ment from asking
you about it."

"That was a very, very disastrous day," replied Cavalier, as they
proceeded onwards. "We were surrounded on all sides, by the treachery
of a few faithless brethren, we were enticed down into the plain, the
spirit was silent within us and we thought ourselves secure. A part of
my people had gone to encounter the hermit and I heard (a false report
as I afterwards learned) that he had been entirely routed, when,
suddenly, another new army was in our rear. The fugitives before us
rallied again and faced round. We were compelled to fight our way
through in order to find the mountain footpath, where the heavy horse
of the royal party could not follow; with great loss, it is true, but,
still fortunately, I led my people through, I succeeded in turning the
enemy, so that we had them only on one side of us. Fighting and flying
we reached the wood and being one of the last that I might secure the
retreat of my party, I found myself suddenly cut off. My horse carried
me at full gallop as far as it could, I shot dead two dragoons, who were
pursuing me, but the noble beast fell down; I lost sword, hat, and
fire-arms, while I was disengaging myself from the saddle scarcely
quick enough, I changed clothes with a peasant in a field; soldiers
were scouring in every direction, at the risk of being recognised. I
was forced to seek a shelter, and moreover the storm burst forth, and
thus the Lord conducted me to the house of your venerable father. A few
days after, things would have been much worse with me, if my younger
brother, who is now a prisoner at Nismes, had not liberated me."

"With what admiration I must look upon thee, brother," resumed Edmond,
"thou who younger than I, hast already done such great things, who hast
had so much success, that the whole country speaks of thee. From whence
proceeds this daring, yet circumspect courage, this experience, this
skill to deceive the enemy, to conquer them, or to escape their artful
snares! where couldst thou have learned all this?"

"I have not learned it," replied Cavalier, "nor do I know if the like
can be learned. You esteem me too highly, brother Edmond, if you
believe, that that which I do proceeds from reflection or skill. It is
true I do not lose courage, I preserve my _sang froid_, although I see
before and around me a thousand foes with their swords and guns, but
such is my nature, there is no merit or extraordinary courage in this.
When I was