cessfully driven back by less than one-twentieth of that number of
the Vaudois; and when he renewed the attack with scornful assurance of
victory, a few days later, the Vaudois, who were engaged in prayer at the
time, having despatched six of their number, who were slingers, to a
commanding point above the assailants, obtained a still more triumphant
victory, without loss on their own side, but with terrible slaughter to
the enemy, including eight of his chief officers.

Time fails to recount all that might be said of these celebrated regions. I
must, however, make passing mention of the beautiful mountain peak a little
higher up on the right hand as you approach Pra del Torno, _i.e._, La
Vachera. On the 11th of June, 1655, after the Piedmontese troops were
unable to force the Barricata, though they tried from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
they advanced towards La Vachera. The Vaudois went up higher. Thinking this
to be a retreat, the Piedmontese soldiers exclaimed, "Advance, wreck of
Janavello!" The Vaudois responded, "Advance, wreck of San Segonzo!"
accompanied by such a shower of stones that the soldiers fled in greatest
confusion, leaving behind them two hundred dead, and carrying away more
than twice that number of wounded. Indeed, this defeat was so decisive that
the persecutors were constrained to acknowledge "God was with the Barbets,"
and that whereas "formerly the wolves eat the dogs (_i.e._, barbetti), now
the dogs (barbetti) eat the wolves."

But we now come to the goal of our journey to-day, Pra del Torno, a very
sanctuary, embosomed amidst the everlasting hills, the site of the ancient
college of the Vaudois clergy, from whence they went forth to preach the
doctrines of a pure faith even before Wickliffe rose as the morning star of
the Reformation in our own land. Nature is still there in all its grandeur;
but I must confess to a feeling of sadness as I beheld a church under the
patronage of the Virgin Mary in these valleys, where so much noble blood
had been shed for the maintenance of the truth as it is in Jesus, but no
place of worship for the descendants of the men who were ready to die, but
not ready to dishonour God by participating in a worship contrary to His
blessed Word. And my regret was not lessened when I learnt that the
evangelical Vaudois has to make an eight hours' journey to his nearest
temple, and that his pastor would have a journey of similar character to
make to the sick and aged members of his flo