton。

In　turning　out　of　the　first　street；　the　scaffold　came　in　sight；　the
condemned　man　raised　his　hands　towards　heaven；　and　exclaimed　in　a
cheerful　voice；　while　a　smile　lit　up　his　face；　〃Courage；　my　soul！　　I
see　thy　place　of　triumph；　whence；　released　from　earthly　bonds；　thou
shah　take　flight　to　heaven。〃

When　he　got　to　the　foot　of　the　scaffold；　it　was　found　he　could　not
mount　without　assistance；　for　his　limbs；　crushed　in　the　terrible
〃boot；〃　could　no　longer　sustain　his　weight。　　While　they　were
preparing　to　carry　him　up；　he　exhorted　and　comforted　the　Protestants；
who　were　all　weeping　round　him。　　When　he　reached　the　platform　he　laid
himself　of　his　own　accord　on　the　cross；　but　hearing　from　the
executioner　that　he　must　first　be　undressed；　he　raised　himself　again
with　a　smile；　so　that　the　executioner's　assistant　could　remove　his
doublet　and　small…clothes。　　As　he　wore　no　stockings；　his　legs　being
bandaged　the　man　also　unwound　these　bandages；　and　rolled　up　Boeton's
shirts…sleeves　to　the　elbow；　and　then　ordered　him　to　lay　himself
again　on　the　cross。　　Boeton　did　so　with　unb