第 37 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:51      字数:9322
  carried off by the plague in 1720。
  All these sentences were carried out with the utmost rigour。
  Thus; as may be seen; the suppression of the revolt proceeded apace;
  only two young Camisard chiefs were still at large; both of whom had
  formerly served under Cavalier and Catinat。  The name of the one was
  Brun and of the other Francezet。  Although neither of them possessed
  the genius and influence of Catinat and Ravanel; yet they were both
  men to be feared; the one on account of his personal strength; the
  other for his skill and agility。  Indeed; it was said of him that he
  never missed a shot; and that one day being pursued by dragoons he
  had escaped by jumping over the Gardon at a spot where it was
  twenty…two feet wide。
  For a long time all search was in vain; but one day the wife of a
  miller named Semenil came into town ostensibly to buy provisions; but
  really to denounce them as being concealed; with two other Camisards;
  in her husband's house。
  This information was received with an eager gratitude; which showed
  the importance which the governor of Nimes attached to their capture。
  The woman was promised a reward of fifty Louis if they were taken;
  and the Chevalier de la Valla; Grandidier; and fifty Swiss; the major
  of the Saint…Sernin regiment; a captain; and thirty dragoons; were
  sent off to make the capture。  When they were within a quarter of a
  league of the mill; La Valla; who was in command of the expedition;
  made the woman give him all the necessary topographical information。
  Having learned that besides the door by which they hoped to effect an
  entrance; the mill possessed only one other; which opened on a bridge
  over the Vistre; he despatched ten dragoons and five Swiss to occupy
  this bridge; whilst he and the rest of the troops bore down on the
  main entrance。  As soon as the four Camisards perceived the approach
  of the soldiers; their first thought was to escape by the bridge; but
  one of them having gone up to the roof to make sure that the way was
  clear; came down exclaiming that the bridge was occupied。  On hearing
  this; the four felt that they were lost; but nevertheless resolved to
  defend themselves as valiantly and to sell their lives as dearly as
  possible。  As soon as the royals were within musket range of the
  mill; four shots were fired; and two dragoons; one Swiss; and one
  horse; fell。  M。 de Valla thereupon ordered the troops to charge at
  full gallop; but before the mill door was reached three other shots
  were heard; and two more men killed。  Nevertheless; seeing they could
  not long hold out against such numbers; Francezet gave the signal for
  retreat; calling out; 〃Sauve qui petit!〃 at the same instant he
  jumped out of a lattice window twenty feet from the ground; followed
  by Brun。  Neither of them being hurt; both set off across country;
  one trusting to his strength and the other to his fleetness of foot。
  The two other Camisards; who had tried to escape by the door; were
  captured。
  The soldiers; horse and foot; being now free to give all their
  attention to Brun and Francezet; a wonderful race began; for the two
  fugitives; being strong and active; seemed to play with their
  pursuers; stopping every now and then; when they had gained
  sufficient headway; to shoot at the nearest soldiers; when Francezet;
  proving worthy of his reputation; never missed a single shot。  Then;
  resuming their flight and loading their weapons as they ran; they
  leaped rivers and ditches; taking advantage of the less direct road
  which the troops were obliged to follow; to stop and take breath;
  instead of making for some cover where they might have found safety。
  Two or three times Brun was on the point of being caught; but each
  time the dragoon or Swiss who had got up to him fell; struck by
  Francezet's unerring bullet。  The chase lasted four hours; during
  which time five officers; thirty dragoons; and fifty Swiss were
  baffled by two men; one of whom Francezet was almost a boy; being
  only twenty years old!  Then the two Camisards; having exhausted
  their ammunition; gave each other the name of a village as a
  rendezvous; and each taking a different direction; bounded away with
  the lightness of a stag。  Francezet ran in the direction of Milhaud
  with such rapidity that he gained on the dragoons; although they put
  their horses at full speed。  He was within an inch of safety; when a
  peasant named La Bastide; who was hoeing in a field; whence he had
  watched the contest with interest from the moment he had first caught
  sight of it; seeing the fugitive make for an opening in a wall; ran
  along at the foot of the wall on the other side; and; just as
  Francezet dashed through the opening like a flash of lightning;
  struck him such a heavy blow on the head with his hoe that the skull
  was laid open; and he fell bathed in blood。
  The dragoons; who had seen in the distance what had happened; now
  came up; and rescued Francezet from the hands of his assailant; who
  had continued to rain blows upon him; desiring to put an end to him。
  The unconscious Camisard was carried to Milhaud; where his wounds
  were bandaged; and himself revived by means of strong spirits forced
  into mouth and nostrils。
  We now return to Brun。  At first it seemed as if he were more
  fortunate than his comrade; for; meeting with no obstacle; he was
  soon not only out of reach; but out of sight of his enemies。  He now;
  however; felt broken by fatigue; and taught caution by the treachery
  to which he had almost fallen a victim; he dared not ask for an
  asylum; so; throwing himself down in a ditch; he was soon fast
  asleep。  The dragoons; who had not given up the search; presently
  came upon him; and falling on him as he lay; overpowered him before
  he was well awake。
  When both Camisards met before the governor; Francezet replied to all
  interrogations that since the death of brother Catinat his sole
  desire had been to die a martyr's death like him; while Brun said
  that he was proud and happy to die in the cause of the Lord along
  with such a brave comrade as Francezet。  This manner of defence led
  to the application of the question both ordinary and extraordinary;
  and to the stake; and our readers already know what such a double
  sentence meant。  Francezet and Brun paid both penalties on the 30th
  of April; betraying no secrets and uttering no complaints。
  Boeton; who had been denounced by Villas when under torture (and who
  thereby abridged his agony) as the person in whose house the plot to
  carry off the Duke of Berwick and de Baville had been arranged; still
  remained to be dealt with。
  He was moderate in his religious views; but firm and full of faith;
  his principles resembled those of the Quakers in that he refused to
  carry arms; he was; however; willing to aid the good cause by all
  other means within his reach。  He was at home waiting; with that calm
  which perfect trust in God gives; for the day to come which had been
  appointed for the execution of the plan; when suddenly his house was
  surrounded during the night by the royals。  Faithful to his
  principles; he offered no resistance; but held out his hands to be
  bound。  He was taken in triumph to Nimes; and from there to the
  citadel of Montpellier。  On the way he encountered his wife and his
  son; who were going to the latter town to intercede for him。  When
  they met him; they dismounted from their horse; for the mother was
  riding on a pillion behind the son; and kneeling on the highroad;
  asked for Boeton's blessing。  Unfeeling though the soldiers were;
  they yet permitted their prisoner to stop an instant; while he;
  raising his fettered hands to heaven; gave the double blessing asked
  for。  So touched was Baron Saint…Chatte by the scene (be it remarked
  in passing that the baron and Boeton were cousins by marriage) that
  he permitted them to embrace one another; so for a few moments they
  stood; the husband and father clasped to the hearts of his dear ones;
  then; on a sign from Boeton; they tore themselves away; Boeton
  commanding them to pray for M。 de Saint…Chatte; who had given them
  this consolation。  As he resumed his march the prisoner set them the
  example by beginning to sing a psalm for the benefit of M。 de
  Saint…Chatte。
  The next day; despite the intercession of his wife and son; Boeton
  was condemned to torture both ordinary and extraordinary; and then to
  be broken on the wheel。  On hearing this cruel sentence; he said that
  he was ready to suffer every ill that God might send him in order to
  prove the steadfastness of his faith。
  And indeed he endured his torture with such firmness; that M。 de
  Baville; who was present in the hope of obtaining a confession;
  became more impatient than the sufferer; and; forgetting his sacred
  office; the judge struck and insulted the prisoner。  Upon this Baeton
  raised his eyes to heaven and cried; 〃Lord; Lord! how long shall the
  wicked triumph?  How long shall innocent blood be shed?  How long
  wilt Thou not judge and avenge our blood with cries to Thee?
  Remember Thy jealousy; O Lord; and Thy loving…kindness of old!〃  Then
  M。 de Baville withdrew; giving orders that he was to be brought to
  the scaffold。
  The scaffold was erected on the Esplanade: being; as was usual when
  this sor