Jacques Bonneval; Or, The Days of the Dragonnades

ts impeded our entrance and lay on the floor. A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking

ir swords; and they knocked me about after that. If that was justice, I don't know what justice is. They hurt my wife, too, or she would not have shrieked out so. And her word always had

ses," said Antoine, softly. "Wait

roken up and then partially burnt. There was a great beam across the ceiling, with large iron ho

assed the chain under one of my armpits, and so suspended me; and then beat me. I was not going to stand that

not say, 'for my sin is little-a very little one-the first I ever sinned;' but 'my sin is gre

again and again he repeated, weeping, "For my sin is great-my

n," said I. "Let us turn unto the Lord, for he

nto the yard, where stood a cart, with a sorry horse in it, and

wn," said he. "I will pile the wo

he wood over me as carefully as he

?" said someb

r Pierre's chattels have been reduced to mere firewood.

d in a well at Bahurim, spreading a covering over the well's mouth,

y it of you: it will

s engaged alread

You said you were going to see i

er's sad state has bewildered me. Go you, and look

What is the value of th

that I confess I quaked; however, he set suc

ring; and Antoine said, in a low voice, "How pitiable are the poor people who are now going to vespers on compulsion! Where will all th

ened, that he cannot save. What is imp

may live to

lace where a boat laden with kitchen stuff was awaiting us. Here Antoine saw me safely placed in charge of the boatman, who bade me never fear, for he would safely carry me to Bordeaux. We

sibly pleasant to float down that bright river, as it carried me to new scenes, which love, hope, and inexperience painted in pleasing colors. My feet were sufficiently painful for me to be glad to lie idly among the piles of cabbages and wh

e exchanged greetings and jokes with other boatmen; s

nt très

nt trè

une soeur

Languedoc. At other time

contented, merr

t our place? Collette was the prettiest girl of our village, and a good girl, but a thought too vain. Perhaps it is too much to expect a woman not to be vain when she is pretty, but all are not. Collette's skin was like lilies and roses. When the dragoons were let loose on us they burnt her father's furniture, and beat him within an inch of his life. They asked Collette if she would go to mass: she said, 'I will not.' They pulled her hair, beat her, pinche

hy motive for an un

omen think so much of their looks. I am told the drago

name of men they wou

ir way to Marseilles? Certainly no treatment can be too bad for the infamous, but that nobles and ge

with the country seats of opulent merchants, many of whom either were Huguenots or had made their fortunes by Huguenots. It was to be supposed, therefore, that we had many friends here; and, indeed, many were favoring our escape as much as they could without compromising themselves; but such jealous watch was b

ndent, Monsieur Bort. He was a very business-looking man, with a short, hard, dry way

al. You come too late

nto a seat, quite st

. "They could not wait. The opp

really off

s and raised his eyebrows. However, seeing my chagrin, he a

are ascending th

but we may hope the best. An

Did my father leave m

bade you be a good boy, and s

adly do, if you

. But, unhappily, the surveillance is now so str

cask," said I

ourage to be packe

ere is no a

loaded now, and if you will really go on board in such a way as you propose I think we can manage

ore me. It was not pleasant, certainly; but then the incentive was so great!-to join

e as careful of you as he can. An officer on board is likewise in my confidence: he engages you shall be released as soon as the vessel is fa

me to the warehouse, where the cask awaited

," said he, smiling. "Now, behave yourself as a good pipe of wine should; and don

re very

n a wine-cask? You will get on board alive, will be release

cask was closed upon me. The next minute I was rolled slowly off; and a most odd sensation it was! I advise you to try it,

ingly hot; all the blood in my body seemed mounting into my head: and unpleasant ideas of smothering obtruded themselves. The noises around me told me we were on the wharf; then the jolting and bumping became worse than before: I fancied I could tell we passed up a

e of insensibility. When I woke I was numb all over, and had t

so well as to have no mind to

hold of my arm, and helped me to rise. Above me were the sails and cordage of a ship; all aroun

ere thanks are due," said the

ly assisted me into the presence of the captain, s

ld me many moving stories of other Huguenots who had escaped or tried to escape to England; and he related such i

ad to put on all the sail we could to escape being overhauled; and this led to our being driven out of our course; so that, what with one thing and another, we we did not

t one another in the streets, in spite of link-boys darting between the horses, fearless of danger, and scattering sparks from their fiery torches. The noise, the unknown language, the strange streets and lanes bewildered me. The

precipitated myself into his ar

mother? Where

friend Mr. Smith. Thither I will speedily take you,

since we lost sig

free, happy land people are no longer persecuted for their faith. We must begin the world again,

y father in a stage-coach on our way to Walthamstow. There, in an old-fashioned red-brick mansio

ny who safely reached this hospitable country and commenced life anew. Many of us settled without the city walls in the open ground of Spital Fields, which we gradually covered with houses and silk-factories. Here we spoke our own language,

3, three hundred thousand of us are maintained by it in England. And many others of us in friendly countries abroad, where we have been driven. Prosperity to those among whom we have

tno

thrilling narrative, of which the Quarterly Review says:-"The facts are m