ons from the inhabitants; but they, proud of their natural
ramparts, and believing their town impregnable, not only refused to
comply with the requisition, but fired several shots on the envoy, one of
which wounded in the arm a Camisard of the name of La Grandeur, who had
accompanied Ravanel. Ravanel withdrew, supporting his wounded comrade,
followed by shots and the hootings of the inhabitants. When they
rejoined Cavalier and made their report, the young commander issued
orders to his soldiers to make ready to take the town the next morning;
for, as night was already falling, he did not venture to start in the
dark. In the meantime the besieged sent post-haste to M. de Vergetot to
warn him of their situation; and resolving to defend themselves as long
as they could, while waiting for a response to their message they set
about barricading their gates, turned their scythes into weapons,
fastened large hooks on long poles, and collected all the instruments
they could find that could be used in attack or defence. As to the
Camisards, they encamped for the night near an old chateau called Fan,
about a gun-shot from Lussan.

At break of day loud shouts from the town told the Camisards that the
expected relief was in sight, and looking out they saw in the distance a
troop of soldiers advancing towards them; it was M. de Vergetat at the
head of his regiment, accompanied by forty Irish officers.

The Protestants prepared themselves, as usual, by reciting psalms and
prayers, notice without taking of the shouts and threats of any of the
townspeople, and having finished their invocations, they marched out to
meet the approaching column. The cavalry, commanded by Catinat, made a
detour, taking a sheltered way to an unguarded bridge over a small river
not far off, so as to outflank the royal forces, which they were to
attack in the rear as soon as Cavalier and Ravanel should have engaged
them in front.

M. de Vergetot, on his side, continued to advance, so that the Calvinists
and the Catholics were soon face to face. The battle began on both sides
by a volley; but Cavalier having seen his cavalry emerging from a
neighbouring wood, and counting upon their assistance, charged the enemy
at the double quick. Catinat judging by the noise of the firing that his
presence was necessary, charged also at a gallop, falling on the flank of
the Catholics.

In this charge, one of M. de Vergetot's captains was killed by a bullet,
and the