a severe and reproving countenance, will not mistake the father." All shewed themselves more quiet and the younger men exclaimed, "Give us weapons! weapons! Roland!" "Those that I have left," replied the latter, "you shall have; such as cannot obtain any, must wait for the first combat, and take them from the enemy, for it has been arranged thus from the beginning. The troops must bring us arms up into the mountains, and a gun which oneself has wrested from a strange foe is quite a different arm to what one buys. Pooh! who would give money for iron and arms, as long as the Marshal will still so kindly give himself the trouble to send out his people in heat and rain, that they may laboriously enough provide us very conveniently with arms, which he himself with his Intendant and his baton will have reason to fear. Thus thinks a true Camisard. Clothing also shall they deliver up to you, shoes and boots, but you must learn to be courteous and assist them, my countrymen, a little to undress. With a hundred such valets, Cavalier was here a short time since; they were all most gallantly equipped without being indebted a single denier to draper, or tailor." Bertrand, who was resting upon his fowling piece, and whose tears still trickled down his cheeks, and over his weapon, could not avoid laughing aloud, and the younger lads joined him. "Yes," cried young François, "we will peel them like red and yellow apples, only serve us up a dish of them soon." "Shake them bravely out of their uniforms, the season for nut shaking is near." "I will shake them out," cried François "so that they shall fall rattling at my feet and each one shall shew himself so hollow and worm-eaten, that I would not seek for his kernel!"--The mother rose from the ground and embraced her young son, who had just entered into manhood. "I, and several of us," said another lad, "have already served many a time under you, Roland; but then we returned afterwards to our village." "This is the best method to carry on the war," replied Roland, "for we thus sometimes save provisions, and our troops remain fresh and ready for battle. I know you well Adam, and also that little shoemaker Anton yonder." Anton came forward; "Yes, dear brother, I am so glad that he shoes, which I made for you hold out still."--He fell down and wished to embrace his knees, but Roland raised him up. "Look Roland; I love and honour you so much, that I should like to be your footstool upon which your tired legs might repose. I formerly fought bravely, but now, it shall go on quite differently. It shall be stab on stab, and my awl and thong shall be drawn through their hearts and entrails, so that the soul shall pipe like an imprisoned rat." All appeared seated at the frugal meal more comforted and quiet; at least the distorted and despairing faces with which they had at first appeared before the commander, were no longer to be seen. CHAPTER X.