Page:The Rebellion in the Cevennes (Volume 2).djvu/13

Rh pursued them; a fray ensued in the obscurity, and Cavalier and his party now also appeared and surrounded the assassins. Cavalier quickly caused a torch to be lighted and after a short, but murderous combat, when the bravest of the robbers had fallen, the rest were compelled to surrender, Cavalier caused them to be bound and carried away by his soldiers.

Edmond accompanied by a few followers went in the stillness of night round the house. He found a ladder ready placed by which it was evident that some of the robbers intended to enter. He could not resist the inclination to visit again the house of his childhood. When he reached the top, he found the whole household asleep, all the lights were extinguished. He now opened the hall door, there sat his venerable father, sleeping in an arm-chair, a night lamp by his side, the holy scriptures open before him. How pale and suffering he looked; for in the night, fatigue had overpowered him in his meditations.