ur me to make over this luckless man to me,
that his fate may rest in my hands. Shall this lost creature, so
unprepared, in all the nakedness of his crimes, go before his accusing
Judge? shall we not try to moderate the fierce temperament and to lead
the apostate closer to his Maker? Grant me this favour ye friends, do
not refuse my petition and accept my own life as a pledge, that he will
not repay this deliverance by treachery and falsehood?" Cavalier, from
affection to Edmond, joined his entreaties to those of the youth, and
after a short opposition from Ravanel and some murmurs from the troop,
all unanimously consented to pardon the robber. Cavalier informed him
that his sentence was remitted, that he might, added he, feel, that
mercy which exists even in an enemy and that he might also seek for
mercy at the throne of justice of the Eternal. The robber looked long
and searchingly with his large fire-darting eyes on Edmond. He now
bowed low to the little Cavalier, and said with a laughing countenance:
"Ah! my little man! from whence derivest thou thy knowledge of Him on
the throne of justice, that thou chatterest about him as if one had
only to go round the corner there and knock at his house, and fee the
doorkeeper for admission? You think, therefore, that I shall breathe
the air within me, some time longer, and look upon this light which I
have done for almost these seventy years past? Be it so. But I will not
deceive you, you shall not give me this wretched life in order to
rejoice at my conversion, for you have just pitched on the wrong one
with all your atonement, godliness, and love. I will have nothing to do
with your stories and fanaticism, with prayers and singing you shall
also spare me, though I should have no objection to march out with you
and fight valiantly, because I must do something, or other, and for the
present I have nothing better to do."

Again a murmour arose, but now, there was no time to pass sentence, or
to dispute, for the royal troops were already seen marching by. Each
leader quickly betook himself to his troop, called to them, gave the
word of command, and in a short time order was restored, and all in
readiness to await the attack, Edmond and the robber, whose life he had
solicited, stood in the ranks together. While each ranged himself in
opposition to the other, several Camisards fell at the first salvo of
the small cannon, but undismayed, they marched forward, singing their
psalms a