Gentlemen: We Guarantee our 21s. Boot equal to Bespoke Work.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XII, 23 March 1901, Page 532

Gentlemen: We Guarantee our 21s. Boot equal to Bespoke Work.

Gentlemen’s High-class Footware is our Specialty. One Trial Solicited.

About a mile from the town the three Camisarda with the flag of truce halted and made signals. The younger officers of the guard were for firing on them with a culverin. But the Chevalier de Valleraugue feared greatly for his daughter. “Go out and parley with them, monsieur,” he said. And the Commandant, much marvelling, went out to parley. “Who are you?” the King’s officer asked the leader of the dauntless trio. And the Camisard made answer:

“I am a servant of God, Castanet by name, brigadier in the army of the Protestants of France. And I come to ask for an exchange of prisoners. 1 ' “What prisoners?” the Commandant inquired, greatly taken aback. “You hold my wife, Mariette Castanet, whom your dragoons took away by evil force from my castle of Mont Aigoal. In reprisal, I hold a lady who gives her name as Louise de Valleraugue, the Chevalier’s daughter. I am willing to exchange them —lady against lady. What say you. Monsieur le Commandant? Is it a fair bargain?” The Commandant debated.

“You are rebels and malefactors,” he said. "How shall I answer to the King for it? You deserve no quarter, but to be shot or hanged. You are his Majesty’s revolted subjects. If we exchange prisoners with you, we treat you like lawful foreign enemies—like subjects, for example, of the King of England.” “You do as you choose," the intrepid Camisard answered. “You shoot us or hang us—and my men will shoot or hang the lady. If we do not return unharmed by midnight this night, they have orders, which they will obey to put Mademoiselle de Valleraugue to death, as the Lord may direct them. But if you send three men back with us, to escort my wife to the castle on Mont Aigoal. we will deliver up to them Mademoiselle de Valleraugue, unharmed and living. Is it a bargain? Say ‘yes,’ and we return to Our stronghold.*” “These brigands are capable of anything," the Chevalier interposed. “Make terms with them this once, Monsieur le Commandant, and restore me my daughter. 1 will answer to tht King for it. After that we may collect troops around us at our leisure, and wipe out this den of thieves for his Majesty’s honour.” ‘That is as the Eternal wills,” the Camisard answered, overhearing. “I agree,” the Commandant said. "Ride you on in front. Three of my musketeers shall follow with our prisoner. You have played us an evil trick, Sieur Castanet; but the honours of war are yours. Farbleu, Monsieur de Valleraugue, a soldier myself, 1 know fiow to respect brave conduct in a soldier. And this Camisard is brave, though he be the King’s enemy. The Camisard bowed. “Being such as you are, Monsieur le Commandant,” he said, talcing off Ifis feathered hat, “would that the Eternal in His wisdom had vouchsafed to you to be of our party.” For the first time in that war each side saluted. Castanet and his two comrades rode off to a little distance. No man molested them. Presently, from the gates of Alais, there issued forth three men, pnd a woman with them. “It. is she,” Castanet cried, his heart leaping up. “I should know her at that distance among ten thousand!” His keen eyes were right. They rode ahead a long way up the ascent to the stronghold. Arrived at the mountain, the Camisards in charge came forth to meet them. Mariette sprang from her horse and flung herself into her husband’s arms.

1. “I knew you would rescue me,” she cried, embracing him with tears. “I Awl faith in you, and faith in the Seigneur.”

They handed over Louise de .Valleraugue to the escort. The chief of the musketeers lifted his hat to the rebel chief.

v “You are a brave man, Monsieur le .Brigadier,” he said. “I myself am of the religion. When you are captured and shot, I pray the good Lord I may not be one of those told oft to shoot jrou.” And lhe three King’s soldiers, with the Chevalier's daughter, descended the arjd white rocks once more la the (UreoUoß of Alais. ‘ V>