Page:The Rebellion in the Cevennes (Volume 1).djvu/170

Rh I took for the old man’s wife. "Your wounds are not mortal," said the old miller, "you will soon recover, be tranquil on this point."—"May I in reality have no cause for uneasiness?" rejoined I. "Am I with loyal subjects of the king?"—"By heaven, we are such!" exclaimed the aged man with tears in his eyes, "we have already made many sacrifices to him, and we will protect you, although you seem to know us well, nor are you either unknown to us. My two sons have both suffered martyrdom—but the king commanded it should be so, and God permitted it, we dispute no more with him. Hereupon the women, particularly the old ones, set up a terrific howling; some young fellows gazed at me with cruel, sanguinary looks; I was prepared for all. "Peace," cried the old man, "this man has not come under my roof as a foe, but as one requiring assistance, who injures a hair of his head, will have to answer for it to me!—We found you lifeless at our door, we recognized you on the