y a number of emigrants, they set out for
Havre. Most of the party were men who followed civil occupations; the
gentlemen, however, carrying swords, while a few among them had pistols.

On reaching Honfleur they found a large crowd assembled in the
market-place, through which they had to pass on their way to the boats,
which were waiting to carry them on board their ships. In the crowd
Nigel again caught sight of the priest, who was speaking to the people
around him.

"Come, come, my friends," cried Captain Billard, who rode at the head of
the party; "we wish to react the boats waiting for us."

"They are heretics, despisers of the Holy Virgin and the saints!" cried
some one from the crowd. "Down with them. Cut them to pieces. Let
none escape."

Scarcely were the words uttered than a shower of stones was hurled at
the heads of the Protestant emigrants, who immediately drew their swords
to defend themselves, while they forced their way through the crowd.
Scarcely, however, had they got many yards before they were met by a
body of men, some with firearms, and others with spears and axes.

"We must fight for our lives, my friends," cried Captain Billard. "On!
on! But keep together."

The bold front which he and his companions showed for a time kept back
their assailants; but a voice, which Nigel recognised as that of the
priest, was heard shouting, "Down with them! down with them!" and the
mob again pressed them close. Many were wounded, and Nigel, with grief,
saw his friend fall from his horse, shot through the body. He in vain
endeavoured to rescue him. The savages dragged him into their midst,
hacking and hewing his inanimate form. Nigel, seeing that he and his
friends would be cut to pieces, urged them to keep close together; and
by desperate efforts they at length cut their way down to the boats,
from which the seamen, who were fortunately armed, leapt on shore, and,
furiously charging the mob, turned them back and kept them at bay while
the emigrants embarked.

On counting their numbers, it was found that, beside the captain, three
others had fallen, while many were wounded. Providentially the women
and children, with their baggage, had been sent on the day before from
Rouen, or the whole party would have been cut to pieces.

On reaching Havre, Nigel and two other officers went on shore to
complain of the outrage, but could obtain no redress from the
authorities, who merely shrugged their shoulde