When a third of the way, back had been covered, they met their chief, who had found a fresh horse by the wayside standing beside its dead master.  He arrived at full gallop, as he was anxious to unite his cavalry and infantry at once, as he had seen the forces of the marechal advancing, who, as we have already said, had turned in the direction of the firing.  Hardly had Cavalier effected the desired junction of his forces than he perceived that his retreat was cut off.  He had the royal troops both before and behind him.

The young chief saw that a desperate dash to right or left was all that remained to him, and not knowing this country as well as the Cevennes, he asked a peasant the way from Soudorgues to Nages, that being the only one by which he could escape.  There was no time to inquire whether the peasant was Catholic or Protestant; he could only trust to chance, and follow the road indicated.  But a few yards from the spot where the road from Doudorgues to Nages joins the road to Nimes he found himself in face of Marechal Montrevel’s troops under the command of Menon.  However, as they hardly outnumbered the Camisards, these did not stop to look for another route, but bending forward in their saddles, they dashed through the lines at full gallop, taking the direction of Nages, hoping to reach the plain round Calvisson.  But the village, the approaches, the issues were all occupied by royal troops, and at the same time Grandval and the marechal joined forces, while Menon collected his men together and pushed forward.  Cavalier was completely surrounded:  he gave the situation a comprehensive glance—­his foes, were five to one.

Rising in his stirrups, so that he could see over every head, Cavalier shouted so loud that not only his own men heard but also those of the enemy:  “My children, if our hearts fail us now, we shall be taken and broken on the wheel.  There is only one means of safety:  we must cut our way at full gallop through these people.  Follow me, and keep close order!”

So speaking, he dashed on the nearest group, followed by all his men, who formed a compact mass; round which the three corps of royal troops closed.  Then there was everywhere a hand-to-hand battle there was no time to load and fire; swords flashed and fell, bayonets stabbed, the royals and the Camisards took each other by the throat and hair.  For an hour this demoniac fight lasted, during which Cavalier lost five hundred men and slew a thousand of the enemy.  At last he won through, followed by about two hundred of his troops, and drew a long breath; but finding himself in the centre of a large circle of soldiers, he made for a bridge, where alone it seemed possible to break through, it being only guarded by a hundred dragoons.

He divided his men into two divisions, one to force the bridge, the other to cover the retreat.  Then he faced his foes like a wild boar driven to bay.