[Footnote 1: Jean Cavalier, principal leader of the Camisards in the war of the Cevennes, born 1679 in the village of Rebaute, near Anduse, vas the son of a peasant, he lived at Geneva, and was employed in agriculture, when the persecutions of the reformed inhabitants of the Cevennes under Louis XIV. reached their highest pitch, and caused the breaking out of the troubles, enflaming his enthusiasm for his faith, and inducing him to return home. He was twenty-four years old, when he placed himself at the head of armed multitudes, whom he knew how to discipline with great art, and to rule over with transcendent talent, leading them, with courage, circumspection and success against the royal army. The confirmation of the treaty, which he, despairing of the ultimate success of his cause, had concluded with Marshal Villars, Louis XIV. sent to him accompanied with the commission of colonel, and the grant of an annual pension of 1200 livres, permitting him at the same time to raise a regiment of his own in the king's pay. Called to Versailles by the Minister Chamillard, he saw that he was watched there with distrust, and he fled secretly to England by way of Holland, entering there into military service. In the Spanish war then raging, he commanded a regiment formed of refugee Camisards in the service of Piedmont and distinguished himself particularly in the battle of Almanza, in New Castile, on the 25th of April, 1707, where he was severely wounded. At a later period he became Major-general and Governor of Jersey; and died, 1740, at Chelsea.] THE REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES. CHAPTER I. "Is Edmond not yet come home?" asked his father of the servant, as he walked up and down the great hall of his country mansion. "No, my Lord," answered the old man, "and it were well that he returned before evening; for a storm is gathering over the mountains, which bodes us no good." At this moment a little girl entered with her toys, and sat down at the large hall table. "The storm is raging again so fearfully up in the mountains," said she carressingly, "that I will stay near you, dear papa, I cannot bear such weather, why should there be such noise and thunder in the world?" "Aye, truly," rejoined Frantz, the old domestic, "and all the misery that has oppressed us for so many years past and to which we see no end!" "He only knows, who has thus afflicted us," replied the father, sighing; "and he will accomplish his own wise purpose." "Papa!" exclaimed the child, looking up from her play, "our good Eustace, the charcoalburner, who used to bring me such pretty little stones from the wood, and who lately brought the large wild bird, which he said, was a thrush; the black good man is now become a satan too." "What art thou chattering there about!" said her father angrily; "who told you this?"