. The
Vaudois were now in three divisions; the larger part in the valley of San
Martino, another body next in number who were scouring the valley of
Angrogna, and the third and smaller division at Serre de Cruel over Bobbio.
This last detachment destroyed the convent of Villaro lest it should be
turned into a fortress. They pulled down the popish church at Rora, reduced
the village to ashes, and brought away much spoil. However, as soon as the
Piedmontese soldiers were able to cover the mountains with troops they
retaliated by setting on fire the Vaudois asylum at Serre de Cruel. The
Vaudois resisted, and did much execution; but at last, terrified by the
numbers of their adversaries, they forsook their new fortifications at
Pausettes and Aiguille, leaving behind them all their winter stores. They
were pursued from rock to rock, obliged to hide in the most loathsome
caverns, and to subsist almost without food, which was procured only at the
peril of their lives. Nothing but a special Providence kept them from
entire destruction, and enabled them to rejoin the main body of their
friends in the valley of San Martino. The French troops engaged in thus
hunting the Vaudois in the month of October were commanded by M. de
l'Ombraille, and, with the Piedmontese under Parelle, covered all the
villages and passes excepting a few small hamlets and byways. Hence the
position of the patriots was one of great danger. Some deserted, and
perished miserably by the enemy. A council was held at Rodoret. Divisions
of opinion arose, and ruin seemed at hand. At this critical moment Arnaud
summoned them to prayer. After this he exhorted his companions to sacrifice
their own views for the common good, and advised a retreat upon Balsille.
This they happily consented to, and the same night they were on their way
to the spot. The dangers of the road may be supposed from the circumstance
that much of it had to be passed on their hands and knees, and from the
fact that when the Vaudois afterwards saw the places by daylight they were
filled with horror.

We shall not be able to realize the good Providence which befriended them
at this time unless we consider for a moment the exact position of their
new retreat. The chief group of houses in the village of Balsille is close
to a torrent at the foot of the mountains in the extreme north-west of the
Val Martino. A stone bridge, close to which is a mill, unites the two parts
of the village lying eastward,