Page:The Rebellion in the Cevennes (Volume 1).djvu/270

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and not the gentleness of St. John should save us. We all retired quietly, cheerfully, and happily. Not one of us had been discovered. Then Seguier assembled a troop as fierce as himself, and while the soldiers were seeking for us, returned to Pont-de-Verd, burnt the castle, slaughtered all the priests that he found there, and cut down all whom they encountered. But misfortune overtook them. They were defeated; when they sought for the leader, he himself issued from a cottage, and declared his name. 'Wretch!' exclaimed the commander, what treatment dost thou deserve for thy deeds?' 'That which I would give thee, wert thou my prisoner.' replied the enthusiast, 'and verily, such as thy friends would not rejoice over.' He remained firm to the last. He was burnt alive. A proclamation was then issued, offering pardon to all that knew anything of the affair of the Abbé, as well as to such as had been, up to that period, Huguenots in secret. Innocent beings!