The American patriot., 1855-01-03
y'xaBs asssashg. OF TEHss cg.ygsV Il rs.
A FRENCH STORY.

It was in the year 1903, while Louis AlVth was
engaged in hostilities with foreign powers, that
domestic of singular character was baililing
the skill of of his bfayest generals in the south
Of France The prosecuted iIugcnots had been
scattered abroad, carrying with them to other
climcs their indontable vaor ard all-endl!ring
Eaith-and much too that France might have
been glad to retain, for the sake Of her own best
nterests---their industrious habits, their skill in
useful arts, and their correct morals. few of
their expelled clergy had had the courage to re-
turn; but deprived of the wisest and best Of the
Protestant party, the untutored moilntaneIs Of
the Ce,cnnes had become the prey of designing
or deludcd fanatics. A strange madness had
broken out among them; prophets and prophet
csses had appeared, and the people listened to the
voices of women and children, as to oraclcs.
When the army Of military discipline was raised
to lash or crush them into submission, the un-
dauntcd spirit of mountain liberty blazed up; and
heroes sprang forth from the Businesses of the
Cevcnnes and the Vivarez to defy the power of
their sovereign 1t was fierce and protracted
contest; and, at the time when our tale opens, the
Sieur dc Montrevcl, an officer Of high repute, had
been sent against the rebels The severity with
which he treated those who fell into his hands,
struck no terror into the survivors: they seized
every opportunity of making reprisals; and, as he
advanced farther into the heart Of their territory
carving devastation among thcr humble cottages
the bare rocks, they fought him at every pass
with frenzied courage.
He arrived one morning at defle which led
down into green valley, whose peaceful hamlet
was to be reduced to ashes. Not human being
appeared along the gray cliffs above, not living
thing stirred in the slant village; few smokes
rose from the cottages but no children sportcd on
the green, no old men sat before their doors, no
dogs. barked at the strangers approach. On
marched the well-trained soldiers into the scene
fthc work; and in few minutes, brands, snatched
from the lately deserted hearths, kindled crack
ling conhagration the red flames and black smoke
rushed up and the soldiers, again forwarding into
ranks on a green slope where the rising breezt
drove the smoke from them, sent forth shout o
triumph to the surrounding rocks. The rocks
echoed it back again and again, and as the last nc
verberberation died away among the hills, another
and yet wilder sound answered it from the depth
Of their forests. A yell Of mingled voices arcs
from unseen spectators, which might have thrilled
steutcr hearts than those of the armed mylmidon
OF power The march was again resumed; ther
aPpearcu 70 be no further passage through th
everlasting barrier that rose heyond The village
and the Sieur de Montrcve led his men bacl
through the defile he had descended SO Quietly n,
hour before. But at a sudden turn in the road. hi
quick eye discerned the figures of several noun
taineers, vanishing behind the trees and rocks; AM
he halted, that his men, already painting tron
the fatigue of climbing the steep, might TAX
breath before encountcring the next and Still NOR
precpous ascent. 1t was a sudden and fort,,nat
pausc the next minute fearful sound was hear
breaking the solemn Stiffness his mems eye
turned wildly in every direction, not knowing q
first whence it proceeded; but presently tremer
dous rock came laundering and crashing down Ii
precipicc on their right, bearing earth stones, an
trees before it, and dashing into the centre of Il
road, with weight and fury which would ha,
crushed to the dust the leader and front rank OF Il
party, had they not halted at the moment the
did