: f m\ 
 
 7 r t 
 
 ¥ 
 
 Sis- 
 
 V
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 
 U^ c 
 
 '■ -C*A/LS 

 
 HIGH. WAYS AND BY-WAYS ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 TALES OF THE ROADSIDE, 
 
 PICKED UP IN THE FRENCH PROVINCES. 
 
 BY 
 
 A WALKING GENTLEMAN. 
 
 THIRD SERIES. 
 
 " I love France »o well that I will not part with a village of it ; I 
 will have it all mine." King Henry V. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON : 
 HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET 
 
 1827.
 
 >H.*CKK1.L ASD DAYMK, JOHNSON S-CODRT.
 
 a~< 
 
 TO 
 
 HORACE SMITH, ESQ. 
 
 THIS 
 
 THIRD, AND LAST, SERIES OF TALES 
 
 IS INSCRIBED ; 
 
 IN TESTIMONY OF 
 THE AUTHOR'S 
 
 SINCERE ESTEEM AND FRIENDSHIP. 

 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 Affairs that walk, 
 As they say spirits do, at midnight, have 
 In them a wilder nature than the business 
 That seeks dispatch hy day. 
 
 Sbakspearb. 
 
 VOL. L— Third Series.
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 I must once more, and probably for the last 
 time, transport my readers to the mountainous 
 district which joins France to Spain, and lead 
 them into scenes and adventures which I tra- 
 verse again in memory. My recollections of 
 those regions, as vivid as they are various, may 
 enable me to trace with some effect the country 
 and the people ; but the associations of feeling 
 connected with the story I am about to relate, 
 press on me in painful and embarrassing con- 
 fusion. 
 
 u 2
 
 4 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 In the former recitals of my Pyrenean walks, 
 I have happily had to sketch but scenes of 
 nature, and acts of men, which, though imper- 
 fect in the mass, or individually objectionable, 
 had nothing so revolting as the source of the 
 events I would now record. For they had their 
 existence in that of the cordon sanitaire, a me- 
 morable establishment, formed for the perpetra- 
 tion of a political crime, which led to thousands 
 of instances of suffering, deeper than the insu- 
 lated one which I, by chance, was witness to. 
 
 It was late in the autumn of the year 1822 
 that I found myself, a second time, and for a 
 short period, in the neighbourhood of those 
 scenes which I had visited above three years 
 before, in a milder season and happier times. 
 War and winter Mere now approaching, hand in 
 hand, and sending out the herald omens of their 
 coming. An army of neaily thirty thousand 
 men, stretching for a hundred leagues from sea to 
 sea, had possessed themselves of the whole range 
 of mountains ; and their glittering arms and
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. <3 
 
 floating: standards scared the wild deer and the 
 eagles, in their most remote and inaccessible 
 haunts. The snow had invaded the hills, and 
 with silent encroachments it came daily down- 
 wards, driving the stunted herds and flocks from 
 their chilled pastures, and covering, like a fu- 
 neral shroud, the dying beauties of the woods. 
 The shepherds took possession of the plains, 
 but not with the wonted cheerfulness and ease 
 which had, in other years, accompanied their 
 autumnal migration. They had not now the 
 quiet homes of better days, nor could they look 
 forward even to the scanty but undisturbed en- 
 joyments of the winter hearth. Their huts were 
 filled with soldiers ; each village was a military 
 post; and, besides all the tumult and alarm 
 excited by this change, the whole country 
 swarmed with a desperate rabble, driven out of 
 Spain before the meteor flash of liberty, which 
 gleamed, like the Archangel's fiery sword, on 
 that unhappy land, by nature intended for a 
 paradise.
 
 G THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 The fugitive bands of smugglers, monks, and 
 mendicants, and worse even than either, Avere 
 self-designated " The Army of the Faith ;" 
 covering by a bold impiety, the cruelty, bigotry, 
 and cowardice which formed the elements of their 
 compact. A few inflamed fanatics gave an ar- 
 dent colouring to the rest, and deceived the 
 distant observer by a hue less odious than the 
 reality ; but those who saw them closely, have, 
 one and all, agreed in painting them as both vile 
 in motives, and brutal in actions. At the time 
 I describe, they were utterly expelled the Spa- 
 nish soil, and they overran the neutral territory 
 of France, in noxious and despicable crowds. 
 The groups of these wretches, hovering on the 
 frontier, had a picturesque atrocity of mien which 
 was in keeping with the savage scenery. Lazy 
 monks, wrapped in their thread-bare cloaks and 
 cowls, of brown, or grey, or black — half-starved 
 women, with squalling infants, trudging along, 
 shivering and almost naked — the mockery of an 
 encampment of some scores of ragged ruffians.
 
 THE OAGOT's HUT. 
 
 whose military accoutrements alone took from 
 them the air of a gipsy bivouac. Such were the 
 objects profusely spread upon the snow-covered 
 mountains, and braving the blasts by which 
 I myself was assailed, on my track from the 
 Circus of Gavarnie, where I had been sating my 
 curiosity by a view of the chief wonder of the 
 Pyrenees. 
 
 The French army of observation, as the cor- 
 don sanitaire was newly named, occupied all the 
 passes of the hills, and suffered considerably 
 in their inclement positions. Every hut afforded 
 miserable quarters to some ten or twelve soldiers, 
 and in some places the troops were forced to 
 encamp under tents, which were perpetually 
 blown down, or torn up by storm gusts from the 
 earth. I had many opportunities of observing 
 the gaiety and good humour with which the sol- 
 diers bore privations of all kinds. No longer 
 insulted by the ignoble pretence of forming a 
 barrier against the yellow fever, they had thrown 
 off the degrading title which it had procured
 
 S THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 them ; and the whole appearance of things 
 growing daily more warlike, with occasional 
 skirmishes between the Constitutional Spaniards 
 and the insurgent rabble of the Faith, gave a 
 martial character to the scene, that warmed the 
 imagination and hushed the murmurs of the 
 unfledged conscripts, of whom .the army was 
 composed. They were too unreflecting to dis- 
 cover that there was less dishonour in being the 
 means of prevention to a physical contagion, than 
 in becoming the instruments for the overthrow 
 of the first of moral rights. But soldiers must 
 obey, not reason ; and a principle of duty, 
 which applies exclusively to them, absolves 
 from them the odium which falls with tenfold 
 force upon the authority whose dictates they 
 follow. 
 
 As no obstruction was at that time given to 
 travellers within the frontiers, I pursued my 
 excursions freely ; and though shocked at every 
 step to see the country I traversed forced from 
 the solemn quiet of its natural aspect, I did not
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 9 
 
 neglect the fund for observation afforded by the 
 exotic and auxiliary illustrations which every 
 step presented. 
 
 I had visited Gavarnie at that late season, to 
 witness the effect given, by the accumulation of 
 snow, to the cascades which foam over the stu- 
 pendous rocks that form its gigantic amphi- 
 theatre. As this prodigious scene has been over 
 and over described, I shall not make a transcript 
 of the works of others, nor seek a rivalry with 
 them ; wishing rather to lead my readers into 
 sites more unfrequented and obscure. I quitted 
 Gavarnie, oppressed, I might almost say, by 
 the contemplation of its vast sublimity and 
 appalling desolation. I looked back on its 
 glaciers, its cataracts, and the mighty mounds 
 that tower above them : I suffered imagination 
 to rest awhile on the peaks where Ariosto's 
 splendid genius had bounded uncontrouled 
 — and I turned into the track of common- 
 place events and scenes, lightened of a weight 
 of wonderment that seemed to bow me down. 
 
 b 3
 
 10 THE cagot's hut. 
 
 I threaded the denies that lead from Gavarnie 
 to Gedro ; hastened through the mass of created 
 ruin called Peyrada, or Chaos, where measure- 
 less heaps of granite and calcareous rock have 
 been hurled and strewed around by the Omni- 
 potent hand ; and I passed, with sure, but 
 rapid steps, the edge of precipices, from an 
 attempt to fathom the depths of which the 
 gaze involuntarily withdraws, baffled and 
 dizzied. 
 
 When I entered the rustic inn of Gedro, 
 late in the evening, I found but little comfort in 
 the aspect of the place. It, like all other houses 
 which professed to afford refreshment and repose, 
 was completely filled by a motley crowd, com- 
 posed of French soldiers and Gens-d'armes, and 
 all the varieties of Spanish vagabonds which I 
 have before mentioned. Outside the house, 
 and nearly blocking up the approach, stood a 
 throng of mules laden with all sorts of rubbish, 
 saved from the ruin of their wretched owners, or 
 pilfered in their flight ; and with these were
 
 THE CAGOX's HUT. 11 
 
 mixed, oxen, sheep, and goats, bellowing and 
 bleating; in all the discord of a cattle fair. 
 Within was a scene of brute confusion auite 
 analogous. A large fire, formed of the young 
 bark of the cork-tree and a newly-felled piue, 
 filled the wide chimney at one end of the room. 
 Close to the flame pressed a throng of women, 
 children, monks, and muleteers, their steaming 
 cloaks joining a thick vapour to the smoke 
 from the moist fire-wood and numerous cigars 
 and tobacco-pipes. Several were standing; 
 others sat on stools, and large blocks of stone, 
 or wood : all employed in efforts to warm them- 
 selve-i, or hang on the branches which were 
 crackling but not yet in flames, their gaiters, 
 shoes, and sandals. The woman of the house 
 occupied one corner of the chimney, stooping 
 almost into the fire, while she cooked, on a grid- 
 iron of the rudest construction, slices of beef, 
 cut by her husband from the still warm, and 
 almost quivering carcase of a cow, that hung in 
 one corner of the room. Some hungry indi-
 
 12 THE caoot's hut 
 
 viduals devoured the steaks, as they came, 
 tough and blackened, from the hands of the 
 hostess. Others partook of the black bread 
 and onions, which they carried in their wallets ; 
 and drank deeply of the wine contained in their 
 goat-skin bottles, or quaffed, from small vessels 
 of horn, the brandy i hich was served to them 
 by the brood of urchin inn-keepers, which 
 formed the remainder of the family. The 
 Spaniards, who were strictly under the surveil- 
 lance of the police, paid for whatever they con- 
 sumed ; and the Gens-d'armes threw many a 
 look of contempt on the military and religious 
 outcasts, as they drew forth their leathern purses 
 and counted down the money, probably obtained 
 by no creditable means. 
 
 Among the many wild and bandit-looking 
 figures, one particularly struck me. There was 
 an indolent fierceness, a recklessness of results, 
 a hardened indifference, all speaking together 
 in his marked countenance and careless attitude, 
 as he reclined against a block of wood, and pre-
 
 THE CAGOTs HUT. 13 
 
 pared for the disposal of a smoking collop, 
 which one of the boys was conveying from his 
 mother's hands. This man, like all the other 
 members of the Army of the Faith, was un- 
 armed ; that is to say, he bore no weapon of 
 legitimate warfare— musket, sword, or pistol; 
 all these being taken from their persons, as soon 
 as they passed the Spanish lines and sought 
 refuge behind the French army. Throwing 
 open his cloak, which was wrapped in several 
 folds round his body, I saw his broad leathern 
 belt, on the unfilled cavities of which he seemed 
 to throw a speaking look of regret for the arms 
 that should be there. He, however, drew from 
 his side pocket a knife, and opened a blade of 
 poignard shape and length, with which he com- 
 menced to cut his meat, and the piece of coarse 
 brown bread that was placed before him. 
 While he fed, grossly and greedily, he might 
 have been thought to have had all his ideas 
 centred in the indulgence of his appetite; but 
 I distinguished a sinister glance at times, which
 
 14 THE CAGOT , S HUT. 
 
 seemed to search for the observation of which 
 he appeared so careless. His viands all dis- 
 patched, he drew from the pocket of his loose 
 breeches a flask, containing some liquor, most 
 probably brandy. He slowly uncorked it, 
 leaned back his head, opened his mouth wide, 
 and holding his hand high and steadily, he 
 poured with great precision the continuous 
 stream of liquid, not spilling a single drop, and 
 thus swallowing the whole without once closing 
 his lips, or letting them touch the bottle, a 
 method of drinking very common to the Spanish 
 peasants. He then handed the empty vessel 
 to the boy, to have it replenished by his father's 
 hand, and unrolling the scarlet cotton sash, 
 which girded his body, he drew a ring from off' 
 its innermost end, and took some small pieces 
 of coin from this secure substitute for a purse 
 Under the inspection of a corporal of Gen- 
 darmerie, who acted as a commissary on the 
 occasion, he paid his reckoning, and delibe- 
 rately arranging his sash, wiping his knife blade,
 
 thk cac:ot"s hut. 15 
 
 and replacing it in his pocket, he lighted his 
 cigar, placed it in his mouth, and then wrap- 
 ped the folds of his dark brown mantle round 
 him, and stretched lmnself on the floor, where 
 he soon slept, or pretended to sleep. 
 
 It was next my turn to receive some portion 
 of the homely fare, which was furnished to me 
 and Ranger in very scanty rations, and served 
 up as uncouthly as possible. Every thino- 
 was, however, made more palatable to me by 
 the civilities of the corporal, and more par- 
 ticularly by the attention of a Serjeant of 
 infantry, a spruce, dapper, consequential and 
 kind-hearted fellow, who, soon discovering my 
 nation, exerted all his influence to procure me 
 good treatment from the people of the house ; 
 and, in order to protect me from the contrary 
 at the hands of the Spaniards, addressed me 
 as if he thought me a true believing Frenchman, 
 instead of an English heretic. England being 
 held in unlimited hatred by those with whom 
 I was forced just then to herd, the strictest
 
 16 the cagot's hut. 
 
 precautions were requisite on my part to pre- 
 serve the character thus assigned me. 
 
 While I made the best of my bad supper, 
 and Hanger devoured his share, growling all 
 the while at two or three half-starved curs, that 
 made envious but vain efforts to snatch away 
 the precious bones he was cranching, the Ser- 
 jeant entertained me by a fluent string of obser- 
 vations on the surrounding groups, and anec- 
 dotes touching the service in which he was en- 
 gaged. He was a fair specimen of a French 
 soldier, vain, mercurial, good natured, as was 
 discoverable at sight — generous, humane, and 
 brave, as the sequel of our acquaintance fully 
 proved. He had served in Spain during the 
 late war, and he piqued himself highly on his 
 knowledge of the people, and also of the lan- 
 guage, which he assured me he spoke " quite 
 like a Spaniard — the same thing." But that 
 little flourish he took a very early opportunity 
 of disproving, by a sentence, execrable in idiom, 
 accent, and pronunciation, addressed to one of
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. IT 
 
 the women who sat near us. It took effect, 
 however, just as well as if it had been pure 
 Castilian — for it was a compliment ; and the 
 woman rolled out a reply at the" little serjeant, 
 from her voluble black eyes. 
 
 "Divinities, these Spanish women .'"exclaimed 
 he, slapping one hand against his own thigh, and 
 the other on my shoulder, " Ar'n't they, my 
 friend ?" And before I, his friend, could an- 
 swer, he ran on — " Ay, that they are, dear 
 creatures ! Gods ! how I have adored them — 
 risked life and fame for them thousands of 
 times — fought for them, robbed for them, broke 
 parole for them — every thing, in short, but ran 
 away for them ; that I could not do, for I am 
 a true Frenchman; but sacre ! peste ! I would 
 have done even that — if I could. Look at that 
 black-eyed Venus there — never was an eye- 
 brow or the tip of a nose so like my Fran- 
 chetta's, the little nun 1 carried off* from the 
 convent in Salamanca.— And may I die, if that
 
 18 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 rough-muzzled fellow, who lies there with the 
 cigar asleep in his mouth, isn't the very model 
 of her brother, whom I killed as he strove to stop 
 our flight." 
 
 Had I encouraged him, he would no doubt 
 have found in every individual present a re- 
 semblance to some one who figured in his thou- 
 sand feats ; but wishing to discourage his per- 
 sonalities, I strove to turn his attention to a 
 topic that might lead not abruptly from the one 
 he handled. 
 
 " What do I think of the Spanish troops ?" 
 said he, repeating my question, " why that 
 they're not worth a thought. The weakest bat- 
 talion of ours would beat their best brigade, if one 
 can say best grammatically, where all are bad : 
 but never mind niceties— what one learns in a 
 college one loses in a camp.— But, as I was 
 saying, they do fight like twenty devils, behind 
 a wall, or a chevaux-de-frise— Saragossa for that. 
 They say death is on the point of a* Guerilla
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 19 
 
 knife, and hell at its hilt— because, from hell 
 there's no redemption. Heaven preserve us 
 from their treacherous blades !" 
 
 " What," said I, " such a one as our lazy 
 comrade there carved his supper with, just 
 now ?" 
 
 " Ay, that and the like of it, they are 
 as sharp as wit, and as cunning as a serpent — 
 they slip down from a sleeve, and into one's 
 flank, without so much as a flash in the pan 
 to give notice : and that very fellow, you may 
 take my word for it, could rip a man open as 
 dexterously as our host there slices that cow. 1 '' 
 
 Just then, my eye fell on the swarthy face 
 of the Spaniard, and I thought I could discover 
 hiSf slowly and slyly half opened, and turned 
 for an instant on the serjeant. The latter 
 proceeded : 
 
 " Ay, take my word — you may safely — on 
 whatever concerns Spain. I know them well, 
 or who could ? I have fought, drank, gamed, 
 with the men — and, ah, God help you ! what
 
 20 THE CAGOr's HUT. 
 
 have I not done with the women ! I suffered 
 much in that damnable, delicious land — but, 
 ye gods, what have I enjoyed! Do you 
 know, my friend," continued he, " that of all my 
 unfortunate days, since I first passed through 
 Perpignan, that on which I was taken prisoner 
 at Barossa was the worst." 
 
 " No doubt," replied I, " liberty is the 
 greatest of losses." 
 
 "Liberty! not a bit of it— I didn't care a 
 fig for liberty— a dungeon is a heaven to a 
 man of sentiment, if he has with him but one 
 memorial of love.'" 
 
 " Then you lost all your baggage ?" 
 
 " Baggage ! ay, that I did— clothes, money, 
 watch, all— but what of that ? A man of mind 
 enough to be a philosopher can be naked without 
 a want ; but the journal of my amours ! Devil 
 take me if the loss of it does not drive me almost 
 mad, even now." 
 
 "The what?" asked I. 
 
 " The journal of my amours — the record of
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 21 
 
 my intrigues— the list of my conquests — the 
 names of my mistresses ! that was the treasure, 
 the dearest, the most precious to a man of 
 honour : and I lost that — Oh, heavens ! that, 
 which compromised the reputations of the love- 
 liest women, and the noblest houses of Estra- 
 madura and Castile!" 
 
 The serjeant here quaffed, in solemn silence, 
 a goblet of sour wine, to the memory of his 
 mistresses and their buried reputations, no doubt. 
 I found the subject so pathetico-ludicrous, that 
 I could neither laugh nor cry, but, with, I 
 fear, a half and half expression of sympathy 
 and amusement in my countenance, I entreated 
 the serjeant to be consoled. 
 
 "Yes, I will," exclaimed he, " sacre bleu ! 
 what's the use of sighing? The world's young 
 yet, and why be sad on the very threshold of 
 life!" 
 
 I liked the sentiment : and reasoning on the 
 corporal's scale, I was pleased to natter myself, 
 that were he only on the threshold, I had not
 
 22 THE CAGOT^S HUT. 
 
 reached the portal. For the Serjeant was cer- 
 tainly full forty years of age ; and bore many of 
 those invidious marks on his temples and cheeks, 
 which may be called the mortal termini that 
 denote the distances on the downhill path of life. 
 
 The different groups, of either sex and every 
 age, were now huddled together, without respect 
 to place or persons. Each took care of himself 
 or herself respectively. Neither the women 
 nor the ecclesiastics had any precedence given 
 them as to choice, nor did the children meet 
 any tenderness of regard ; but each took pos- 
 session of a sheep skin, a blanket, or whatever 
 else was convertible to the purposes of covering 
 or repose. 
 
 " Every one for himself, is the motto here to- 
 night, you see,"" said the serjeant, "and you 
 must not swim against the stream. As for me 
 and my party, and my honest friends the 
 Gens-d'armes here, we have our quarters hard 
 by, in a very well arranged, barrack-sort of 
 barn. I cannot take you there with me, and
 
 THK CAGOT'S HUT. ic3 
 
 I don't like to leave you in this company, 
 within reach of these pot-bellied monks, and 
 long-knived Guerillas. I must endeavour to 
 get you a bed — bad enough, I fear — above 
 stairs. Wait a bit." And so saying, he rose, 
 and went to settle the point with the host and 
 hostess. 
 
 During the few minutes occupied in the 
 negociation, I had time to cast a glance on 
 the thirty or forty human beings scattered 
 around. Almost all had yielded to fatigue, and 
 slept soundly, as testified by a full chorus 
 of snoring, in every possible key ; varied as 
 I, perhaps maliciously, fancied, by the thick 
 drawn sighs of the monks, as they lay stretched 
 in close contact with the females of the party. 
 The broad glare from the chimney, and the 
 dingy gleams of a couple of coarse lamps, 
 shewed the whole scene in a light that was 
 in perfect keeping with the objects it brought 
 to view. 
 
 In consequence of my being so warmly pa-
 
 24 the cagot's hut. 
 
 tronizcd by the serjeant, I was treated with 
 great civility by the host and his wife, who 
 immediately complied with the demand for a 
 bed above stairs — in the same room they occu- 
 pied. And having wished a cordial good night 
 to my military friend and his companions, who 
 now retired to their quarters, I gladly mounted 
 the narrow stairs, that led me at all events 
 one degree higher than the society I had been 
 too long mixed with. 
 
 A tottering screen formed a division, for 
 decency's sake, between me and my hosts ; and 
 I threw myself upon the bed, glad to stretch 
 my limbs, though with little hope of sleeping, 
 on a palliasse from which more than half its 
 original stock of straw had been taken to supply 
 forage for the horses belonging to the Gens- 
 d'armes.
 
 the cagot's hut. 25 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 After a couple of hours' persevering efforts, 
 I gave up all hope of sleeping ; and as the next 
 most rational way of passing the night, I betook 
 myself to reflections— of all sorts, political, 
 moral, and so forth, but to no purpose. My 
 thoughts ran restive and unmanageable, and 
 rioted in utter confusion. They were as if 
 blown about by the wind that roared around the 
 house, rushing from the mountains, in gusts 
 that seemed emulous of the voices of the wolves 
 that kept tune with them. The rain poured 
 down in torrents— the doors and window frames 
 rattled— the house shook to its foundations — 
 the animals in the yard lowed and neighed— 
 vol. i. c
 
 26 the cagot's hut. 
 
 their bells jingled — and the nasal signals of the 
 sleepers in the room below came up through 
 the liberal chinks of the unceiled floor, to com- 
 plete the discordant chorus. 
 
 In this tumult of sounds, I strove to amuse 
 myself by a comparative classification of all their 
 varieties. I listened attentively to distinguish and 
 separate the tremulous whine of the children, from 
 the heavy breath of the women, the hoarse snore 
 of their fierce mates, and the corpulent grunt of 
 the fattest of the monks. I even thought that I 
 now and then caught a murmured exclama- 
 tion, warmer than prayer ; and my ears did not 
 deceive me in bearing me the echo of some of my 
 friend the Serjeant's, high-flown compliments, 
 winging their way in soft whispers to the very 
 heart of the dark-eyed Arragonese — for the 
 cunning serjeant confessed as much to me after- 
 wards, and also that one great cause of his kind- 
 ness in placing me in the garret, was to get rid 
 of an obstruction from the kitchen. Thus goes 
 the world ! — and thus passed the night.
 
 the cagot's hut. 27 
 
 My host and hostess were stirring long before 
 the lark, and even ere the eagle shook the night 
 showers from his wing, and sent his sharp gaze 
 down the valley in search of prey. I arose 
 with the dawn ; and the restless company 
 below stairs were employed betimes, in prayers, 
 and imprecations, and demands for food. The 
 nauseous bustle of the preceding night was 
 evidently about to be re-acted ; and I became 
 impatient to make my escape from the scene. 
 Looking from the window, I saw that the morn- 
 ing promised nought but dreariness. The 
 valley, so lovely in summer, was now almost 
 wholly flooded ; and the Gave, which had its 
 source in the cascade of Gavarnie, rolled foam- 
 ingly along its swollen bed, and threatened to 
 tear away the little bridge which was just 
 opposite the inn. The only signs of animal 
 life were a troop of Izards, which had been 
 driven down from the hills by the storm, and 
 were wildly gazing across the valley — and the 
 figure of an old woman of miserable mien and 
 
 c 2
 
 28 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 corresponding attire, standing in the road in 
 front of the house. Her stature was low, 
 her complexion cadaverous, her eye sunken, 
 and her countenance bore in every trait the 
 imprint of disease and want. Her feet and legs 
 were bare; a short petticoat just covered her 
 knees ; and over her head and coming half 
 way down her back, was a blanket, or piece of 
 coarse and filthy cloth. This she held folded 
 round her waist, but as it lay open on her 
 throat it exposed the hideous olive-coloured 
 swelling called a goitre, which protruded all 
 around and joined the lower jaw and chin, 
 giving to the whole face an air of shapeless 
 deformity. I knew enough of the Pyrenees 
 and their population to be certain that I gazed 
 upon a Carfot. 
 
 Aware of the abhorrence entertained towards 
 this unfortunate race by the natives of the 
 country, I rather hurried the preparations for 
 my descent, for I thought it not improbable 
 that some aid might be necessary for this poor
 
 the cagot's hut. 29 
 
 object — one of the fittest for protection, or 
 charity, because a prey to the prejudiced bigotry 
 of mankind. 
 
 When I got down stairs, the whole assem- 
 blage was in motion, but none of them looking 
 much improved by their night's discomforts. 
 The host and hostess, with their children, male 
 and female, were busy in attending to the calls 
 of their rude company. Three or four Gens- 
 d'armes and soldiers were lounging in their grey 
 greatcoats about the door; and in front of it, 
 as if immoveable, stood the melancholy piece of 
 human statuary which I had witnessed from 
 my Avindow. I should have thought, from her 
 appearance and attitude, that she was expecting 
 alms, which she had not the courage to demand, 
 had I not to my great surprise observed a 
 piece of silver in her hand, which she held a 
 little in advance of her body and towards the 
 house. 
 
 The first of the party within who seemed to 
 notice her, was a little girl of about ten years
 
 30 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 old, one of the children of the Spanish refugees ; 
 and no sooner did her eye fix itself on the appalling 
 figure, than she uttered a scream, and shrunk 
 back beside her mother, a swarthy Biscayan 
 dame, who came forward to examine into the 
 cause of her daughter's alarm. She, in her 
 turn, on perceiving the old woman, shrieked 
 and shrunk back ; but snatching her child 
 forwards again, she made her look steadily on 
 the object of terror, while she assisted her in 
 thrusting the thumb of her right hand between 
 her middle and fore-fingers, thus putting forth the 
 counter-charm against the evil eye, which is the 
 summary substitute for the bracelet sometimes 
 worn, called manesita, a little hand of ivory or 
 stone, considered the legitimate amulet against 
 witchcraft for human beings, as the paw of a 
 mole is for mules and horses. 
 
 The cause of alarm now spread among the 
 Spaniards, and they hurried towards the door 
 to see the detested dealer in magic. Exclama- 
 tions of horror, invocations of saints, and threats
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 31 
 
 of punishment were loudly uttered on all sides ; 
 and I began to apprehend some violence to the 
 poor old wretch. But two persons, of more 
 authority than I had any claim to, stepped 
 forward to her protection, at the same time 
 with me. The first of these was my friendly 
 Serjeant, who came from the barn, his foraging 
 cap placed sprucely on one side of his head, 
 and his great coat hanging loosely with a rakish 
 air. As he advanced, he took off his cap 
 and made a low bow of formal civility to the 
 Arragonese woman — giving me a knowing wink 
 at the same time, as much as to say he might 
 have been more familiar if he chose it. While 
 I stepped out into the road and stood near the 
 poor Cagot, he commenced an harangue to the 
 muttering Spaniards, foremost among whom 
 was the ruffian who had chiefly attracted my 
 notice the night before. 
 
 " Come, come, my good friends of the Faith, 
 be pacified, 1 '' cried the serjeant. " Neither 
 religion, courage, nor gallantry permits this.
 
 32 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 This poor object is a Christian and a woman to 
 boot, do you know that ?" 
 
 "A Christian !" gloomed the Spaniard, "she 
 is a witch." 
 
 " Not at all, my friend ; you deceive your- 
 self : witchery in France is practised by females 
 much younger than she— and in Spain too, if 
 I may be permitted so to say,'' pulling off. his 
 cap again and making a general bow to the 
 ladies who surrounded him, and every one of 
 whom under fifty honoured him with a smile. 
 
 "Let her begone, then," said the Spaniard, 
 pale with rage or fear—" let her turn her cursed 
 
 glance from the children of the Faith — or .'" 
 
 and with this emphatic monosyllable, he laid his 
 hand upon the handle of his knife. 
 
 " What {" exclaimed the serjeant, briskly, all 
 the better feelings of manhood being roused— 
 " What ! would you dare to threaten ? since 
 coaxing won't do, we must try other means, I 
 see. Do not attempt to draw out that vile 
 weapon. I believe I ought to take it from you
 
 the cagot's hut. 33 
 
 altogether — but if I allow you to carry it to cut 
 your bread and meat, that's all. Dare but to 
 speak of it, much less wield it, in hostility to 
 aught that is French, and by heavens I'M have 
 you rolled from the topmost peak of our fron- 
 tier hills down into Spain again, just as you 
 and your fellows roll down the bales of woollen 
 which you smuggle from one side to the other !" 
 This burst of eloquence and metaphor which 
 finished it, produced the desired effect on the 
 scowling ruffian, who slunk back into the house, 
 brushing irreverently past one of the monks 
 who came forward to appease the sounds of 
 discord, and to interfere in favour of the un- 
 happy cause of the quarrel. This monk, who 
 had hitherto escaped my notice, was nevertheless 
 a remarkable figure. He was young, tall, 
 sallow, with an eye that protruded ardently, as 
 if propelled by the frantic enthusiasm which 
 evidently filled his brain. He wore a dark 
 brown cassock, with a cross of white woollen on 
 the breast, the Capuchin uniform, and abroad- 
 
 c 3
 
 34 THE CAGOTS HUT. 
 
 brimmed hat banded by a string of beads. 
 A rosary hung at his right side, and a long 
 sabre, in a brass scabbard, which he had contrived 
 to conceal from the searchers, was exposed at the 
 left, as in his energetic movement he flung aside 
 the folds of his drapery. He rushed into the 
 road, and with gestures of animation and sin- 
 cerity he threw his arms before the forlorn 
 figure of the Cagot, and fervidly addressed his 
 compatriots in her favour. Whether his ha- 
 rangue or the Serjeant's was most effective, I 
 do not pretend to say, but the Spaniards all re- 
 tired sulkily to the house ; and the priest finished 
 his office of charity by slipping a small piece of 
 money into the Cagot's empty hand, unmindful 
 of the larger one which she still held in the other. 
 During the progress of this scene, the Cagot 
 never changed her position, nor seemed con- 
 scious that the bustle applied to her. It was 
 evident that long suffering; and degradation had 
 bowed her down too low, to let her believe 
 herself of even sufficient consequence for the
 
 THE cagot's hut. 35 
 
 curses that were heaped on her, much less for 
 the interest she excited. 
 
 " Here, old brute," most brutally said the 
 woman of the inn, speaking from the window ; 
 " take back your basket, give me the money, 
 and be off with your unlucky looks — a curse is 
 upon you and your odious race." The poor 
 Cagot moved quickly to the spot, took her 
 basket of provisions, and gave the piece of 
 money, which was received with contemptuous 
 caution by the woman, as if its very touch car- 
 ried infection. The wretched purchaser, thus 
 spurned and trampled on, murmured a blessing 
 on her insulters, probably the mechanical effect 
 of her accustomed terror, and turning her back 
 to the inn, she quitted the village, at a pace 
 much quicker than I could have supposed com- 
 patible with her emaciated limbs. 
 
 A continued sleet and piercing north wind, 
 combined to render the morning most uninviting 
 for pedestrians like me and Ranger. As he 
 sat shivering by the door, exchanging looks of
 
 36* 
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 curiosity and wistfulness with the Izards beyond 
 the valley, he shewed no symptoms of an in- 
 clination to go abroad. I had quite as little ; 
 but I could not reconcile myself to the fate of 
 passing even a portion of the day with even a 
 portion of the occupants of the inn. I there- 
 fore resolved to brave the inconveniences of 
 the weather, and to strike off into some of the 
 valleys out of the beaten track to Pau, for which 
 town I knew the Spaniards to be bound. I 
 very seldom took a guide during my desultory 
 rambles in the mountains ; but on this occasion I 
 thought it necessary to have one, until I should 
 fall in with some farm-house or cottage, that 
 would afford me a night's shelter. I therefore 
 proposed to the innkeeper s eldest son, a stout 
 lad of about fifteen, to take me under his charge ; 
 and he readily accepted the office, for the pro- 
 mise of a slight remuneration. He was, how- 
 ever, obliged to assist in serving breakfast to 
 the Spaniards, and in preparing the mules 
 and horses for such as meant to pursue their
 
 THE cagot's hut. 37 
 
 journey, before he could enter into my service ; 
 and I was thus forced to delay, much beyond 
 the time required to dispatch my bowl of cho- 
 colate, with rye bread, fresh butter, and a slice 
 of cold dried saucisson, altogether an excellent 
 breakfast. 
 
 Several of the Spaniards, men and women, 
 straggled off on their wandering course, among 
 them the chief ruffian, who (as he lounged away 
 alone and apparently unallied with any of the 
 party) threw one gleam from the smothered 
 fire of his eye on my friend the Serjeant. 
 
 "Adieu, comrade,'' cried the latter, gaily, 
 " should we ever meet again, I will thank you 
 for that parting glance.' 1 
 
 " Perhaps we may, 11 was the reply. 
 
 " Perhaps," echoed the serjeant. 
 
 tf That's not very likely though," said I : 
 '* chance meetings of this kind are not to be 
 looked for again ; and I for myself am sorry to 
 say good bye to you, with not much hope of an 
 opportunity of returning all your civility.*'
 
 38 THE CAGOTS HUT. 
 
 "Who knows?" replied the serjeant: *j we 
 soldiers lead a roving life in these mountains 
 now-a-days. I am going off to-morrow myself 
 to one of our most dreary out-posts, and we may 
 stumble upon each other once more before you 
 quit the country. Good bye, Sir, good bye ! 
 Take care of yourself, and if you meet that 
 scoundrel, pray leave him one side of the road 
 clear for his own company." 
 
 We shook hands and parted, he turning all 
 his attentions to the Arragonese woman, who 
 made no preparations to leave the place ; and 
 I taking to the road with my guide and my dog, 
 in one of the worst moods for travelling that a 
 man could possibly experience. 
 
 In pursuance of my plan, I struck into the 
 valley of Heas, which lies to the eastward of 
 Gedro, for the double advantage of being shel- 
 tered from the north wind, and of examining 
 the chapel, dedicated to the Virgin, which stands 
 in that lonely vale, and which on two days in 
 the year is the scene of a pilgrimage composed
 
 THE CAGOl's HUT. 39 
 
 of a multitude of pious peasants from all parts 
 of the mountains. The entrance of this valley 
 promises beauty and variety of scenery, being 
 planted with elms, ash, and maple trees, or- 
 namenting rich pasturages at each side of the 
 river, which, like all those in that part of the 
 country, bears the common name of Gave. 
 But after a short time all becomes dismal and 
 desolate beyond description. Neither tree nor 
 shrub of any kind relieves the monotony of 
 this desert. Masses of shattered rocks en- 
 cumber the plain, and one huge block was 
 pointed out to me by my lively guide, called by 
 the name of Cafflou de la Ruffle, held in consider- 
 able veneration as a resting-place at which all the 
 pilgrims who visit the desert chapel stop to say 
 their prayers — at the foot, if they are old and 
 infirm ; on the summit, if they have youth and 
 activity sufficient to allow of their scrambling 
 up. 
 
 About half way in the valley, but before we 
 came in sight of the little chapel, an opening to
 
 40 THE CAGOTS HUT. 
 
 the right displayed the dreary valley of Estaube. 
 There was something inexpressibly and un- 
 accountably attractive in its sombre and desolate 
 appearance ; a spell-like influence that leads one 
 on, in wonder at the frame of mind which makes 
 men court such naturally repulsive scenes. The 
 day was in unison with the dreariness of my feel- 
 ings, and this desert vale associated well with it. 
 I asked my guide where the road led to ; he re- 
 plied, " To the foot of Mont Perdu? The very 
 name of this mountain was so truly in accordance 
 with the whole scene, that I at once resolved on 
 traversing the vale ; and I was more firmly 
 fixed in my determination, when in answer to 
 my inquiry, if there were any habitations in that 
 direction, he said, "Yes, a few huts belonging 
 to the Cagots." 
 
 Since the adventure of the morning, my mind 
 had continually reverted to all I had ever read 
 or seen of that unhappy race of beings proscribed 
 by the prejudices of men from all the rights and 
 attributes which should be common to all, and
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 41 
 
 bearing in the loathsome deformity of their 
 universal disease a virtual badge of infamy, which 
 seems placed on them by the hand of nature 
 itself. As I walked on, I conversed with my 
 intelligent companion about these unhappy 
 people ; and while my reader may suppose me 
 to be moving onwards through the sad defile, 
 overhung by black and livid clouds, and parched 
 by the frozen breath of the keen and cutting 
 wind, I will sketch in another chapter as much 
 as I then knew of the poor people with whom 
 I was about to make a more practical and in- 
 timate acquaintance. 
 
 
 i
 
 42 the cagot's hut. 
 
 
 CHAPTER III.* 
 
 Lost in the labyrinth of time, and defying 
 all traces of history and tradition, there has 
 been, for ages, in the Pyrenees, a race of beings 
 whose very existence is an enigma that never 
 can be solved. They are scattered in Beam 
 and Navarre, and the valleys of Bareges, Aure, 
 and Luchon, and some of the minor and almost 
 nameless gorges of the mountains, are fright- 
 fully populous with these living libels on 
 humanity. They are, without exception, de- 
 formed, infirm, imbecile; articulating imper- 
 
 * The following are the authors to whom I am indebted 
 for the materials of this chapter and the Note at the con- 
 clusion of the volume: — Ducange, De Gebelin, De Marca, 
 Ramond, and Palassour.
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 43 
 
 fectly; afflicted with incurable and monstrous 
 goitres, and uniting together the smallest pos- 
 sible portion of mental power, with the utmost 
 excess of bodily degradation. 
 
 The curiosity of the historian, and the com- 
 passion of the philosopher, are alike excited by 
 the existence of this unfortunate people, who 
 are not confined to the Pyrenees alone, but dis- 
 persed along the western parts of France for 
 nearly its whole extent, and in every respect 
 similar to the Cretins of the Valais. The deri- 
 vations of their name are as confused as the 
 traces of their origin ; but they have been every 
 where and at all times the objects of the same 
 abhorrence, and the victims of the same inhu- 
 manity. In the solitudes of Lower Brittany, 
 ihey were in the most distant times treated with 
 savage cruelty. In periods more civilized, the 
 parliament of Rennes was obliged to interfere 
 to procure them the rights of sepulture. They 
 were then and there called Cacons and Caqueux. 
 The Dukes of Brittany fixed on them a badge —
 
 44 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 that last and worst mark of slavery and tyranny 
 combined, for pointing out the victim to all the 
 excesses of injustice — it seems to imply impunity 
 to the baseness that is ever too ready to inflict them. 
 In the island of Maillezais, near Aunis, they are 
 found under the name of Coliberts, synonymous 
 with slave. In Guienne and Gascony, where 
 they are called Cahets, the desolate swamps 
 and arid deserts afforded them an almost insup- 
 portable refuge. In Navarre they were some- 
 times designated Caffos ; and, finally, in the 
 ancient Comninges, Bigorre, and Beam, as 
 Cagots or Capots, they were reduced to the very 
 extremes of indignity and persecution. There 
 they were, in the fourteenth century, publicly 
 sold as slaves ; there, as elsewhere, looked on as 
 infamous and accursed ; admitted into the 
 churches by a separate entrance, with seats 
 apart, and even a distinct benitier* adapted for 
 their use. In many places the priests would 
 not admit them to confession ; seven of their 
 
 * The vessel which contains the holy water.
 
 THE cagot's hut. 45 
 
 number were considered only equivalent to one 
 witness from any other class ; they were forbidden 
 to walk with feet or legs uncovered, for fear of 
 imparting contagion ; and they bore on their 
 wretched dress their distinctive badge, the foot 
 of a duck or goose, implying, no doubt, some 
 insult now not easy to understand. 
 
 Manners less harsh, and the gradual spread 
 of knowledge which must ever carry toleration 
 in its track, have somewhat tempered the rigour 
 of their fate, and softened the aversion of the 
 other inhabitants of the countries they are found 
 in. But still the extent of their degradation is 
 proportionate to the changes which have affected 
 every other community. No census of their 
 numbers has ever been taken, as if their very 
 existence was a disgrace, as it is indeed a re- 
 proach to the country. They are not -allowed 
 to carry arms ; not suffered to exercise any trade 
 but that of a carpenter or wood-cutter, which 
 are considered as ignoble as they are themselves. 
 Every mean employment is confined to them ;
 
 46 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 malady and misery are their only heritage ; and 
 if law does not set its seal upon their brutalized 
 condition, a proscription as powerful has stamped 
 it with a fiat that seems as irrevocable as the 
 wretchedness it perpetuates. 
 
 We thus see them, as they are, a race of 
 slaves, of whom the origin is lost in the gloom 
 of the dark ages ; a rejected caste, enveloped in 
 a mystery which no research can penetrate, 
 amongst whom tradition has perished with the 
 rights and dignities of man, and which presents 
 a sad and silent monument of those times which 
 have transmitted to us nought but what is 
 odious and deplorable. The people of the 
 country, antiquarians, and the poor wretches 
 themselves, are equally ignorant of the source of 
 their indignities, and the epoch at which they 
 commenced. Conjecture and fiction have 
 united in going back to the remotest periods, 
 and ascribe to the ravages of leprosy the horror 
 which its victims inspired ; but it was but latelv 
 that any attempt was made to reconcile to
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 47 
 
 reason the surprising conformity of name and 
 fate, which distinguishes the various tribes of a 
 people separated by distances so great, and so 
 long and so utterly without communication with 
 each other.* 
 
 For my own part, having felt some interest in 
 the Cagots, and carefully studied the different 
 theories about them, I confess myself pleased to 
 leave their origin and their existence unexplained. 
 To me, it does not appear more extraordinary 
 that they should have been as they now are 
 from the first, than that they are as we now 
 see them. And I am well inclined to let them 
 rest in their present wild and impressive obscu- 
 rity, an anomaly in all the existing varieties of 
 mankind, unaccountable and mysterious, com- 
 bining all that can excite the vague and shadowy 
 imaginings of men, as to beings 
 
 " Who look not like the inhabitants of earth, 
 " And yet are on it." 
 
 * For further particulars relative to the Crgots, see Not.* 
 at the end of the volume.
 
 48 the cagot's hut 
 
 The mind, baffled in all the beaten tracks of 
 reasoning, might better embark on the pathless 
 sea of hope, in search of a safe harbour for these 
 wrecks of human nature. We might, by ima- 
 gining the possibility of their amelioration, lead 
 to plans for their relief; and instead of useless 
 efforts to account for their miseries, make 
 practical attempts to remove them. Could a 
 sympathy be but once excited for these outcasts, 
 the natural benevolence of man would feel the 
 electrical touch through every link of social 
 feeling ; and that the elements for our sympathy 
 exists, is not to be doubted. In their desert 
 retreats these forlorn and attainted individuals 
 still fear that persecution may attack, while they 
 hope that compassion may relieve them. There 
 are to be found amongst this people — the most 
 poor and wretched upon the face of the civilized 
 earth — some of the finest primitive affections : 
 and while contemplating with shame, the narrow 
 circle into which man may imprison his fellow 
 man, we have at least the consolation of knowing
 
 the cagot's hut. 49 
 
 that he possesses in himself the power of dis- 
 solving the shackles he has forged ; and of bury- 
 ing the memory of his own injustice, in an 
 oblivious flood of charity and atonement. 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 " You do not intend, Sir, to go any farther 
 up this dreary valley ?" asked ray guide (after 
 we had advanced near a league), in the usual 
 one and general manner of putting a question, 
 which one wishes to have answered in the 
 negative. 
 
 " Yes, I do though, 1 " replied I, " for two 
 reasons, my lad. I feel myself not well — my 
 bed was damp last night, I fear — and I must 
 seek for some house that will afford me lodgings 
 for the night." 
 
 " Then, Sir, you must come back to our's, for 
 between this and the frontier line there is not a 
 human being nor a habitation. 1 " 1
 
 THE CAG0T"S HUT. 51 
 
 '.« Why, you told me, a little while back, that 
 some Cagots lived in these parts !"" 
 
 " Oh, Cagots ! yes, but you don't count them 
 for anything, or their huts either, I suppose ?" 
 said he, inquiringly. 
 
 " Lead me to one of them, and you shall see," 
 was my very unsatisfactory answer. The boy, 
 with mingled interest for me and detestation of 
 the Cagots, laboured hard to convince me that 
 it was little less than insanity to trust myself in 
 the contamination of their Lovels. And finding 
 my hardihood unshaken, he seemed to shrink 
 from me, as if the repugnance with which he 
 regarded the association I projected had thrown 
 its shadow over his good feelings towards 
 myself. 
 
 While we held this short parley together, I felt 
 myself growing extremely unwell, for a violent 
 cold had taken sudden possession of my frame 
 I hastened on, towards what I looked to as the 
 shelter, and what my guide considered the in- 
 fection, of some Cagot's hut : and i grew im- 
 
 d 2
 
 52 the cagot's hut. 
 
 patient at the mist and the murky clouds, 
 which shrouded the sides of the hills, and pre- 
 vented us from distinguishing any object at all 
 distant. As we turned round a huge block of 
 granite that lay almost across the path, the boy, 
 who was straining to catch a view of a secluded 
 gorge, which he knew to contain one solitary 
 hut, turned abruptly to me, seized me by the 
 arm, and pointed in silence to a spot about 
 twenty yards from the side of the path. I there 
 observed, coiled up like a snake, or in the 
 position which he himself would have called, 
 la rosea del galgo,* the gloomy and repulsive 
 Spaniard — the very last man of my acquaintance 
 whom I could have wished to encounter in such 
 a place. I never felt better satisfied at my 
 common habit of carrying a gun in these 
 parts, even when I had no chance of meeting 
 game ; and my guide had a perfect accordance 
 of feeling with me on that point, for with a 
 pleased and significant look, he whispered, " Is 
 
 * The Greyhound's-roll.
 
 ' the cagot's hut. 53 
 
 it loaded ?" I gave an affirmative nod ; and we 
 went on, our eyes turned with a sort of fascina- 
 tion upon the object which neither of us admired 
 We had recognized the champion of the Faith 
 by his dress, and the form of his figure, which 
 I had seen displayed in the same position the 
 night before, when he lay on the floor of the 
 inn at Gedro. I know not whether or not he 
 slept on the present occasion any more than 
 then ; but his face was towards the earth, for 
 the purpose, as my guide insisted, of holding 
 converse with some of the spirits of evil with 
 which that solitude was reputed to abound. I 
 marvelled much at the circumstance of this 
 lonely ruffian, having thus singly straggled 
 upon the desolate track ; but I reconciled his 
 appearance with the notion that such a place 
 must have had a most magnetic power upon a 
 dreary vagabond like him : and, recollecting the 
 parting caution of the serjeant, I passed quietly 
 forward, without disturbing the feigned or 
 actual slumber, in which the fellow lay. A few
 
 54 the cagot's hut. 
 
 hundred yards left him shadowed in mist ; yet 
 I could not from time to time resist my inclina- 
 tion to look back, in the expectation to see his 
 tall form, magnified in vapour, striding on with 
 giant step and tortuous movement. But he did 
 not again appear ; and our attention was taken 
 from him by the faint sound of a cascade, mur- 
 muring sadly, like the voice of some mountain 
 spirit, that sent its wailings on the desert. Such 
 was the notion which flitted across mv brain in 
 that scene, so fit for magic and all its wild illu- 
 sions. My mind was suited to the desolate tone 
 of nature. I was ill ; fever was in my blood ; 
 and my imagination seemed to move in mist. 
 It was in this frame of feeling, and while I 
 mechanically followed my guide, that these 
 straggling notions of enchantment took the con- 
 sistency of the verses which I afterwards com- 
 mitted to paper.
 
 the cagot's hut. 55 
 
 SONG OF THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS. 
 
 * 
 
 When all is calm in the torrid sky, 
 
 Yet the eagle, hovering far on high, 
 
 Turns quick and flaps his ruffled wing, 
 
 And seems to shrink from some viewless thing — 
 
 Tis then we sport on fields of air, 
 
 Unseen wilhin our wide dominion, 
 Fan the proud bird that hovers there, 
 
 And scare him with our noiseless pinion. 
 
 When waves lie hushed upon the main, 
 And thistle-down floats not o'er the plain, 
 And flowerets droop by lowland rills, 
 Yet tufted verdure moves on the hills — 
 'Tis we who rush from mossy cells, 
 
 High o'er the bed of drowsy ocean, 
 Fling o'er the hills our fresh'ning spells, 
 
 And shake the grass in magic motion. 
 
 Read on yon pine tree's silver bark 
 Our scripture legends, wild and dark — 
 The mystic charter graven there 
 Sways the rude spirits of the air ! 
 Beneath the Pole star's quivering light, 
 
 Grouped round its stem our crews assemble, 
 And mortal wanderers of the night 
 
 Hear our unholy mirth, and tremble.
 
 •56 the cagot's hut. 
 
 They tremble ! yet a darker hour 
 Shews forth the mountain spirits' power — 
 From cloud to cloud, we rush alon^. 
 The thunder peal our choral song — 
 And from our torches, flung around, 
 
 We hurl the lightnings bolt of death- 
 Till, echoing to our shouts, resound 
 
 Wild shrieks from smoking vales beneath. 
 
 As we approached the little cascade, whose 
 voice became at every step more loud and hoarse, 
 a gloomy gorge opened upon us to the right, 
 and the foam of the angry water appeared 
 through the mist like a moving column of snow. 
 The rocks over which it fell were soon however 
 visible, and the rugged path that led up their 
 sides in almost perpendicular ascent, 
 
 " Now, Sir," said my guide, " you may see 
 the Cagot's hut, perched on that shelving rock, 
 but scarcely to be distinguished from it. You 
 see the smoke blown loosely by the wind ?" 
 
 " I do," said I, " and here we may part — for 
 I am resolved to make that hut my lodging for 
 the night. 1 '
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 5 i 
 
 " Well, Sir, since you will do it, it does not 
 become me to dissuade you further," said the 
 boy, with a mixed look of sorrow and anger in 
 his face. And as I gave him his fee, for his 
 advice and attendance, he turned away, thinking 
 me no doubt a most incorrigible and incurable 
 patient. Resolved not to risk an encounter with 
 the dubious occupant of the valley behind us, 
 he took his way up the mountain towards the 
 westward, in which direction lay the gorge I 
 was entering upon ; and bounding across the 
 little cataract, as agile as a wild deer, he was 
 soon lost to my sight in the mists above. 
 
 I then stood alone in that most dismal spot. 
 I knew that I was close on the frontier line, and 
 at the very foot of Mont Perdu, but I could not 
 distinguish any object two hundred yards dis- 
 tant, and the thin smoke curling from the roof 
 of the Cagofs hut was all that gave signs of 
 animation to the scene. This lowly habitation 
 stood on a patch of earth that covered a pro- 
 jecting ledge of rock which hung over the bleak 
 
 d3
 
 58 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 ravine. The land surrounding the house was 
 rudely cultivated, and shewed a cross of dwarf 
 vegetables, intermixed with a few shrubs, and 
 here and there a pine tree, the seed of which, 
 wind-wafted to the clefts of rock, had taken root 
 in the spongy soil, Upon advancing closer, I 
 saw a couple of goats browsing on the patches 
 of furze and coarse grass, which coated the face 
 of the rock ; but no inhabitant appeared in or 
 about the hut, as far at least as my glance could 
 penetrate its secrets, through two small windows 
 in the front, and as many behind, looking upon 
 the little garden and down the ravine. The 
 door was closed ; but there was not altogether 
 that air of filth and desolateness about the place 
 which I had before observed to surround the 
 habitations of the unfortunate class of beings. 
 Ill as I felt myself, and in want of repose and 
 warmth, I did not perhaps see things in their 
 true light, but fancied them better than they 
 were, from my satisfaction in being within their 
 reach at all.
 
 the cagot's hut. 59 
 
 I advanced, and gently tapped at the door 
 A bustle seemed excited within, at this intru- 
 sive and no doubt unusual sound. I knocked 
 again, and heard low, quick whisperings, as if 
 of stifled alarm. I once more, and more loudly, 
 repeated my demand for entrance, and at length 
 the door slowly opened — and I started back 
 with surprise, to see upon the threshold, the 
 figure of the poor woman, who had so much ex- 
 cited my attention the same morning at Gedro. 
 
 The recognition, to my still greater wonder, 
 was evidently mutual ; for, from what I had 
 seen of her at our last meeting, I supposed her 
 to be so utterly imbecile as not to possess the 
 commonest power of observation. But I was in 
 this mistaken: she remembered me well and 
 kindly ; and the air of trepidation and terror, 
 which filled her countenance as she opened the 
 door, was in an instant changed to an expression 
 of pleased security — the most repulsive, cer- 
 tainly, that I had ever seen of its kind. Assum- 
 ing the gentlest tone I could command, not to
 
 60 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 alarm the poor old creature, I said that I was 
 glad she had got home safely with her provi- 
 sions She gave me a ghastly smile of thanks, 
 and seemed quite overpowered by my few words 
 addressed to her in a way so unlike that to 
 which she was accustomed. She did not, how- 
 ever, venture to speak, much less to invite me 
 into the house; and I was unwilling to alarm 
 her by abruptly demanding permission to enter. 
 I asked her if she was alone, 
 
 " No, not quite, 11 replied she, with hesitating, 
 and almost inarticulate tones. 
 " Is your husband within ?"" 
 " No, he is cutting fuel in the forest." 
 " Then, who pray, have you in the house P 11 
 " Why, Sir, it is only my poor daughter. 11 
 This reply was uttered with fear and trem- 
 bling, and as the old woman spoke she threw 
 her looks alternately back into the house and at 
 me, as if the safety of her precious charge had 
 been in the most imminent dagner. I was too 
 ill to laugh outright, but 1 could not help smil-
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 61 
 
 ing at this maternal alarm : the very notion of 
 this daughter was so disgusting to me, that I 
 for a moment felt utterly repugnant to enter the 
 house ; and I acknowledged a passing excuse 
 for the aversion, so common to the people of the 
 country, against these unfortunate beings. I 
 soon, however, recovered from this impression ; 
 but feeling myself getting worse every moment, 
 I was resolved to take the place by storm, if I 
 could not obtain an amicable admission. I there- 
 fore said, in a manner as gentle, but somewhat 
 more firm, than before, 
 
 " Well, well, you have nothing to fear from 
 me, for yourself or your daughter, depend upon 
 it — you are helpless women — and you carry your 
 protection with you." She took these words in 
 their common meaning, and evidently felt no 
 offence ; but she did not ask me in. I was 
 therefore forced to put the question plainly, 
 
 " Now, my poor woman, will you have the 
 kindness to let me enter your house, for I am 
 fatigued and ill ?"
 
 62 the cagot's hut. 
 
 I thought I could clearly trace all the fer- 
 mentation, arising between her wishes and her 
 fears. She dared not refuse me— she was in- 
 clined to admit me — but was terrified lest some 
 sinister design might have lurked in the extra- 
 ordinary circumstance of a stranger visiting this 
 lonely refuge of proscription. I read all this in 
 what is called the index of her mind — but there 
 was a secret page in the volume, which all my 
 study did not enable me at that time to under- 
 stand. 
 
 " Come, come," said I, as soothingly as I 
 could, " Fear nothing, for you have nothing 
 to fear. I am not disposed to do you any harm ; 
 on the contrary, as you must have seen this 
 morning, I am inclined to do you a service." 
 
 The fact was that I had added a trifle to the 
 monk's charitable donation, which it was not 
 worth while to mention before, but which had 
 its weight in the scales wherein the poor Cagot 
 now balanced her thoughts. 
 
 " Wait an instant where you are," said she,
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 shutting the door, which I heard her bolt inside. 
 I leaned against the wall, and in a few minutes 
 the door opened again, and she fairly asked 
 me in ! 
 
 " You may now enter, Sir, ir said she, " and 
 welcome, but have mercy on two poor lone 
 women, pray do !" 
 
 Good Heavens ! thought I, what does the old 
 creature dread ? She has surely no money to be 
 robbed of? and what other temptation is there 
 here ? I passed the threshold thus thinking ; but 
 I only mid, " Be satisfied, my good women, 
 you i-eally have nothing to apprehend." 
 
 The daughter for whom the old woman felt 
 all this alarm, or at all events the chief part of 
 it, sat in a corner spinning. She was as far as 
 possible from the fire-place, which contained a 
 very comfortable blaze ; and as I looked at her 
 I saw every limb trembling, while the flax 
 vibrated in her fingers, like the thread of ex- 
 piring life about to be severed by the fatal 
 scissors of the Fates. This nervous object, whom
 
 64 THE CAGOX'S HUT. 
 
 I so unintentionally alarmed, was, like all the 
 younger women of the Cagot race, close wrapped 
 in her dark grey capulet, which covered the 
 head, and being closely drawn about the throat 
 (most likely from the negative effect of vanity, 
 which hides a defect as readily as it exposes a 
 charm), the goitre was not perceptible, and this 
 lessened in some degree the rising nausea, which 
 I found it so hard to suppress. I saw the tor- 
 ture which my presence caused, and I did not 
 wish to add to it by inquisitive observation. I 
 contented myself, therefore, with a hasty glance 
 at the pale face peeping out from her hood. 
 Her eyes were cast down, and the lids almost 
 closed. Her other features appeared rather well 
 formed, to my hurried glance ; and I was afraid 
 to let it linger a moment longer, lest some move- 
 ment might display the loathsome swelling, the 
 very thought of which was sickening. 
 
 I sat down on a low chair beside the fire, and 
 Ranger, without ceremony, took possession of 
 one corner of the chimney. The other was
 
 the cagot's hut. 65 
 
 occupied by a large grey cat, whose green eyes 
 glared, and who raised up her back, hissing 
 fiercely her dissent to the intrusion. She formed 
 a fitting member of the domestic trio, and I 
 should not have been surprised had I discovered 
 a goitre under the fur of her neck, for she had a 
 genuine Cagot eye and air. Neither of the 
 women spoke a word. The one sat trembling, 
 and the other stood motionless. I felt anything 
 but comfortable, independent of the increasing 
 sensation of illness. There is always an awk- 
 wardness in being in a place where one knows 
 one's self not welcome ; but it is increased tenfold 
 when you are convinced that fear is the motive 
 which keeps back the expression of discontent. 
 That was exactly my case just then, and I felt 
 a thousand times more embarrassment in the 
 hovel of these poor outcasts, than I should ex- 
 perience in presence of those haughty pretenders 
 of rank and wealth, who glory in creating sen- 
 sations of perplexity, but whose arrogance only 
 rouses the scorn of an independent mind.
 
 66 the ( agot's hut. 
 
 To my several efforts to commence a conver- 
 sation, I could get but monosyllables from the 
 mother, while the daughter was sullenly silent ; 
 and I should never, I believe, have succeeded 
 in exciting the positive attention of either, had 
 they not perceived me to be evidently and seri- 
 ously ill. I was attacked with the shivering, 
 which is the general precursor of feverish colds, 
 and the girl did not tremble more violently 
 from her terror on my entrance than I did in a 
 quarter of an hour afterwards. As the women 
 gazed on me, I saw them put their heads close 
 together, and heard them whisper in cautious 
 tones. They consulted on my case, and as they 
 seemed satisfied of my harmlessness, their com- 
 passion was excited in my favour. At length 
 the old woman approached me, and, in a tone 
 as distinct as she could assume, she told me I 
 was welcome to remain in her house as long as 
 I found it convenient, and that she only 
 lamented the poorness of the accommodation. 
 I was astonished at this unhesitating expression
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. C7 
 
 i 
 
 of confidence and kindness, and more than ever 
 confirmed in my hatred of the prejudice which 
 pronounced the unhappy Cagots to be devoid 
 of the common feelings of humanity. Put thus 
 at my ease, by finding that my companions were 
 in some measure recovering theirs, the discom- 
 forts of illness were no longer increased by the 
 consciousness of intrusion. I admitted the sym- 
 pathy of the old woman, and thanked her for 
 it, in a manner, I must believe, as sincere as the 
 feeling it expressed ; for the girl, raising her 
 head for an instant, whispered, in the rude patois 
 of the mountains, " We have nothing to fear 
 from him." 
 
 " Indeed you have not, my poor girl," re- 
 plied I, in the same dialect, in which I had 
 become tolerably conversa.it, and in which the 
 old woman had always spoke, although she suffi- 
 ciently understood the French in which I had 
 replied. But this incautious betrayal of my 
 learning had an unlucky effect on her to whom 
 it was addressed. The girl seemed quite fright-
 
 68 the cagot's hut. 
 
 ened to find that I could speak, as well as 
 understand the patois. She gave one hurried 
 glance of surprise from a pair of large black 
 eyes, which instantly sank again, and I could 
 not induce her to speak another word. 
 
 The old woman began now to make active 
 efforts to relieve me. She added fuel to the 
 fire, and she proceeded to prepare for me some 
 whey of goat's milk and vinegar, letting me 
 know that I might, if I chose it, retire to an 
 inner room, and occupy a bed for the night. 
 This communication was evidently the result of 
 a suggestion from the younger of my hostesses, 
 with whom the old one kept a constant telegra- 
 phic communication of nods, and winks, and 
 signs. I was taken by surprise by this offer 
 of a lodging, for I had scarcely contemplated 
 its being probable, or even possible. When 
 the offer was actually made to me, I could not 
 help shrinking from its acceptance ; and had I 
 not been so much indisposed, I should certainly 
 have preferred trusting to a mountain walk, in
 
 the cagot's hut. 69 
 
 search of other quarters, to coming into contact 
 with any thing belonging to my revolting com- 
 panions. I nevertheless muttered an imperfect 
 acknowledgment of assent and thanks; and while 
 my kind nurse prepared the whey, and a ptisan, 
 made with dried lime-tree blossoms and other 
 ingredients, I had time to examine more par- 
 ticularly the place I was in.
 
 70 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 The room in which I sat, served, like the 
 entrance-room of most cottages, for " parlour, 
 kitchen and hall." It wore any air rather 
 than that of the misery usually connected with 
 ideas of a Cagot's hut. It was very decently 
 furnished with tables and chairs, a dresser with 
 crockery-ware, a sufficiency of cooking utensils, 
 and even a few glasses and other conveniences 
 beyond the wants of beggary, or even of a state 
 of moderate indigence. The floor was clean 
 swept, and every thing in an orderly state. In 
 a smoll room, or rather closet, beside the fire- 
 place at the side next the entrance, I observed a 
 coarse but decent bed, which 1 concluded to
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 71 
 
 belong to the old couple; and beyond the 
 chimney was a similar recess, furnished as its 
 fellow, and this I understood was to be appro- 
 priated to my use. 
 
 Where then, thought I, is yonder sallow-faced 
 and interesting damsel to pass the night ? But 
 being rather nervous on the subject of any 
 detail in the family arrangements, and fearful of 
 touching a delicate chord, I ventured no inquiry 
 whatever. In the meantime, the damsel in 
 question, but not in demand, was busily occu- 
 pied, and as actively so as was consistent with a 
 limping gait as she walked, in making prepara- 
 tions for my bed-room ; and she really seemed 
 to employ herself about my comforts with so 
 much alacrity, that I felt some qualms for the 
 ingratitude that made me still look on her and 
 think of her with an unaccountable feeling of 
 loathing. I could bear the presence of the old 
 one better, for there was not any of those invo- 
 luntary wanderings of thought with respect to 
 her which one cannot suppress sometimes in
 
 72 THE CAGOT , S HUT. 
 
 relation to less antiquated females. Imagina- 
 tion could find no resting-place in her wrin- 
 kles, nor tread the mazes of her scanty grey 
 hairs. It was hard to judge of the girl's age 
 from her figure, the deformity of her lameness, 
 and from my scanty views of her colourless cheek. 
 She might have been about twenty, but had she 
 been a hundred, she had not been more secure 
 from my inquiries or intrusion. Chance, how- 
 ever, led me into the secret of her dormitory ; 
 for I observed her on one occasion to open a 
 little door at the farther corner of the room 
 from the chimney-side where I sat, and she 
 entered a recess that I thought must have either 
 composed or led to the place of her rest ; but 
 my inquisitiveness was quite content to remain 
 outside the sanctuary. The dress of both these 
 women was as far removed from the appearance 
 of actual want, as were the household appoint- 
 ments. The girl wore, beside her grey cloth 
 capulet, which was almost, if not quite new, an 
 under dress of nearly the same kind of stuff,
 
 the cagot's hut. 73 
 
 with very good shoes, and blue worsted stock- 
 ings, displaying feet and ancles by no means 
 coarse or large. The old Cagot was very 
 decently dressed. Instead of the tattered 
 wretchedness of her morning costume, she was 
 now covered with clean and comfortable cloth- 
 ing; and it was clear to me that her half-naked 
 appearance at the inn was assumed for the pur- 
 poses of concealment or imposition. 
 
 There was altogether in the air of every thing 
 I saw, enough to excite the curiosity of one 
 fond of seeking adventures, and not unaccus- 
 tomed to meet them. I made up my mind to 
 the fact that some unusual cause existed for this 
 appearance of comparative comfort and holiday 
 attire. The seclusion of the scene, and the cir- 
 cumstances of the times, favoured the notion 
 that this hut might be the place of rendezvous 
 for some political intrigue, and for persons 
 requiring better accommodations than a family 
 of miserable Cagots : and the chance of observa- 
 tion and treachery might account for the alarm 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 74 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 caused b}' my visit, better than any dread of 
 mere harm to property or person, where so little 
 temptation existed for either. It was thus I 
 debated with myself, and I was strengthened in 
 my belief of some mystery by the anxiety 
 evinced by both women that I should betake 
 myself to bed, which the old one, however, 
 naturally enough accounted for, by recommend- 
 ing repose as the most likely relief to the illness 
 I suffered under. 
 
 Anxious, nevertheless, to see whether any 
 new light would be thrown upon the state of 
 things by the appearance of the old wood cutter, 
 I was resolved to wait for his return before 
 committing myself to bed ; and to beguile the 
 time and satisfy my curiosity, I commenced the 
 following conversation, which went on by 
 snatches. 
 
 " Why, my good woman, you don't seem to 
 want for comfort here ?" 
 
 " Poor creatures like us want little of any 
 thing, Sir."
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. ^5 
 
 " You must have some kind friend who gives 
 you the means to support yourselves so 
 decently?" 
 
 " Indeed, we sometimes get a little help ?' 
 " But chance very seldom leads a charitable 
 traveller into this desert ?" 
 
 " Ah, Sir, charity might find a home even 
 here ?" 
 
 " Then tell me, my good dame, is it for cha- 
 rity that you keep this spare bed ready, so clean 
 and snuff ?" 
 
 This question was clearly a puzzler, and caused 
 serious embarrassment to both my hearers. The 
 girl with seeming indifference to what was said, 
 kept very busily occupied in getting matters 
 ready for my accommodation, but I could ob- 
 serve her, now and then, to stop ; and with her 
 face averted, as if she looked for other things, 
 she evidently listened attentively, to what passed 
 between myself and the old woman, whose an- 
 swers were always preceded by a long pause, 
 
 and an interchange of looks, and sometimes 
 
 E 2
 
 76 the cagot's hut. 
 
 even of whisperings with the girl. To my last 
 stated question I could get no reply, I was 
 therefore resolved to put it still more plainly. 
 
 " Come, come, tell me the truth," said I, 
 " don't you expect some one here to-day, whose 
 bed I am about to occupy ?" 
 
 The old Cagot, with more address than I 
 could have expected from her, avoided the very 
 appearance of having heard my question. She 
 poked the tongs into the fagots, which were 
 blazing round a machine, in shape between a 
 pot and a kettle, which contained water for 
 bathing my feet ; and she examined the vessels 
 intended for my whey, with that apparent ear- 
 nestness, which we often see in the eyes of those, 
 whose minds are as empty as the vacancy they 
 gaze at. But this silent hesitation was an elo- 
 quent answer to my demand; and it confirmed 
 my belief, as much as the most ample confession. 
 Being thus satisfied, as to what I had before 
 but suspected, I did not further endeavour to 
 wring an unwilling revelation from my hostess;
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 77 
 
 but I was gladly preparing to trust my aching 
 head and feverish body to the bed, which I sus- 
 pected to be at the bottom of this secret, be it 
 what it might, when the noise of a bundle of 
 wood, falling outside the house, called off the 
 attention of the women, and somewhat aroused 
 my own. " My husband,' 1 exclaimed the old 
 woman ; " my father," murmured the young 
 one ; and they both moved to the door, to admit 
 the lord and master of the place. 
 
 The hurry of the women was positive evi- 
 dence of their anxiety to guard against an in- 
 cautious betrayal on the part of the person ex- 
 pected ; and rapid whisperings, as they stood 
 outside, confirmed it. Having, as I supposed, 
 announced the presence of a stranger in 
 the house, they both returned with the old 
 man, who had profited by their caution, and 
 shewed no surprise at seeing me. He had de- 
 posited his bundle of sticks outside, and he 
 carelessly sat down upon a stool, bowing to me, 
 and uttering a short sentence of welcome to his
 
 78 the cagot's hut. 
 
 hut. Like most of the males of his unsightly 
 race, he was diminutive, weakly, and dull, but 
 not altogether so repulsive in appearance as 
 those of the other sex. I was too seriously 
 ill to attempt the labour of extracting any in- 
 formation from him, and indeed my anxiety to 
 know more about the place I was in, was yield- 
 rig to the languor which insensibly oppressed me. 
 Returning therefore the man's salutation., by 
 one as brief as his own, I arose from my seat, 
 to go towards my bed room, when I was arrested 
 by the appearance of a strange figure, which I 
 alone perceived through the window that looked 
 upon the garden in rear of the house. 
 
 The first thing which attracted my notice was 
 the head of a man, peering above the rocks, 
 which bounded the garden towards the ravine ; 
 and the scrambling position of his hands and 
 arms, shewed that he was with difficulty climb- 
 ing up. But in a moment or two, the whole 
 person appeared vaulting with a light bound 
 across the rugged breast work, and safely landing
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 79 
 
 in the garden. The figure thus hurriedly pre- 
 sented to me, was extremely curious, but I had 
 no time to examine it minutely. Stooping to 
 lift up a long staff, which had been probably 
 flung forward as he gained the summit of the 
 rock, the man without further hesitation, ran 
 actively across the little space, and reached in a 
 moment the window through which I perceived 
 him. Putting his face close to it, he gave a loud 
 and familiar shout, which seemed mixed with a 
 chuckle, as if he meant to join the sound of good 
 news to the notice of his arrival. Whether the 
 effect produced was alarm, astonishment, or 
 pleasure, I could not then determine ; but his 
 shout was answered by a shriek from both the 
 women — the old one transfixed to her position 
 close to me, with the vessel for my foot-bath in 
 her hands — the young one rushing from the 
 little room, which she was finally preparing for 
 my reception, and instantaneously throwing 
 open the window, making signs of caution to the 
 new comer, and rapidly addressing him in a
 
 80 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 low tone, but clearly admitting him to be an old 
 acquaintance. 
 
 In accordance to what she seemed to say, he 
 only whispered a word or two, and he came 
 immediately round to the entrance, where she 
 met him. 
 
 " It is a poor pilgrim," muttered she, as she 
 limped briskly across the floor, addressing me in 
 her suppressed and timid tone, but with her face 
 averted, as if afraid of betraying somewhat more 
 than she ventured to say ; and as the stranger 
 paused upon the threshold, rapidly uttering a 
 blessing, which was clearly ready made for such 
 occasions, I had time to look at him attentively. 
 His presence performed a temporary miracle 
 upon me, for either I forgot, or my nerves 
 actually shook off for a few minutes, the illness 
 which had before and did afterwards oppress 
 me. 
 
 The man before me was of the middle size, 
 but he stooped as he stood, and thus took at 
 once from the height and activity of air which
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 81 
 
 lie possessed just previously in the garden. He 
 now leaned on his staff, and wore the look of 
 middle age, the reality of which appearance was 
 belied by anticipation, as he sprang upwards 
 from the rock. His whole costume was such as 
 we have seen worn by the representations of 
 pilgrims, in pictures, or in Carnival times, but 
 such as had never before met my observation in 
 the motley masquerade of real life. His head 
 was covered with a broad brimmed iiat, round 
 which was a string of cockle, muscle, and other 
 shells, indicating the pilgrim's visit to the sea 
 shore, where probably the term of his penance 
 had ended. His sharp, shrewd features seemed 
 out of character in the disguised air of solemn 
 piety which he endeavoured to throw into his 
 countenance ; and I thought an arch smile 
 seemed playing on his compressed lips, and in 
 his twinkling grey eyes, but not easily to be 
 detected through the hair coming down over 
 his forehead, and the bushy beard which covered 
 the lower half of his face. He wore a dark blue 
 
 e 3
 
 82 the cagot's hit. 
 
 frock coat with a large cape, coming close up to 
 his throat, which was bare ; and round his waist 
 was a leathern belt, fastened with a broad brass 
 buckle, and thickly studded, as was his frock- 
 like body dress, with shells of the same descrip- 
 tion as those which decorated his hat ; a pair of 
 loose dark pantaloons came down to his ancles, 
 and coarse shoes and cloth gaiters completed 
 his dress. Across one shoulder hung a wallet, 
 suspended by a leathern strap, and at his girdle 
 was a wicker-covered bottle, an ebony crucifix, 
 and a little basket. His whole attire bore marks 
 of rough travelling, as if he had come by tracks 
 more moist and muddy than even the narrow 
 path trod by the mountaineers and their mules. 
 While he muttered his entrance prayer, 
 making occasional signs of the cross, and other 
 motions with either hand, I could distinctly re- 
 mark the acute glance with which he surveyed 
 me, rather than the house, in which I was quite 
 prepared to see him perfectly at home. His in- 
 cantation ended, and his speech as I thought
 
 the cagot's hut. 83 
 
 prepared, he opened his lips and began in 
 French — 
 
 " I have given my blessing to this habitation, 
 and all those it contains, inhabitants, and stran- 
 gers as well — for there is one at least within 
 these walls." 
 
 An air of mock divination, and heavy em- 
 phasis accompanied these words, which were 
 plainly directed to me, and meant to make a 
 powerful impression. Had I been in my usual 
 good state of health, I should have richly en- 
 joyed the tricks of this impostor, let the affair 
 have ended as it might ; but just then I was too 
 ill to relish his antics, for the charm of his first 
 appearance was beginning to subside. I, how- 
 ever, put on an air of profound reverence, and 
 gave the expected stare of astonishment at the 
 amazing knowledge displayed by the pilgrim. 
 The old man and woman were too stupid to 
 comprehend these niceties of deception, or to 
 play a very complicated part. They t therefore 
 remained passive spectators, and the girl only
 
 84 THE rAGOT , S HUT. 
 
 quietly handed a seat to the venerable personage, 
 to whom she did not presume to make any reply. 
 
 " Worthy people," continued he, " will you 
 kindly give a meal and a night's lodging to a 
 weary pilgrim, returning from the performance 
 of his painful penance, which led him from Lille, 
 on the frontiers of Flanders, called for its 
 beauty> the Paris of the North, to the chapel 
 of our Lady of the Ascension, on the shores of 
 the Mediterranean, close to the City of Bar- 
 celona in Spain, where he said fifty aves and 
 served fifteen masses for the repose of the soul 
 of Joseph Jacques Demarle, killed by him — 
 that's me, the said pilgrim— in a fit of passion, 
 one night at a tavern debauch." 
 
 Nobody answered this harangue; but the 
 pilgrim took silence for consent, and freely 
 drawing a chair by the fire-side, he began to 
 disembarrass himself of his accoutrements, and 
 spoke as he went on — 
 
 " Heaven will reward you for this, kind 
 ■christians ; and for not despising the lowly con-
 
 the cagot's hut. 85 
 
 fessions of a sinner, who must tell in humility 
 the crime he suffers for, to all whose bounty he 
 solicits — that's part of my vow, v said he, in a 
 brisker tone, and nodding at me, as if he could 
 not continue any longer the serious mockery he 
 assumed. 
 
 " Your crime does not seem to lie heavy on 
 your conscience, reverend pilgrim," said I. 
 
 " Why the deuce should it?" said he, "when 
 I have handed it over to the good monks of 
 Saint Marival, and prayed the soul of my poor 
 victim fairly out of purgatory full a fortnight 
 back ? Come, mistress, what can you afford a 
 poor pilgrim in the eating line ? It is fast-day, 
 but I have a dispensation. And mark me, 
 Mademoiselle, could you give me a cup of water 
 from the well in the garden there ? I shall add 
 a few medicinal drops from my flacon, prescribed 
 by the holy physician of the convent, the very 
 morning it was sacked, and the brethren driven 
 out, by the sacrilegious band of that arch repro- 
 bate, Mina."
 
 86 the cagot's hut. 
 
 " You have left troublesome folk and a busy 
 scene behind you, it seems, 11 said I. 
 
 " Yes, and not far off either, 1 "' replied he. 
 " The frontier line is not the sixth part of a 
 league from this house, and the hostile parties 
 are almost within gun shot of each other, close 
 to us. 11 
 
 " You have entered France, my good pil- 
 grim, by a dreary and unfrequented path," con- 
 tinued I ; but there was something inquisitorial 
 in these observations, and he perceived it, for he 
 added, pointedly enough — 
 
 " Yes — I came by the almost impracticable 
 pass of Bielsa, on my way to fulfil a vow at the 
 chapel of the Virgin, in the valley of Heas, 
 hard by ; but there is no place so desolate 
 or sacred, that heresy and Englishmen won't 
 creep in." 
 
 This very broad hint was spoken with a sharp 
 and significant nod, which made it pointedly 
 personal ; but it was my turn to play the actor, 
 and not wishing to draw down any further
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 87 
 
 retort that might betray me to the Cagots, I 
 prosecuted my examination of the pilgrim no 
 further. In order, however, not to display any 
 symptoms of consciousness, I asked if the Con- 
 stitutional force was pursuing the fugitives of 
 the Faith ? 
 
 " Aye, that it is!" cried he, in a most ani- 
 mated tone, and his eye sparkling with pleasure, 
 but he recovered himself in a moment, and 
 added, — " Yes, the enemies of our holy religion 
 are for the time successful. The brave and 
 pious champions of the Faith are forced to 
 retire. Even Misas and Miralhes, Eroles and 
 Mata-Florida, the bravest and best of the 
 Royalist chiefs, are beaten back ; and JMina, 
 with his lieutenant, Count de Linati, and the 
 gallant Melchior de Trevazos, called El Ven- 
 gador, the avenger, are treading on the very 
 limits of France this moment." 
 
 This last sentence was uttered with a renewed 
 forgetful ness, and a genuine animation of tone, 
 which had power over his hearers as well as
 
 88 the cagot's hut. 
 
 himself; for even the Cagot-girl jumped from 
 the stool on which she sat, and clasped her 
 hands either in surprise or sympathy with the 
 pilgrim's evident delight. 
 
 I was myself right glad to hear of the tri- 
 umphs of the Constitutional leaders; but find- 
 ing that the pilgrim was playing a double part, 
 I did not chime in with either his pleasure or 
 his lamentation, but heard the expression of both 
 with apparent indifference. It was, moreover, 
 very clear that he was no stranger in the Cagot's 
 hut. I did not exactly know by what opinions 
 I might be surrounded, or among what sort of 
 folk I might, ere long, be entangled. This pre- 
 tended pilgrim was a very questionable sort of 
 character, and was very likely to be followed by 
 others not a whit more correct. I therefore 
 resolved to be extremely reserved and circum- 
 spect in my remarks and conduct, and I thought 
 my safest quarters would be found in bed. The 
 old woman once more urged me to retire, and 
 I saw inat my presence was an incumbrance to
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 89 
 
 the whole party. I accordingly prepared to go, 
 and I was resolved to make my exit with a civil 
 speech to my fellow lodger. 
 
 " I am afraid, my good friend," said I, 
 " that I have forestalled the accommodations 
 which would have been yours, but for my intru- 
 sion. But being unwell, I must keep the bed 
 which chance has given me, and I hope you will 
 be able to find a corner to repose yourself in 
 for the night. With this hope I wish you light 
 slumbers, and good cheer." 
 
 " Good night, Sir, good night," said he. 
 " First come, first served, is a common proverb, 
 and you are heartily welcome to be its illustra- 
 tion. As for me, hard beds and hard fare have 
 been my lot for some time, particularly since 
 my friends, the monks, have been dispossessed ; 
 but I hope I have a chance of finding wherewith 
 to enable me to eat and sleep here, although the 
 place does not promise much at first sight. God 
 bless you, Sir, and here," (opening his little 
 basket,) " to help your recovery, take this charm.
 
 90 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 Do not despise it — 'twas blessed by a holy man — 
 tie it round your neck, and 'twill not make you 
 sleep the worse; for, used with faith, it will 
 keep off the night-mare, the cramp, and bad 
 dreams." 
 
 He here gave me this amulet, consisting of a 
 little bag of white leather, marked with a scarlet 
 silk cross, and tied with black ribbon. I took 
 it as gravely as it was offered ; and turning 
 towards my sleeping-place, I cast an involuntary 
 glance into the opposite recess, which I had 
 before conjectured to be the bed-room of the 
 girl. I saw enough to convince me that it was 
 a chamber of larger dimensions than my own, 
 and appointed in a style superior to the rest of 
 the house. Part of a curtained bed was evi- 
 dent ; and, rather to my satisfaction than my 
 surprise, I observed a Spanish guitar hanging 
 against the wall, with a cloth cloak, while some 
 books were scattered on a small table. All these 
 appearances confirmed my conjectures as to the 
 sometime visitors of the hut ; and I stopped
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 91 
 
 short to make further observations, when the 
 girl, who with the old woman was in attendance 
 on me, stepped before me and shut the door of 
 the room. X took the hint thus given ; and a 
 short time sufficed to have my feet bathed by 
 the kind old woman, and to settle me in a bed, 
 wonderously well appointed for the place it was 
 found in. 
 
 '.* Now, Sir, sleep soundly, and have no fear ; 
 my daughter or myself will watch, lest you 
 should want any thing," said the old woman, 
 quitting my closet, and leaving the door ajar.
 
 if™ 
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT; 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Whatever might have contained the charm 
 — whether the pilgrim's leathern bag, which I 
 carefully hung round my neck, or the old 
 woman's medicament — I slept soon, and soundly 
 for several hours. When I awoke, far in the 
 night, as I found out by feeling the hands of 
 my watch, I was in a high degree feverish, and 
 in considerable pain of head and body. I had 
 a confused and half delirious notion of all sorts 
 of disagreeable things connected with my visit 
 to the hut — loathsome Cagots, the ruffian 
 Spaniard, the suspicious pilgrim, all mixed 
 together in combinations of annoyance. I 
 forgot where I was, and started up in my bed.
 
 the cagot's hut. 93 
 
 But a moment or two brought the truth of my 
 situation clearly to my mind ; and a light, glim- 
 mering through my imperfectly closed door, and 
 busy whisperings in the next room, told me that 
 the family, with their friend and visitor, had not 
 all retired to repose. My throbbing head was 
 not in a state to attend to what was passing, 
 even could I have overcome my aversion and 
 contempt for that method of gaining information. 
 But I could not avoid catching an occasional 
 word of the conversation ; and I heard the names 
 of Mina, Linati, and Don Melchor frequently 
 repeated, without any coherent sequence which 
 could lead to a betrayal on the part of the 
 speakers, or a discovery on mine, of whatever 
 secret might be joined with these names. The 
 conversation was carried on with great anima- 
 tion, and certainly in French, so I was con- 
 vinced that the Cagots had no part in it. I 
 thought I could distinguish the pilgrim's quick 
 and sententious manner of speech, but no tone 
 above his breath allowed me positively to re-
 
 94 THE CABOT'S HUT. 
 
 cognize his voice. The other was, as it were, 
 muffled in still lower whisperings, so that it was 
 impossible to ascertain whether it came from 
 male or female. 
 
 I certainly felt some feverish reflections pass 
 rapidly through my brain as to the strange 
 scenes amidst which I was placed ; and having 
 sense to know that I was, in my present situation, 
 utterly at the mercy of persons and events, as 
 they might arrive, I made up my mind to let 
 things take their course, without worrying myself 
 with hopeless conjectures. But although thus in 
 every way disinclined to listen to the conver- 
 sation, I could not restrain my curiosity to get 
 a sight if possible of the speakers. I therefore 
 cautiously raised myself in my bed, and stoop- 
 ing forwards, not being embarrassed by curtains, 
 J was enabled to see into the outer room without 
 running any risk of being in my turn observed. 
 The first thing which caught my eye was a 
 man sitting in front of the fire-place, whose 
 comparatively youthful appearance and close
 
 the cagot's hut. 95 
 
 shaven face, formed a strong contrast to the 
 thick-bearded adventurer I had left in the same 
 position when 1 went to bed. Beside him stood 
 a table with remnants of an analyzed repast ; 
 and beyond it, with her back to me, sat a female 
 figure, of which I could distinguish nothing but 
 its generally graceful contour, and a head 
 covered with flowing ringlets, which appeared 
 dark as jet, as they hung upon the shoulders 
 that, like them, were buried in deep shade. She 
 leaned one elbow on the table, and as her head 
 rested on her hand, I fancied a pensiveness in 
 the attitude, which seemed to speak a whole story 
 of anxiety and interest. 
 
 The man was talking rapidly, in all the 
 constraint of an under tone, but with evident 
 respect, and using gestures expressive at once 
 of his earnestness and of the active nature of 
 the scene he was describing. A word or two 
 incautiously pronounced in a louder key, as if 
 his voice gave the slip to his prudence, caused 
 the female to raise her linger with a warning
 
 96 the cagot's hut. 
 
 motion, and the knowing smile he gave in 
 reply, made me almost start, from its resem- 
 blance to that which I had remarked so par- 
 ticularly in the pilgrim. In fact, another glance 
 of scrutiny convinced me it was that pious 
 masquerader himself; and I rapidly observed 
 that he wore precisely the same clothes, only 
 that they were divested of all their shell-work 
 ornament, and other accessories, as completely 
 as his face was of the distinctive decoration of 
 penance and pilgrimage. 
 
 At this instant, as fate would have it, one of 
 the most indiscreet symptoms of cold in the 
 head escaped me— a loud and sudden sneeze, 
 w hich alarmed me almost as much as those I 
 had so minutely observed. The pilgrim jumped 
 up. So did his companion, and with a light 
 and graceful step she darted across the floor 
 to the distant end of the room. I laid myself 
 down, quickly but quietly, at full length, and 
 gently drew the bed clothes up close to my 
 chin. Three or four consecutive repetitions of
 
 the cagot's hut. 97 
 
 ray treacherous sneeze made it impossible to 
 feign sleep, so I uttered an accompanying 
 moan or two, to give the appearance of my be- 
 ing self-disturbed. At these sounds, and holding 
 a little copper lamp in her hand, the dimly 
 lighted, half-hidden figure of the Cagot girl 
 came limping into my room ; a dark cotton 
 handkerchief which was tied over the close hood 
 of her capulet, gave evidence of her having slept 
 or been prepared for sleep during her time of 
 watching. I shrunk involuntarily from her 
 presence into the retirement of the bed-clothes. 
 There was something nauseous to me in the 
 notion of her sallow cheek, her lameness, and 
 the hidden goitre, which was exaggerated by 
 imagination, mixed with the cunning conceal- 
 ment which she aided in practising as to the 
 persons outside. I therefore told her, in a very 
 gruff tone, and in a few words of Patois, that I 
 wanted nothing, and that she might retire. 
 She took me at my word, and the withdraw- 
 ing of the light gave silent notice of her 
 VOL. i. f
 
 98 the oagot's hut. 
 
 absence. I therefore looked boldly up again, 
 hoping to catch a second glimpse of the 
 mysterious female "who had so much excited 
 my curiosity and interest. But I saw nothing, 
 the door having been drawn as close as its 
 imperfect construction would admit of, by my 
 repulsive nurse ; and I only heard now and 
 then a faint whistling from half- opened lips, 
 like the echo of the lowest possible whisper. 
 
 The effects of this temporary excitement soon 
 passed over, and I became more violently op- 
 pressed with pain and thirst than I was before. 
 I however took copious draughts of the liquid 
 preparation which stood beside me, and after 
 some time, I again sunk into an imperfect 
 slumber. From this I was aAvoke, or rather 
 aroused, for I could scarcely say I slept, by the 
 sound of footsteps in the garden close to my 
 window. An occasional pause seemed to mark 
 that the person, be it who it might, stopped at 
 intervals to listen at the windows, or perhaps 
 attempt to peep through the crevices of the
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 99 
 
 temporary shutters; and I suffered somewhat of 
 that vague annoyance, almost always excited 
 by uncertain and imperfect sounds. Something 
 more positive came however very quickly to give 
 me more serious cause of inquietude, for the 
 lamp having been suddenly extinguished in the 
 outer room, my door gently creaked upon its 
 rustic hinges, and I heard some one groping 
 his way cautiously about the walls, until his 
 hand came in contact with my gun, which I had 
 as usual deposited in the corner nearest to my 
 bed. I heard the barrel grating against the 
 wall, as the secret hand withdrew it from its 
 position. J confess that I felt at the moment ex- 
 tremely uncomfortable, so much so as to prompt 
 an immediate measure, which might, in the ap- 
 prehension of treachery, have been considered a 
 desperate one. I sprang suddenly up, stretched 
 out my hand at random, but in the direction of 
 the one I intended to arrest, and caught a firm 
 grasp of a sinewy arm, covered with a cloth 
 sleeve. 
 
 f 2
 
 100 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 " Stop, whoever you are, and let go your 
 hold of that gun I 1 ' said I, in a suppressed but 
 steady voice. 
 
 No violence was offered to me ; but a second 
 hand was placed on mine with a pressure of 
 entreaty, and a voice, which I instantly knew to 
 be the Pilgrim's, begged of me not to be alarm- 
 ed, protested that nothing wrong was meant to 
 me, but that suspicious sounds outside forced 
 him, the speaker, to borrow my gun, as the only 
 weapon of defence which the house afforded. 
 I was somewhat re-assured, but not quite satis- 
 fied at this rapid explanation : but I had no sus- 
 picion of the pilgrim, who had, from the first, 
 won a species of confidence, by the frankness 
 and gaiety of his air, which bore more of frolic 
 than insincerity in it. I therefore loosed my 
 
 hold 
 
 
 saying, 
 
 " Well, my friend, I prove my confidence in 
 you, and I trust to your good faith." 
 
 " You may do so, implicitly," said he, seizing 
 
 my hand, and registering this assurance by a 
 
 *
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 101 
 
 cordial pressure. He quietly stepped back to 
 the other room, and I sat up in my bed to listen 
 to the result of his proceedings. 
 
 After a few minutes of doubtful silence, I 
 heard the footsteps again, retiring from the 
 close neighbourhood of my window ; and in a 
 little more, a knocking at the house door gave 
 signal of the intended entrance of friend or foe, 
 as the case might be. 
 
 " Who are you that knocks, and what do you 
 want?''' fiercely inquired the unbearded and 
 unshelled pilgrim, double-cocking my gun, and 
 looking I dare say as resolute as ever did Peter 
 the Hermit or any of his followers. 
 
 " The blessing of Saint Geronimo be on the 
 house !" replied a rough voice, m Spanish, 
 " open, for a soldier of the Faith, in the name of 
 God and of the King!" 
 
 " That s not our watchword ! said the pil- 
 grim, " what is to be done ?" addressing himself 
 to some one beside him, who answered in a 
 whisper. This I thought could be only the
 
 102 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 6trange female, and my curiosity made me 
 stretch myself to the foot of my bed, and close 
 to the door, through the opening of which, I 
 cautiously peeped ; but to my great disappoint- 
 ment, I saw only the girl of the house, in her 
 most ungraceful night dress, who tremblingly 
 held by the pilgrim's arm. 
 
 " Open, good christians, - ' 1 continued the voice 
 outside, " you have nothing to fear. It is but 
 a benighted soldier, alone and unarmed." 
 
 " If I was sure of that !" exclaimed the pil- 
 grim, with a suppressed stamp of his foot, and 
 jerk of one arm, and then scratching his head, 
 in evident perplexity. 
 
 " Open the door, for the love of " 
 
 " Have patience, then ! by the life of my 
 saint !" growled and swore the pilgrim, with no 
 example of patience or sanctity, and in just such 
 an attempt at Spanish as might be expected 
 from a pious wanderer, who walked across the 
 hills to Barcelona and back again. 
 
 " Can there be a plot ?" inquired the pilgrim
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 103 
 
 of himself, but he got no satisfactory answer. 
 " Yes, yes, I must let him in, and confide in 
 the Englishman — there's nothing else for it,"' 1 
 continued he; and addressing himself to the girl, 
 he added, " do you conceal yourself — nothing 
 in the shape of a woman must appear before 
 these rambling vagabonds of the Faith. Pray 
 go in, and keep very quiet ." 
 
 According to this advice, the girl crept across 
 the floor, and entered the door of the secret 
 apartment. The pilgrim took up the little 
 lamp, which he had re-lighted, and came close 
 up to my bed. The reader will recollect that 
 I had before clearly seen and recognized him, 
 when stripped of his disguise; but he, not know- 
 ing that, thought it necessary to caution me 
 against any abrupt suspicion. He therefore 
 hastily said, as he entered, 
 
 " Now, my good Sir, pray, let me entreat 
 you, do not be alarmed at my change of ap- 
 pearance — you are ill and feverish, and may not 
 recognize me — but I am, that is, I was, the very
 
 104 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 identical pilgrim you saw and talked with to- 
 night. But you see I have got rid of my beard 
 and my dress, and my vow, for in fact my 
 pilgrimage is over, and I am on my way 
 home. But this is no time for explanation — 
 there is danger near us — and I cannot believe 
 that you are in any plot against any one in this 
 house — are you ? Now, do tell me, honestly and 
 frankly." 
 
 " No, on my life and honour," replied I, 
 " but I am ready to assist in its defence." 
 
 "You are?" cried he, cutting short my 
 heroics. " Give me your hand, then," and 
 seizing one, he started, looked with a most 
 pathetic air full in my face, and exclaimed — 
 " Good God, Sir, you are in a high fever — 
 how flushed you are ! your eye is in a blaze — 
 Oh ! if I had but Father Munoz, the convent 
 physician, here !" 
 
 Whack, whack, whack ! said the heavy fist 
 of the person at the cottage door. 
 
 " Saints, devils, and martyrs I" roared the
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 105 
 
 pilgrim, " keep quiet I say." Then turning to 
 me, " For the love of heaven, Sir, don't 
 stir." 
 
 " Open the door, good christians, 1-1 whack, 
 whack! went the tongue and fist outside ; while 
 the pilgrim went on, turning alternately from 
 me, and to me. 
 
 " Go to the devil — Pray keep cool — (whack, 
 whack, whack !) — May you never eat nor drink 
 — swallow large draughts of ptisan — (" Open, 
 open the door. ' ') May you perish from cold ! — 
 Cover yourself well with the blankets — (whack !} 
 May the frost pinch you ! — Encourage perspi- 
 ration — And the wind whistle through you ! — 
 And keep yourself warm— (whack, whack !) 
 Keep quiet ! — lie still — I'm coming — I'm going 
 — I'll open the door— I'll shut the door — 
 (whack, whack, whack !) May curses seize 
 you! — May God bless you, Sir V— and push- 
 ing me back into the bed, from which I at- 
 tempted to rise, he rushed into the outer room, 
 flammed mv door after him, and opened the 
 
 f 3
 
 lOo THE CAGOTS HUT. 
 
 other, cursing the intruder with all his might 
 and main. 
 
 " Health and wealth !"* exclaimed the Spa- 
 niard, in the proverbial greeting common in his 
 country, and with a cringing expression. 
 
 " Furies and the devil !" retorted the pilgrim, 
 " Who and what are you, that disturb poor 
 people thus ?" 
 
 " Is it possible ?" said the Spaniard, in an 
 astonished tone. 
 
 " What ! Sanchez ! Is this you ?" cried the 
 pilgrim. 
 
 " What has become of your beard V 
 
 " Where is your cassock ?" 
 
 " And you have not been shot?" 
 
 " And you have really escaped hanging ?" 
 
 •' I have, indeed," said the Spaniard. " That 
 fool, Don Melchior, pardoned me, and let me 
 escape ■ — '' 
 
 * Saltid y pesetas, is one of the rin francs, with which 
 the conversation of Spaniards abounds. Pesetas stands for 
 riches in the proverbial application.
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 107 
 
 " But you may meet again V said the 
 pilgrim. 
 
 " Perhaps we may !" muttered the Spaniard. 
 
 Every sound of the voice tended to convince 
 me that this was no other than the ruffian I had 
 seen the preceding day. At this last expression, 
 the very same as his parting words to the Ser- 
 jeant at Gedro, I could not restrain my desire to 
 be sure of him. I therefore leaned forward, at 
 the risk of discovery, and caught the glare of 
 his dark eye, and saw his hand laid expressly 
 upon his knife. 
 
 As soon as the Spaniard had recognized the 
 pilgrim, he spoke French to him with great 
 fluency ; and a conversation now began between 
 them, relating to some former acquaintanceship 
 and adventures, the particulars of which I could 
 not make out. I was so disturbed and harassed 
 by interruptions and curiosity, mixed with oc- 
 casional anxiety, that I really was, as the pilgrim 
 said, in a high fever. My head swam and 
 burned, my mouth was parched, and I lay
 
 108 THE CAGOT'S HUT.' 
 
 almost insensible to what passed in the next 
 room. 
 
 But the pilgrim, after some time, paid me a 
 visit, and told me that the Spaniard was asleep 
 before the fire, and that there was nothing to 
 apprehend. I did not think this apparent 
 slumbering any proof of security, if there were 
 any danger in the fellow's being awake ; and I 
 told the credulous pilgrim to be on his guard, 
 if he had any secrets to conceal. 
 
 " Let me alone," said he, " I know the 
 scoundrel I have to deal with. He does sleep 
 now, depend upon it, for I took good care to mix 
 one of my charms in his brandy — just the same, 
 my good Sir — pray don't be angry — as the old 
 woman put into your whey, and to which you 
 owe the sleep you have already had. - " 
 
 \ saw that this fellow had not lived in a con- 
 vent of Capuchins for nothing, but that his 
 friend, Father Jose, had taught him some of his 
 tricks ; but I nevertheless could not help liking 
 him, and having faith in him. Such is for me
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 109 
 
 the irresistible charm of a frank and cordial 
 manner. I found myself, however inclined, 
 totally unable to profit by the communicative 
 disposition of my companion, or to gain any 
 information on the secrets of this hut, the inci- 
 dents of which were becoming every hour more 
 mysterious and dramatic. I listened to the 
 ci-devant pilgrim, but could scarcely reply, and 
 I regretted to find that, however open he might 
 be as to a part of his own affairs, he was double 
 locked, and barred, and bolted, in respect to 
 others. 
 
 "Now, my dear good Sir,' 1 said he, in the 
 kindest possible tone, " I am forced by pressing 
 matters to quit this house. I must take away 
 this sleeping ruffian with me. He is of the 
 army of the Faith, and he has reason to believe 
 my opinions the same as his own ; but I should 
 blush before any Englishman not to avow myself 
 the very reverse. I must however keep up the 
 farce with him, and get him from this place. 
 He wandered here by chance from a gloomy
 
 110 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 love otf solitude. He is a prime villain, and has 
 just escaped from death by means of the very 
 man he attempted to assassinate, but who was 
 warned of his purpose by a friend. His intended 
 victim was no other than the Avenger, Don 
 Melchior de Trevazos, the bravest, the noblest 
 of men. But I must leave you — yet it grieves 
 me. Still, you may rely on it, you are in safe 
 hands. The old people of this hut will take 
 good care of you ; the young woman will be 
 kind to you ; and I have learned from the fellow 
 without, that Father Munoz, a most skilful 
 though a young physician, and a conscientious 
 though fierce enthusiast, is at a village close by, 
 where he intends to rally some stragglers of the 
 Faith, to repass the frontier, and oppose Don 
 Melchior, who has driven them before him like 
 sheep. I will send for this monk to see you ; 
 and, in the mean time, should any other strangers 
 arrive, pray have no suspicions — take no notice 
 of what passes — and expect to see me shortly 
 again. God bless you once more — there is your
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. Ill 
 
 gun — keep quiet — and all will be well with 
 you." 
 
 I returned the cordial squeeze of his hand, 
 nodded assent to his suggestions, and wished 
 him a safe journey. He immediately left me ; 
 and in about half an hour afterwards, the dawn 
 just then breaking, I heard him rouse the 
 Spaniard from his sleep, and they quitted the 
 house together.
 
 112 THE CACOT's HUT. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 No sooner were they gone, than the old wo- 
 man, who with her husband had kept close while 
 the Spaniard remained in the house, came cau- 
 tiously into my room, and finding me awake, 
 •she commenced a series of inquiries as to my 
 illness, and prescriptions for its removal. She 
 told me that the worthy and pious man, who had 
 completed his pilgrimage and resumed his own 
 proper character, had given her a letter to take 
 to Gedro to deliver to a Spanish monk, the 
 same, as she believed, who relieved her so 
 humanely the previous morning, and who, 
 being skilled in medicine, would come to see, 
 and, she hoped, to cure me. She added that she
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 113 
 
 was just setting out; and, in the mean time, 
 having replenished my jug of diet-drink, and 
 her husband being about to start on his daily 
 task of wood-cutting, she left me and the 
 house to the care of her daughter. 
 
 I almost shuddered at this announcement ; 
 but ill as I was, I had a gleam of hope that I 
 might possibly, through the girl, get some insight 
 into the proceedings of the concealed heroine, 
 (for I was resolved that she should be one) who, 
 I was certain, still remained hidden in the 
 house. This notion made me avoid the expres- 
 sion of my disgust, at the prospect of being left 
 at the mercy of the young and goitred guardian 
 thus promised me ; and I abstained from any 
 hint or allusion, which might lead the old 
 woman to suspect my knowledge of her house- 
 hold matters being deeper than she supposed it. 
 
 I lay still and silent while she spoke, and I 
 soon heard her and her husband leave the cot- 
 tage. I concluded that both the females, now, 
 with me, joint occupiers of the house, still slept,
 
 114 
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 to recover from the fatigues of their disturbed 
 and watchful night. I thought repose in every 
 way essential to myself, to give me strength to 
 prosecute my inquiries, or indeed to meet the 
 possible contingencies, to be expected from the 
 ambiguous parting words of the pilgrim. I 
 therefore once more strove to sleep, and I 
 succeeded. When I awoke again, I found 
 myself much refreshed, and looking at my 
 watch, I perceived that it was not quite eight 
 o'clock. 
 
 My anxiety to know what was going on in 
 the other, and most mysterious, part of the 
 house induced me to rise from my bed, and 
 venture on a cruise of discovery to the next 
 room. I threw the coverlid across my shoulders,, 
 and in this costume, quite a la Cagot, I slowly 
 and cautiously slided out of my closet. The 
 window-shutters having been opened by either 
 the pilgrim or the old woman, I had a full view 
 of the chamber and its contents. The table 
 shewed that the time had not been idly or badly
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 115 
 
 spent by the travellers. The remnants of bread, 
 cheese, eggs and sausages, with glasses that 
 bore marks of service, told a tale of good cheer 
 and abundance. On the table stood an ink 
 stand and some paper, with unfinished scraps of 
 writing. These excited my attention, more than 
 any other of the fragments, and I could not 
 resist letting my eye glance for a moment on the 
 scribbled and defaced lines before me. I at 
 once discovered the writing to be in a neat 
 female hand — One or two words, " Father, 
 Mother," and what looked like " duty, 
 honour,' 1 and " unbounded attachment," werce 
 all that I distinguished : for the reader may 
 believe my honest assertion, that I did not — 
 indeed I could not — let my eye rest more than a 
 moment on the page, any more than I could 
 let my ear lie for an instant against a door, 
 always excepting cases which involve personal 
 safety or the like. 
 
 I cast a wistful glance at the door of the secret 
 chamber, where I was convinced so interesting a
 
 116 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 subject of inquiry lay concealed. But whether 
 it was feeling or fever that refined or rarefied 
 my sentiments, 1 know not ; yet they certainly 
 were at the moment quite too pure to allow of 
 my taking one unauthorized step towards the 
 gratification of my intense curiosity. I accord- 
 ingly turned into my own quarters again, cau- 
 tiously avoiding a glance at the room which the 
 old Cagots occupied, and not venturing to look 
 behind me for fear of discovering the appearance 
 of the young one, in all the unlove! iness of 
 dishabille. 
 
 But I was scarcely laid again in my bed, when 
 a timorous tap at the door, and half uttered 
 inquiries from the girl, convinced me that I was 
 not to escape from her persecuting attention. 
 I answered, without looking up, that I was quite 
 well, and wanted nothing whatever. But, from 
 that strange impulse which leads us to look at 
 the things we loathe, I could not resist a stolen 
 half glance at this girl, asking her at the same 
 time —
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 117 
 
 ?* Are you dressed already, my good girl ?" 
 . " Dressed !" echoed she, in a tone of sur- 
 prise, as if astonished at my imagining the con- 
 trary ; and she muttered something in unintel- 
 ligible and imperfect patois. 
 
 " Pray, don't be offended, 1 ' said I, " it was 
 only that I did not wish to disturb you so 
 early." And I saw at the same time that she 
 had had the delicacy (or the conceit) to wrap 
 herself up, throat and all, full as closely as she 
 had been covered the day before. She was 
 retiring from the door, and I became emboldened 
 in proportion as she was timid. I thought I 
 might venture some inquiries, so I said, in 
 accents of more civility than she was accus- 
 tomed to from me — 
 
 " You were very much disturbed, I fear, last 
 night, as well by me as by other visitors.'" 
 
 " What ?" asked she, with all the vacant 
 emphasis of stupidity. 
 
 I repeated ray observation distinctly. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, you did," was her unmeaning
 
 US THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 reply, accompanied by a sort of abortive laugh 
 that was quite shocking. I would not venture 
 to look at the countenance, moving in idiot 
 sympathy with these tones ; but I was deter- 
 mined, my eyes firmly closed, to prosecute my 
 efforts for information. I thought that the only 
 way to succeed with her was to take her by sur- 
 prise — to beat down her guard as I might say — 
 and carry the outworks of her caution by a 
 coup-de-main. 
 
 " And pray," exclaimed I, quickly, " how is 
 the young lady in the other chamber, after 
 such a bad night ?"" The girl was too far 
 off, and too much shaded by my door to let 
 me see her face; but as she might have seen 
 mine, I spoke as abruptly and sternly as I 
 meant to look. 
 
 " What? 1 ' answered site. 
 
 " Come, come,' 1 cried I, impatiently, " tell 
 me, like a good girl, who is the female that — " l1 
 But just at this important stage of my cross- 
 examination, I was interrupted by a voice out-
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. ]19 
 
 side, volubly uttering, as the speaker entered 
 the hut — 
 
 " What ! the house empty — the garrison fled 
 — guns all spiked, I suppose — and, perhaps, a 
 mine ready to spring and blow me up ! Ha ! 1 
 ask you a thousand pardons, Mademoiselle, for 
 entering so unceremoniously by this ready-made 
 breach, and without a summons to surrender. 
 By the fire of those consuming black eyes, and 
 that rosy blush on your cheek, my dear, I hold 
 you and your whole sex in adoration ! Permit 
 me to salute your hand. Nay, don't be frigh- 
 tened, nor shrink away from me after that 
 fashion. Always show a fair front to the enemy, 
 and never turn your back on a friend. That's 
 one of the golden rules of life — so, do now, my 
 lass, give me one embrace." 
 
 I really did not hear the girl's reply. I was 
 so provoked at this proof of gross want of taste 
 — at the promiscuous gallantry which could 
 make love to a Cagut, that, for the moment, my 
 displeased surprise stifled the satisfaction at iirst
 
 120 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 given me by the sound of my friend, the Ser- 
 jeant's voice, for the reader will have recognized 
 him in the new comer. 
 
 " What ! you will neither kiss me, speak to 
 me, nor look at me," continued the serjeant. 
 "Why, what do you tremble for, my good 
 girl ? Do you think I would do you any harm ? 
 By the life and honour of a soldier, I would die 
 first ! So, like a sweet, modest little darling as 
 you are, tell me, where is the sick gentleman 
 who came here yesterday evening ; and tell him 
 that his friend, Victor Achille Tassepartout, 
 
 serjeant of the th infantry of the line, wishes 
 
 to see him." 
 
 " Come in here, serjeant," 1 cried I, "if you 
 can tear yourself away from the charms of that 
 tempting creature.'" 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! my friend, you are there, are 
 you ? So, so, this is your illness, is it ? A fit 
 of mountain gallantry— a heart-burn— an amor- 
 ous ao-ue ? I thought as much — " and as he 
 entered, with these words, his cap and feather
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 121 
 
 were knocked off his head by the door frame, 
 although he was a short man, and stooped as he 
 came in. In recovering his head-dress, he stum- 
 bled against my bed, and he commenced a series 
 of curses on his awkwardness, and apologies to 
 me, until, looking me full in the face, he saw 
 that I was reallv ill ; and he then, with great 
 kindness, began to inquire into my case, and 
 begged me to excuse the levity with which he 
 had treated it. He offered me all sorts of assist- 
 ance, proposed sending to Luz for the surgeon 
 of his regiment, and took as much (though a 
 different sort of) interest in my illness as one 
 sometimes meets from one's nearest relative 
 and heir at law. I declined the Serjeant's offers 
 of aid, telling him that I was in hopes of seeing 
 the military monk, of whose medical skill I had 
 heard high praise. 
 
 " What !" cried the Serjeant, "• would you 
 trust yourself into the hands of that fellow ? 
 Why, when he finds you out to be an English- 
 man, and a heretic, he would think nothing of 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 the cagot's hut. 
 
 giving you a passport for purgatory, (in the 
 shape of a dose of physic.) Aye, or for another 
 place, a stage farther on. I know Spain and 
 the monks right well." 
 
 " And / know something of human nature," 
 thought I, " of the good side of it too; and I 
 am sure that the man who relieved the poor old 
 persecuted Cagot yesterday, cannot be converted 
 into a fiend to-day." So I thanked the Ser- 
 jeant for his caution, but told him I had no fear 
 of treachery. 
 
 " Well, well," replied he, " perhaps you are 
 right after all. I am not a suspicious man — I 
 am dull-sighted enough when my own safety is 
 in question, but I am lynx-eyed for that of my 
 friends ; and you may have the satisfaction of 
 Knowing that if this priest should poison you, 
 I will have him hanged on the highest pine tree 
 in the district." 
 
 I could not help smiling at this consolatory 
 promise, and the serjeant, fancying he had quite 
 composed me, began a detail of his privations
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 123 
 
 in the little temporary shed he occupied since 
 day-break, with a party of ten privates, on the 
 very selvage of the frontier, and in sight of the 
 hut where we were. 
 
 "Egad, you can see it from this window, 1 ' 
 said he, pointing across the ravine ; " and there 
 stands the sentry, striving to warm himself in 
 the smoke from our kitchen-fire. He has laid 
 his firelock on the ground though. Very well, 
 he shall have an extra hour for that negli- 
 gence." 
 
 I looked from the bed, and plainly distin- 
 guished the turf and moss covered hovel, which 
 resembled the worst kind of huts in the bogs 
 of Ireland and the Scotch highlands, while the 
 smoke, forcing its way up through the sods 
 that formed the pastoral kitchen, and the grey 
 coated sentinel who stood beside, brought forci- 
 bly to my recollection the whiskey stills I had 
 so often stumbled on, in trespasses almost as 
 illegal as the secrets they led to. 
 
 While I was thus occupied, I observed my 
 
 r. 9
 
 124 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 visitor keenly reconnoitring the room without, 
 and eyeing the covered ways of the female for- 
 tress he had before been approaching. 
 
 " Come, come, Serjeant," said I, peevishly, 
 " this is too bad : how can you look at, or think 
 of this wretched Cagot girl, with her sallow- 
 cheeks and loathsome goitre ?" 
 
 " Softly, softly, my friend, 1 ' replied he, 
 in an under tone, \\ don't hurt her feelings 
 so ; she hears you, and her blushes cover her 
 
 ears." 
 
 " Blushes, indeed !" 
 
 " Aye, upon my life, like roses on an olive 
 tree. And hark ye, my friend, don't you be 
 so nice in your tastes— beggars cant be choosers. 
 A Cagot girl in these deserts is as natural as a 
 duchess in Paris. Women are women every 
 where. They have all alike their charms for 
 me — I worship the sex — and am idolater enough 
 to admire a protuberance on the throat, just as 
 much as though it were lower down. But, by 
 the gods, the girl without has a pair of eyes
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 125 
 
 blacker and more burning than any I ever 
 met with. 1 ' 
 
 3 Well, well, worship their sacred fires ; but 
 let it be in secresy and silence, that's all I ask 
 of you." 
 
 " Agreed, agreed, my friend, my devotions 
 shall not disturb you, depend upon it. I would 
 rather remove than add to your fever, believe 
 me. But hold, can I be mistaken ? It is 
 surely he — yes — I knew his lounging gait." 
 
 u Who do you see ?" asked I, while the Ser- 
 jeant strained forward at the window. 
 
 " That rascal Spaniard, I was forced to check 
 so abruptly yesterday. I thought he was lurk- 
 ing somewhere hereabouts, for the boy who told 
 me of your being here, recounted your having 
 stumbled upon him yesterday ; and, to tell you 
 the truth, I was brought here by my anxiety to 
 step between you and any treachery on the part 
 of that scowling blackguard ." 
 
 " Many thanks, my good serjeant — I have 
 nothing personal to apprehend from him ; but
 
 126 the cagot's hut. 
 
 he is a bad one, I have good reason to know, 
 and I cannot think that any good design brings 
 him here now ; he should be going in another 
 direction." 
 
 " You know something of him, then ?" 
 
 " Enough to warrant what I say, and to 
 enable me to put you on your guard. He 
 understands and speaks French well." 
 
 " We are but even there,' 1 said the serjeant 
 consequentially — "for I speak Spanish like a 
 Spaniard — just the same." 
 
 " You told me that yesterday,'' 1 replied I. 
 
 " Yes, and proved it too, I think, 11 added 
 he ; " for how else could I have so soon won 
 my way into the affections of that haughty 
 Arragonese Countess ? How else carry by 
 storm the bulwarks of birth, pride, rank, piety, 
 and the devil knows what? Now I'll wager 
 that you didn't discover her to be a countess? 11 
 
 " No, I'll be hanged if I did, 1 ' said I, smiling ; 
 " for she appeared as common a person as any 
 of her party. 1 '
 
 the cagot's hut. 127 
 
 ii 
 
 Cunning angel that she is !" cried he, clasp- 
 ing his hands — " Egad, I musn't forget my 
 appointment with her though. Good bye, my 
 friend, for a while. I'll certainly send for our 
 doctor for you — Adieu I 11 and he was going off 
 rapidly, when he suddenly added, " The Devil ! 
 I had quite forgot that scoundrel — but there he 
 is, winding up directly here, and looking round 
 him as if he were watched, or afraid of being so. 
 There he goes, sharp by the angle of that rock, 
 and into the path leading up to the door. I 
 will stay quietly here, and we shall soon see 
 what he is about." 
 
 " Caution the girl not to tell him you are in 
 the house, 11 said I. 
 
 " Sweet little dear ! I will whisper it closely 
 and softly to her," said the serjeant, stepping 
 into the outside room, where he buzzed a few 
 words in a delicate tone; and he came back 
 sideways on tip-toes, blowing kisses from his 
 fingers at every step, as he looked amorously 
 over his shoulder.
 
 128 the cagot's hut. 
 
 " Now, my good serjeant," said I, " remem- 
 ber that the ruffian carries his long knife, and 
 you are unarmed — and though ever so well 
 inclined, I am quite unable to help you in a 
 contest with him." 
 
 " True, egad," replied he, looking rather 
 anxiously around, " I had forgotten that — but 
 here is your erun." 
 
 " Exactly what I was going to observe to 
 you — it is loaded, and makes you more than 
 a match for him. 1 ' 
 
 " It's all one — it's all one — gun or no gun, 
 I should fear little from an encounter with such 
 a fellow : — but are the flints good — the powder 
 not damp — is it loaded with ball or shot ? — not 
 that I care a sous about the matter, but since 
 one has such a weapon by one — ?' 
 
 " One may as well make the most, while one 
 seems to make least of it ! Isn't it so, Serjeant ?"* 
 asked I, abruptly, and cutting him short in the 
 middle of a speech, such as we often hear from 
 men who, not satisfied with being sufficiently
 
 the cagot's hut. 129 
 
 brave, lessen their own merit in affecting to 
 underrate their enemy, and see more glory in 
 the pretence of despising danger than in the 
 pride of overcoming difficulty. 
 
 " Why, as for the matter of that — ■ said the 
 Serjeant — 
 
 "Hush!" whispered I — "I hear his heavy 
 tramp at the threshold,'' 1 and in a moment more 
 the outer door creaked back on its rusty 
 hinges. 
 
 " God be praised ! Good morning, my lass !" 
 said the Spaniard, in mechanical devotion and 
 surly gaiety, and in French, a striking contrast 
 to the cringing tone of his salutation in his own 
 language, as he entered the hut the night before, 
 and was so roughly welcomed by the pilgrim with 
 my double barrelled gun in his hand. " Good 
 morning, I say ; why, you do not seem to 
 welcome me. You would rather have seen that 
 vagabond impostor — that ci-devant pilgrim — Eh ? 
 But he is far out of sight now, and I am as much 
 master here as he was last night, do ye see — so 
 look cheerful, and give me some breakfast." 
 
 g 3
 
 130 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 All this was said with an air of insolent 
 brutality ; and I saw that the serjeant was 
 quivering in every limb, not from fear of the ruf- 
 fian, but with anxiety to attack him. He sat on 
 the side of my bed, the gun across his knees ; 
 and his legs involuntarily kept up the nervous 
 motion familiarly called " the Devil's tatoo." 
 
 " Keep steady, 11 said I, " or the creaking of 
 the bed will betray you before your time." 
 
 " I cannot contain my rage !" muttered he, 
 every word half a dozen times its original length, 
 from the chattering of teeth and stuttering 
 caused by his emotion. 
 
 " You are quite alone,' 1 asked the Spaniard. 
 
 " Quite, 11 replied the girl. 
 
 " Your father and mother are from home ?" 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 " Then give me the gun that your friend, 
 the pilgrim, left here behind him this morning. 
 Give it, I say," continued he, in a boisterous 
 tone, which proved that she hesitated at his first 
 demand — " Give it to me, or, by the Virgin, I'll 
 sacrifice you on the spot !"
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 131 
 
 The serjeant bounced up, but I held him 
 back, by the scanty skirt of his jacket, and 
 forced him down upon his seat. 
 
 " I will not give it to you— take it by force 
 if you durst, and you shall be hanged for the 
 crime, like a robber and a villain as you are." 
 
 Such, as well as I could catch her patois, 
 was the girl's reply, delivered in a firm and 
 gallant tone, astonishing to me, even though I 
 knew her to be aware of protection against the 
 Spaniard's fury. 
 
 ' ; Bravo P 1 exclaimed the serjeant, jumping 
 up once more, and he was rushing from the 
 room, when I threw myself after him, caught 
 hold of his arm, and whispered — 
 
 " Not yet — not yet — let him commit himself 
 fully." 
 
 " You are right, my friend,"" stammered he, 
 stopping close to the door, while I lay down 
 again in bed. 
 
 " Insolent reptile !" vociferated the Spaniard 
 to the girl's reply — " Odious and loathsome
 
 132 the cagot's hut. 
 
 Cagot, you are not worthy my revenge ; but let 
 me pass— I will have the gun — and here I begin 
 my search." 
 
 "• You shall not enter there while I have 
 life," cried the girl. At these words, I heard 
 the rapid closing of a door and a key turned 
 quickly in the lock. I knew immediately that 
 it must be that of the secret chamber, where I 
 was now more than ever convinced the lovely 
 female was concea.ed ; and, in addition to my 
 head-ache and fever, I burned and shook with 
 an anxiety full as forcible as the Serjeant's. I 
 prepared to quit the bed abruptly, when the 
 serjeant in his turn held me down. 
 
 " Not yet — not yet — " said he : " let the 
 villain attempt violence." 
 
 " Stand back, wretch !" roared the Spaniard, 
 and a clatter of chairs or tables told that a 
 struggle was commenced. 
 
 "• Help, help I 1 ' screamed the girl. 
 
 Whack ! sounded the door of my room, as 
 the serjeant burst through it— and smack ! said
 
 the cagot's hut. 133 
 
 the butt end of my gun, as it came in contact 
 with the Spaniard's head, with a force which 
 I thought must have shattered the stock, or 
 fractured the skull. A war-whoop yell accom- 
 panied the Serjeant's blow — the heavy carcass of 
 the Spaniard flopped against the floor — the girl 
 shrieked — and just as I emerged from my room, 
 the blanket thrown hastily round me, I saw her 
 disappear into the secret chamber opposite, and 
 heard the door forcibly bolted inside. 
 
 The Spaniard lay on the floor ; the serjeant 
 flung himself upon him, holding him by the 
 throat, thundering forth execrations of un- 
 translatable variety and vigour ; while Ranger, 
 unexpected by the whole party, darted upon 
 the prostrate ruffian, and shook and worried him 
 with all the energy of tooth and nail. Satisfied 
 that the girl was safe, the sanctuary she defended 
 and fled to secured, and the Spaniard stunned 
 and disabled, I looked about anxiously for 
 wherewithal to bind him, and soon found a piece 
 of rope, used by the old Cagot for tying up his
 
 134 the cagot's hut. 
 
 fagots. With this, the serjeant and myself 
 bound the Spaniard's arms well behind his back, 
 with less tenderness than he might have ex- 
 perienced from the most brutal executioner — in 
 fact we had no mercy on him. I took his for- 
 midable knife from its sheath ; and on examining 
 my gun and the fellow's head, I to my great 
 surprise ascertained that neither was materially 
 hurt by their momentary junction and instanta- 
 neous divorce. 
 
 During the whole of this process, which did 
 not occupy much more time than what might 
 be consumed in reading this record of it, the 
 enemy, as I may fairly call our prisoner, shewed 
 the most evident symptoms of a craven and 
 contemptible spirit. He was overwhelmed with 
 astonishment and terror, at the suddenness of the 
 assault and the probable consequences of his 
 subjection. But he did not utter a word, his 
 scowling visage looking unspeakable things at 
 the serjeant and myself. The former was too 
 busily employed, in double-cording and in
 
 the cagot's hut. 135 
 
 double-cursing his foe, to pay attention to the 
 contortions of pain, fear, and fury, so strongly 
 depicted on his countenance, while every knot 
 that he tied, and each additional twist he gave 
 the rope, drew forth a panting interjectional 
 snort, that seemed to come from the inmost 
 depths of the Serjeant's nervous system. He 
 ceased at length, and taking his knee from off 
 his victim's carcass, he wiped the sweat from 
 his own brow, and looked round pleasedly at 
 the security which he had earned by it. 
 
 As the Spaniard rolled and writhed upon the 
 floor, the serjeant could "not restrain th° ex- 
 pressions of his delight. He had no moderation 
 in his triumph, and thus proved himself an 
 imperfect hero. So I trust that my readers 
 have not begun to take him for mine. As for 
 myself, I had played but a very inferior part in 
 this drama; and its being so happily concluded, 
 left no further necessity for my presence ; so I 
 wrapped my blanket closer, and retired to my 
 closet, leaving the serjeant to the enjoyment of
 
 136 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 heaping loads of abuse on his fallen foe. As I 
 crept into bed, not much the better of all my 
 exertion, I heard the following fragments of my 
 trusty ally's reproachful apostrophe to his victim, 
 over whom I saw him standing : — 
 
 *' Yes, you scoundrel, you are there, thanks 
 to this good arm and this brave heart !'' (slap- 
 ping his hand upon his breast, three or four 
 times ;) " aye, twist and turn like a snake that 
 has lost it's sting," (flourishing the dagger- 
 knife over his head.) " What! you are mutter- 
 ing, are you ? — invoking some rank devil, I'll 
 warrant it ; but you must pray with your hands 
 unlcasped, and let your elbows knock together, 
 closer than they ever did, since you gave up 
 your dancing master. You villain ! to attack 
 a poor defenceless woman ! Woman, the love- 
 liest, the most angelic of earth's blessings, or 
 man's delights ! Woman ! the masterpiece 
 of nature ! " 
 
 And so he ran on, in the very superlative of 
 bombast and burlesque, for longer than would
 
 the cagot's hut. If37 
 
 be supportable in the recital ; and he was at 
 length stopped only by the entrance of the old 
 Cagot woman, and of no less a personage than 
 Father Munoz himself, who had obeyed the 
 call of his quondam friend the pilgrim, and 
 came promptly to my relief, for which he had 
 been summoned. 
 
 " Mary, the most pure, I salute you !"* piously 
 ejaculated the monk, but this short prayer was 
 all I could distinctly understand. 
 
 • Ave Maria purissima ! — the entrance salutation of 
 a pious Spaniard. 
 

 
 138 thk cagot's hut. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 From my situation in the closet bed, I was 
 not able to observe the effects of this arrival on 
 the countenances of the various parties to the 
 scene without ; and little information was to be 
 gathered from the confused babbling which 
 immediately took place. The Serjeant burst 
 forth into a vituperative attack against his 
 prisoner; the old woman sent out screaming in- 
 quiries for her precious little girl ; and the me- 
 dical monk, totally forgetting the object of his 
 visit, uttered pious and sorrowful ejaculations at 
 the scandal to his country and his cause, in what 
 he saw and heard of his compatriot's situation 
 and conduct. The ruffian did not speak a word.
 
 the cagot's hut. 139 
 
 The old woman at length succeeded in learn- 
 ing where the girl had taken refuge ; and I saw 
 her enter the chamber, into which she was cau- 
 tiously admitted through the half opened door. 
 She came out in a very few minutes, and crossed 
 over to pay me a visit. She had acquired 
 ample information as to the cause of the Ser- 
 jeant's presence in her hut, and of the still more 
 unwelcome intrusion of the Spaniard, and she 
 opened upon me a battery of blessings, and 
 thanks for the part I had taken in the rescue ; 
 and then made anxious inquiries as to my 
 illness. All these matters I cut as short as 
 possible, being chiefly alive to the subject 
 of my own curiosity ; and, without any regular 
 plan for coming at information, I at last 
 found some. 
 
 " Pray now, my worthy dame," said I, *' do 
 tell me, without keeping up the mystery any 
 longer, how is the lady in the opposite room, 
 for I know all about the secret of her conceal- 
 ment ? Has she been much alarmed ? Come,
 
 140 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 come, answer me frankly ; I tell you again I 
 know the secret." 
 
 " Oh ! pray then, Sir, for the love of Heaven, 
 do not betray it to any one of those persons 
 outside ; Mademoiselle would be ruined were it 
 known. 
 
 " Never fear, never fear ; I will be discreet, 
 but how is she ?" 
 
 " Oh, pretty well, Sir ; she has great courage, 
 but this was almost too much for her— the risk 
 of discovery was dreadful.'" 
 
 ' Yes, if it had not been for your daughter, 
 that scoundrel would certainly have found her 
 
 out." 
 
 " Sir !" said the old crone. 
 
 " I say it was your daughter's spirited resist- 
 ance, that saved the room door from beinff forced 
 open, and the lady from discovery. Did not 
 they tell you that ?" 
 
 The woman looked stupidly at me, as if all 
 her stock of intelligence had been exhausted ; 
 but I did not, as I have before remarked, find
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT 141 
 
 
 her dulness so disgusting as the girl's, and 
 seeing that my mention of her daughter did not 
 touch her sympathies, and that she began to 
 busy herself about my ptisan, et cetera, I let the 
 conversation drop, satisfied with the confession I 
 had obtained as to the concealed female, and 
 delighted to hear that she was still, as I might 
 say, within arm's length of my observation. 
 
 While I ruminated on all that was passing, 
 the voices in the outer room suddenly ceased 
 their clamour, and the serjeant came in, the gun 
 in his hand, and seated himself beside my bed. 
 The old woman immediately retired, and I saw 
 her slipping into the secret chamber, which 
 opened instantly to her gentle knock. 
 
 " Well," said I, to my panting and exhausted 
 companion, as he wiped his oozing brows ; 
 " well, you have done your work in good style ; 
 but why do you lose sight of your prisoner ? 
 He may escape. 11 
 
 " Leave me alone for that, my friend. Escape ! 
 Sacrc ! I should catch him, were he to gain the
 
 142 the cagot's hut. 
 
 top of Mont Perdu. I am as active as an Izard 
 — let me alone. No, no, he'll not escape me. 
 I have left him with that monk to confess, I 
 suppose. They are a pair of scoundrels together 
 I do believe, for amongst these scum of the 
 Faith there is nothing but rascality. I am 
 watching them — and should he stir, I am quite 
 ready to lodge the contents of this in his body — 
 but you see I did not want it, to enable me to 
 overcome the fellow — there it is, you see, not 
 even cocked !" 
 
 I passed over this ingratitude to the weapon 
 which had served him so well, though so silently, 
 and I paid him some compliments on his courage 
 and address. I heard the priest, in the mean 
 time exhorting his disgraced follower to a course 
 of more honourable conduct, than he had lately 
 pursued ; and in a little time he made his ap- 
 pearance at the door. On seeing me, he seemed 
 somewhat ashamed of his forgelfulness of the 
 purpose of his coming to the hut. 
 
 " This, then, is the gentleman who is ill ?"
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 143 
 
 asked he, looking round apparently for the old 
 woman. 
 
 " Yes, this is he, your reverence," said the 
 Serjeant, in a bitter tone, " and have a care that 
 you treat him well and fairly. Look to his fever, 
 never mind his politics ; feel his pulse, but don't 
 meddle with his conscience. Recollect it is 
 medicine, and not religion, you have now to 
 administer— and take a friend's advice." 
 
 This last phrase was accompanied by an 
 expressive gesture of tucking-up significancy — 
 but the monk heeded it not. His rapt and 
 enthusiastic look told that he was superior to 
 paltry hints and ignoble apprehensions. He 
 came forward calmly, and with a steady hand 
 he felt my wrist, smiled assuringly, and nodded 
 his head with that happy air of indifference, the 
 good effect of which every skilful doctor knows 
 full well. 
 
 " It is nothing," said he, " I will attend to 
 you in a few minutes; but first, Master Serjeant, 
 let us despatch the affair of this unhappy cul-
 
 144 the cagot's hut. 
 
 prit outside. What do you intend to do with 
 him P' 1 
 
 " Eh, what do with him r" replied the 
 serjeant, completely thrown off his centre by 
 the monk's commanding air and tone, and by 
 the contemptuous indifference with which he 
 had received the hectoring lecture, which the 
 serjeant expected would have produced a very 
 different effect. " Do with him ?" repeated he, 
 turning to me, " Egad, I don't exactly know — 
 I had not begun to think of that yet. 1 ' 
 
 " Perhaps then you will liberate him P" 11 said 
 the monk, calmly. 
 
 "Liberate him!" repeated the serjeant two 
 or three times ; but the echo was reverberated 
 in tones of redoubled noise and emphasis ; 
 " What ! let such a villain loose upon the 
 world, to violate all the rights of men, women, 
 and children — to make forcible entries, G'jd 
 knows where — to lay violent hands on the devil 
 knows what 11 
 
 " Hush, hush your blaspheming voice !* ex-
 
 the cagot's hut. 145 
 
 claimed the monk, in a loud tone of authority, 
 and raising his hand high above the little Ser- 
 jeant, who had started up, and stood as erect as 
 a recruit under the measuring rod. " Commit 
 not this outrage against heaven, joining the 
 name of the Most High with that of the arch 
 fiend. You declaim against an offence to man, 
 while you are insulting your Maker !" 
 
 " Sacre ! Peste ! I had no notion of it;" 
 said the serjeant, evidently a little frightened at 
 the accusation — " God knows'''' — 
 
 " Silence !" interrupted the monk, "God 
 knows all things, and scorns your paltry ap- 
 peal." 
 
 " Well but, Sacre Nom de " 
 
 " Dare not to finish the impious exclamation, 
 nor brave the offended Deity !" uttered the 
 monk, accompanying the thunder of his lungs 
 with a lightning flash from his protuberant and 
 electrical eyes. 
 
 " Was there ever the like of this ?" asked 
 my crest-fallen little friend, fairly beaten, upon 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 3 46 the cagot's hut. 
 
 the field of all his recent glory, by this domi- 
 neering ecclesiastic ; " Did you ever hear such 
 a bullying bravo ? — He won't let me speak a 
 word, either of question or answer. What must 
 I do with him ?" 
 
 " Listen to him quietly, and keep yourself 
 cool," said I. 
 
 " Well, Sir, is your mind made up ?" con- 
 tinued the priest, in an elevated voice, his looks 
 reflecting the warmth of his heated feelings. 
 " Are you decided yet ? Will you give the 
 man his freedom, or bring disgrace in his person 
 on the sacred cause he serves?" 
 
 " Sacred cause, indeed !" murmured the Ser- 
 jeant. 
 
 " Pray keep silent one moment, and suffer 
 me to speak a word," retorted the monk, in a 
 tone of most authoritative entreaty. " Would 
 you, I say, bring shame on the cause of religion 
 and loyalty, because one of its followers, in mis- 
 taken zeal, trenched upon, although he did not 
 even overstep, the strict line of the law?"
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 147 
 
 " Why, as for that — 
 
 " Do let me speak, I say. Remember that 
 this man is a champion uf the faith, filled with 
 ardour for the cause of his God, his king, and 
 his country. He knows the sacrilegious rebels 
 are in arms, that Mina and his bandit horde 
 are close upon the frontier. He burns to 
 engage once more in the holy conflict of the 
 faithful against the infidel, and to enable him to 
 
 . 
 
 
 join his brethren in arms, he begged a loan of a 
 
 weapon which he knew lay idly here." 
 
 " Begged a loan ! The rascal !" uttered the 
 serjeant, in a suppressed voice, which he only 
 ventured to let slip through his teeth as it 
 were. 
 
 " And would you, for this offence against 
 that strict rule which forbids us to carry arms 
 upon your neutral ground, embroil your govern- 
 ment and ours? Would you throw discredit 
 on the righteous and the loyal, and give a 
 triumph to the vile revolutionary band that 
 lords it over Spain, and threatens France ?" 
 
 h 2
 
 148 the cagot\s hut. 
 
 " Tell me," said the serjeant, recovering a 
 little his wonted jocular air, " tell me, my good 
 Sir, what penance do you inflict upon your 
 lying lay brethren ? ? and he winked at me as 
 lie spoke. 
 
 " What do you dare to say ?"" thundered the 
 monk, more loudly and violently than ever. 
 '? Would you, a christian and a catholic, venture 
 a ribald jest against the sacred mysteries of the 
 church ? And is it for you, while offending 
 igainst her holy laws, to become the judge of a 
 brother sinner ? Would you — " 
 
 " Most pious, reverend, and venerable father ,"" 
 exclaimed the serjeant, with a mixture of sar- 
 casm and ennui, " I am quite, perfectly, tho- 
 roughly convinced of my own errors, your 
 worthy follower's virtues, and your infallibility. 
 Take him away with you, upon condition that 
 you leave me alone. Off with him, for the sake 
 of heaven — I beg pardon, for my sake. There 
 is his innocent little pocket-knife — cut his cords 
 with it ; yonder is the door, you know the way
 
 the cagot's hut. 149 
 
 out ; and I pray the saints and angels, that, once 
 beyond its threshold, I may never see either of 
 your pious and loyal faces again." 
 
 Quite exhausted by this tirade, the poor Ser- 
 jeant resumed his seat, twisting his mustachios, 
 in evident mortification at having been thus 
 bearded by the unwhiskered enthusiast, that 
 gave so formidable an illustration of the church 
 militant on earth. 
 
 I must leave the reader to picture the air of 
 solemn delight with which the monk proceeded 
 to the next room to liberate his worthy associate 
 in the cause of legitimate tyranny ; and the un- 
 satisfied and harassed appearance of the Ser- 
 jeant, as he opened my window and made his 
 exit, to regain his quarters beyond the ravine, 
 the first having assured me he would return to 
 me in a few minutes, and the latter promising 
 to come and see me on the morrow. 
 
 When left quite to myself, I could have 
 laughed heartily at the whimsical contrast of 
 character which I had just witnessed; but the
 
 150 the cagot's hut. 
 
 immediate return of the monk, having let his 
 countryman loose, broke in upon my unsocial 
 enjoyment. In his capacity of physician, he 
 was much more attractive than in his holv call- 
 ing ; and I congratulated myself that he was 
 my bodily, and not my spiritual comforter. 
 His whole manner inspired complete confidence. 
 I saw he was clever, and believed him when he 
 assured me my illness was trifling. By this 
 means he effected more than half the cure ; and 
 I think my readers will excuse the detail of all 
 the other means employed to perfect my reco- 
 very. I took his advice, and followed his pre- 
 scriptions. He accepted my thanks, but refused 
 the proffered fee, giving me to understand that 
 he practised physic, not professionally, but for 
 the good of his fellow-creatures —a very correct 
 distinction — as I thought. Before my doctor left 
 the hut, I was infinitely better ; and by nightfall, 
 when only under the care of the old woman, for 
 the girl did not again come near me, I pronounced 
 myself, to myself, fairly convalescent.
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 151 
 
 The day passed over in a quiet stillness that 
 seemed almost unnatural to a place that had 
 heretofore been the scene of such continued 
 bustle, variety, and adventure. Nothing oc- 
 curred to break the monotony, but the old male 
 Cagot's arrival to his dinner about noon, and 
 his return once more from the woods at night- 
 fall. I heard him throw down his fagots at 
 the door, and, with a few words to interrupt 
 him, he eat his homely meals, and then retired 
 to rest. The old cat occasionally purred an 
 accompaniment to its master's munching, or 
 mewed a request for a scanty morsel from his 
 table. But at sunset, or soon after, the whole 
 hut was hushed into a most desolate state of 
 repose. 
 
 Ruminating on the events of the night and 
 morning which had passed by, I was not more 
 amused at comparing the different characters 
 extraneous, as I might say, to the hut, than I 
 was interested in dwelling on the consideration 
 of those which seemed legitimately its inmates.
 
 152 the cagot's hut. 
 
 The character of the poor Cagots appeared to 
 me in a far brighter hue than my former im- 
 pressions had given to it : the unobtrusive pla- 
 cidity of the man — the ready activity and kind 
 assiduity of the old woman — and the spirited 
 exertion of the young one, all convinced me 
 that they were not quite so low in the scale of 
 humanity as prejudice would place them ; and 
 the Serjeant's eulogium on the eyes and blushes 
 of the girl had, after all, I believe, their influence 
 in awakening these favourable sentiments. But 
 above all subjects, the hidden female was the 
 one that at once interested and tormented me 
 the most. Determined to leave no fair measure 
 untried to obtain some further information about 
 her, I was resolved to have recourse to the girl 
 once more, as, more immediately than the old 
 woman, in contact with the concealed heroine, 
 with whom she had clearly passed the greater 
 part of the day. I determined to make an ab- 
 solute and unlimited offer of my services to this 
 damsel, be the causes of her concealment, or
 
 the cagot's hut. 153 
 
 the means of service Avhat they might. I there- 
 fore called the old woman, and proposed to her 
 to let her daughter relieve her attentions upon 
 me for a while, although had I not other rea- 
 sons for the presence of the girl, I could have 
 readily dispensed with both. She made some 
 hesitation, as if her apprehensive qualms were 
 again rising. My smothered disgust was some- 
 what revived by this, but I kept it down, and 
 repeated my request. The woman muttered 
 something indistinctly, left the room, and pro- 
 ceeded to that where her precious charge had 
 all day remained. In a very few minutes she 
 came back, accompanied by the limping girl. 
 
 " Come here, my good girl," said I, with a 
 smooth-tongued patronizing tone, "I am anxious 
 to know how you have recovered your alarm — 
 
 tell me." 
 
 " I am quite well, Sir, thank you." 
 " And the — young lady," added I, quickly, 
 to try what would be the effect of the rapid 
 question upon her, not that I had now any 
 
 h8
 
 145 the cagot's hut. 
 
 notion of her affecting a concealment of what 
 the old woman had avowed — " how is she ? 
 What is she doing ? Does she want my assis- 
 tance ? Can I be of any use to her ? Tell 
 me all this now, like a good girl." 
 
 I made these inquiries in French, my patois 
 not being sufficiently fluent to keep pace with 
 my impatient curiosity. 
 
 " Remember what the pilgrim said to you at 
 parting f" replied she, in her mountain diction. 
 " Ask no questions, and take no heed of who 
 comes or goes. Good night, Sir," and with 
 these words she left the room, and quietly 
 closed the door. 
 
 •
 
 the cagot's hut. 155 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 I could not for some time exactly com- 
 prehend the nature of the occult sentiment, 
 under the influence of which I acquiesced so 
 calmly in the orders of this girl, and which 
 seemed to inspire me with a feeling actually 
 bordering on respect and regard for beings of 
 an order so very inferior as I considered t host- 
 around me. Even the old grey cat seemed not 
 quite excluded from its fair proportion of this 
 growing weakness of my nature ; and I once or 
 twice rebuked Ranger for the unmannerly 
 growling in which he indulged, as the green 
 eyes of Grimalkin beamed intrusively at the 
 half open door. But from well examining the
 
 156 THE CAGO'f's HUT. 
 
 bent of my thoughts, I became convinced that 
 all this, which seemed so strange, was the natural 
 result of association and sympathy. I could 
 trace the emanation of every feeling to the main 
 one of anxiety and interest in the situation and 
 circumstances of the hidden female. My one 
 casual glimpse of her person, my ignorance of 
 her name, her objects in concealment, and the 
 causes which led to it, combined to throw an 
 air over the whole situation, to which I cannot 
 apply any other name than romantic, and tended 
 to tinge my mind with a colouring that I must, 
 I think, venture to call chivcdric. 
 
 There are, certainly, moments in life, when, 
 though we may wish, may labour, to be com- 
 mon-place in our sensations, and matter-of-fact 
 in our conduct, we cannot succeed. A tide of 
 feeling will rush upon us, too powerful for the 
 dykes and mounds raised up by reason and 
 philosophy. Our minds sink under the flood 
 of weakness — if it be so — which flows warmly 
 over, impregnating, and probably purifying,
 
 the cagot's hut. 157 
 
 every thought. For these moments may surely 
 
 be considered as our best, the true intervals of 
 
 enjoyment, when we throw off' the thraldom of 
 
 social restrictions, and revel alone in a boundless 
 
 realm of freedom and romance. It is in such 
 
 times that the imagination fixes on some object, 
 
 with an interest more than real — an exaggerated 
 
 intensity, creating an atmosphere around, and 
 
 giving to the meanest things within its influence, 
 
 a character not properly their own ; as the 
 
 fragrance of the rose envelops, and might seem 
 
 to breath from, the veriest weed that crawls 
 
 beneath it. And such was the state of feeling 
 
 which procured for the Cagot family a degree 
 
 of consideration on my part, that was due to my 
 
 excited interest for the unknown female, to 
 
 whose fate they seemed allied, and in whom all 
 
 my thoughts were centered for the while. 
 
 I had slept too much during the day to be 
 inclined for a further indulgence in that vital 
 but, to me, most irksome loss of time and 
 sacrifice of useful thought. Besides, as night
 
 158 the cagot's hut. 
 
 approached I felt all my anxious curiosity 
 increase, as if it were the most probable time 
 for the arrival of the expected new comers, 
 half promised by those cautious warnings of 
 the pilgrim, which the girl's monition confirmed. 
 I lay, therefore, wide awake, in spite of the 
 strong recommendations and anxious wishes to 
 the contrary on the part of my two nurses; 
 for while the old one strove to put me to sleep 
 by the lullaby of her advice, the young one 
 frequently listened at the door to ascertain its 
 effects upon me. Finding this state of perturbed 
 idleness insufferably wearisome, and that my 
 tide of appetite was fairly on the flow, I at 
 length declared loudly to the woman that I was 
 determined to get up and partake of some 
 supper in the next room. I gave no time for 
 the expression of the discontent or alarm which 
 I knew this announcement must excite ; for I 
 followed it up rapidly by a soothing speech, 
 addressed to both the women, whom I had 
 summoned to the door of my closet from the
 
 the cagot's hut. 159 
 
 outer room, where they had been silently keep- 
 ing watch— not for my wants alone, but, as I 
 shrewdly conjectiued, for the arrival looked for 
 as well by them as by me. 
 
 " I am, you see, resolved to get up, my good 
 
 women," said I, " so there is no use whatever 
 
 in attempting to dissuade me. But have no 
 
 alarm ; I am neither inclined nor able to do any 
 
 harm to any one, or to interrupt, in any way, 
 
 the persons whom I know you expect. I shall 
 
 sit by the fire, and promise you to neither look, 
 
 nor listen for any information which you or the 
 
 lady may be anxious to keep from me. Neither 
 
 will I take any notice whatever of who comes, 
 
 or who goes — your own words, my girl. But I 
 
 cannot lie here any longer — I am cramped and 
 
 wearied ; and I must have something to eat, I 
 
 don't care what, for I am hungry enough to 
 
 devour any thing. So now do you, my kind 
 
 dame, prepare whatever you can give me ; and 
 
 you, my lass, go to the lady beyond, and tell 
 
 her to have no apprehension, but, on the con-
 
 160 the cagot's hut. 
 
 trary, to rely upon my good wishes and anxiety 
 to serve her if in my power." 
 
 My discourse concluded, the women whis- 
 pered a moment together, and the old one 
 merely saying, " Very well, Sir, we will do as 
 you like'' — they went to fulfil the offices seve- 
 rally assigned to them. 
 
 Well pleased with myself for my exertion, 
 and with them for their compliance, I was soon 
 equipped, and seated by the fire in the outer 
 room, which I avoid calling the kitchen, only 
 from the fear of degrading (in the reader's 
 imagination) the principal apartment of the 
 hut. The old mistress of the place began, with 
 every appearance of good will, to prepare some- 
 what for the satisfaction of my palate. As 
 animal food was not, in her estimation, adapted 
 to my imperfectly recovered state, she sought 
 to furnish me with a more innocent diet ; and 
 she accordingly brought forth from a little 
 recess in the wall, a vessel of goat's milk, which 
 lay, till wanted, in a stream of water, cold as the
 
 THE CAGOT 1 S HUT. 161 
 
 rock it sprang from, which flowed in perpetual 
 course down a channel within the house. A 
 portion of this pure milk, was placed in an 
 earthen vessel to boil, and while it was giving 
 notice of the coming fermentation, my hostess 
 added a couple of wooden spoonsful of the flour 
 of the large grained Asiatic wheat, called gene- 
 rally with us, I believe, Indian corn ; but, in the 
 South of France, bit iTEspagne. While the 
 porridge thickened and simmered, a little cas- 
 sonade (brown sugar) was sprinkled over, a bit 
 of cinnamon flung in, and a tea spoonful of 
 orange flower water (brought from the secret 
 chamber) added by the girl — and finally a 
 brown soup-plate full of the whole composition 
 was placed before me, forming, as the old 
 woman vivaciously exclaimed, " a mess of 
 cruchade, for which any poor Cagot might fairly 
 sell his birth-right." I really could not help 
 thinking so too, as I swallowed this excellent 
 preparation, considering that the common heri- 
 tage of a Cagot is degradation and distress, les6
 
 162 the cagot's hut. 
 
 palatable than even the meanest preparation of 
 the cruchade, as it is generally eaten, simply 
 with salt, and without any of the delicate appli- 
 ances which flavoured mine. A couple of eggs 
 poached (my own share of the cookery), and a 
 salad, of wild chicory, onions, and beet-root, 
 completed my supper — which was also, be it 
 remembered, my breakfast and dinner ; and I 
 began to yawn and stretch out my legs and 
 arms, in the true after-enjoyment of a simple 
 and hearty meal, when all the extended thews 
 and sinews of body and limbs were suddenly 
 contracted and braced up, by the sound of 
 rapid and loud whisperings in the secret 
 chamber. 
 
 I looked around me. The old woman sat at 
 one corner of the fire-place— the cat at the other 
 — both eying me with feline scrutiny. The 
 girl had disappeared ; and I was satisfied that 
 the whispered interchange of sounds within was 
 between her and the mysterious female. While 
 the girl had sat near me a few minutes before,
 
 the cagot's hut. 163 
 
 muffled up and mute, I could not help from 
 time to time drawing comparisons in my own 
 mind, between her sluggard gesture and posi- 
 tion, and the graceful figure I had seen in the 
 same place the preceding night, its speaking 
 attitude and eloquent contour, as the pilgrim 
 recited his stirring communication. This mental 
 contrast was no infringement of the compact 
 made with the women of the hut ; and as long 
 as I abstained from asking or seeking infor- 
 mation on the secret object of my curiosity, I 
 felt free to cogitate as much as I thought proper. 
 But all my occupation in that way was put an 
 end to by the whispering within — and all my 
 scrupulous forbearance in such cases was put 
 in peril by the increasing loudness in which one 
 of the voices indulged. 
 
 "Good Heavens! can she be scolding?" 
 thought I. " Is she, after all, concealed here 
 for some intrigue of passion, not of politics — 
 some violent termagant, fallen foul at last of her
 
 164 the cagot's hut. 
 
 poor stupid Cagof confidante? — and who knows 
 that she may not have been making free with 
 the brandy bottle !" 
 
 This climax of horrible conjecture thrilled 
 through every fibre of my enthusiasm, and I 
 started up to take refuge in my bed from such 
 fancies, and the still increasing sounds which 
 fed them. The old woman saw and seemed to 
 approve my intention ; and I was hurrying off, 
 when a totally new turn was given to my feel- 
 ings, by the conviction that one or two words 
 which struck upon my ear proceeded from the 
 voice of a man. The sight of a foot-print was 
 not more startling to Crusoe in his desert island 
 than was this sound to me — but from a different 
 cause, for my sensations were purely those of 
 pleasure. I shook off at once the load of mor- 
 tifying misgivings which had begun to oppress 
 me ; and, satisfied that my secret heroine was 
 better employed than I had for a moment fan- 
 cied her, I only hastened my movements to bed,
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 165 
 
 where I was less likely to be an interruption to 
 what was going on, or to acquire any unfair 
 knowledge of it. 
 
 As I hurried into bed, a thousand different 
 notions rushed upon me. The first was, that it 
 must have been the pilgrim, who was come back 
 to the hut; but I abandoned that, from the con- 
 viction, that he would not have avoided seeing 
 me in the first instance, nor have stolen in by 
 a back door or window, as this new visitor must 
 have done. I next thought that it might be 
 some one of the Spanish patriots — perhaps 
 Mina himself — come to this rendezvous to meet 
 his French partisans, for strong notions existed 
 at the time, that the victorious chief would push 
 forward his successes, and even attempt an in- 
 vasion of France. But I abandoned this fancy, 
 as soon as formed — for it appeared too extrava- 
 gant a risk. My conjectures were all, however, 
 much interrupted, and my efforts to keep in 
 ignorance of the strange person thwarted, by 
 the seemingly careless and joyous tone with
 
 166 the cagot's hut. 
 
 which he loudly talked, as if despising conceal- 
 ment. 
 
 My door was of that loose construction, com- 
 mon to such lowly habitations as the one which 
 I occupied. It was impossible to close it, so as 
 to shut out even the imperfect sounds of voices 
 in the other part of the house, and my attempts 
 at humming a tune, talking to Ranger, and 
 haranguing the old woman, were not sufficient 
 to keep me from an occasional involuntary ac- 
 quirement of information as to my fellow occu- 
 pants of the Cagot's hut. The voice of the 
 stranger was manly but delicate — the tone high 
 but not boisterous — the accent good, and the pro- 
 nunciation pure Parisian — a very agreeable con- 
 trast to the rude patois of the Cagot family, the 
 provincial twang of the pilgrim, and the Ser- 
 jeant's Gascon drawl. I was satisfied, at any 
 rate, that though ignorant of the who ? as to 
 the stranger's identity, I might answer the what ? 
 by saying " a gentleman ;" and as to the why ? 
 and the wherefore? of his present visit, I left
 
 the cagot's hut. 167 
 
 their solution to time and his own good pleasure. 
 There was also something in the varied modula- 
 tions of his voice that convinced me he was a 
 young man ; and I had made up my mind, even 
 without other proofs of tenderness, that he was 
 a lover. I set him down for my heroine's hero 
 and mine, and though sometimes unlucky in 
 these allotments of character, I was this time, 
 at least, not wrong. 
 
 The first words I heard in a connected phrase 
 clearly related to myself, and they were proba- 
 bly meant to meet my ear distinctly, as the door 
 of the secret room evidently lay a little open. 
 
 " Yes, yes, my Malvide, you may safely 
 rely on his being no enemy of yours or mine. 
 His aiding to seize that ruffian is sufficient proof 
 — you are justified in your confidence — so let us 
 not dream of dangers, but indulge in hope and 
 
 joy-" 
 
 " Oh, while I have you with me I can ima- 
 gine nothing evil ;" murmured a half suppress- 
 ed voice, and both one and the other blended in
 
 16S THE CAGOl's HUT. 
 
 a confused and tender interchange of sounds, 
 which no doubt spoke volumes to the lovers, 
 but told me nothing. Their garrulous babbling 
 went on with great animation for full an hour, a 
 broken sentence reaching me at intervals, in my 
 own despite, but betraying nothing, for I care- 
 fully avoided the context. But it was clear to 
 me that the lovers were placed in some difficulty 
 and peril more than common, although it has 
 been seen that they seemed agreed to scout all 
 notions of danger. 
 
 Finding it impossible to sleep, I had taken 
 from my knapsack what I may justly call my 
 coimnon-place-book, for it consisted of scraps of 
 all kinds, in prose and rhyme, rough sketches 
 in pencil, and memoranda of expenses; and I 
 was beguiling the time by noting down, as was 
 my custom, some hints for future expansion, 
 when I heard the chords of the guitar I had 
 before observed, swept with a masterly and ani- 
 mating touch, which gave a tone and character 
 to that instrument, that I had only from time to
 
 the cagot's hit. 169 
 
 time heard equalled by some Spanish professors, 
 but never knew approached by a performer of 
 any other nation than their's. 
 
 After several bold and varied preludes and 
 voluntaries, the young stranger, for it was 
 plainly the touch of a manly hand, played With 
 considerable effect some popular Spanish airs, 
 among others, " Riego's March," that most 
 stirring composition, connecting the name of one 
 of Spain's purest patriots, with the splendid 
 actions of what, at that time, falsely appeared 
 to be the Spanish nation. 
 
 While the performer played, my heroine (or 
 rather let me call her Malvide, to prove the 
 better acquaintance of myself and my readers 
 with her), Malvide could not suppress the fre- 
 quent expression of her delight ; and wlun he 
 struck the final chord of the march he had three 
 or four times repeated, she said something, with 
 an air of entreaty, to which he replied, 
 
 " To be sure, to be sure, though my voice 
 has been latterly in a ruder kind of practice." 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 170 THE CAGOT's HOT. 
 
 A new symphony sounded softly from the 
 strings, and a voice of manly melody sung an air, 
 which was to me quite new, though bearing all 
 the character of those Seguidillas, of Moorish 
 origin, which are so peculiar to Spain, and which 
 unite such a harmony of plaintive and simple 
 tenderness. 
 
 Mai vide seemed as much pleased as I was 
 with this new specimen of her lover's talent, for 
 she honoured it with full half a dozen encores ; 
 and as I could not then resist attempting to 
 score it down in my book, I hope I may be 
 excused transplanting it into the one I am now 
 writing, even should it (which I do not be- 
 lieve) have already found its way into print in 
 England.* 
 
 * I have observed that the very air I here intended to 
 have given to my readers, has found its way into one of 
 the late numbers of the " National Melodies," with words 
 which have put me so much out of conceit with my own 
 imitation of the original Spanish ones, that prudence, as 
 well as justice, tells me to omit the song altogether.
 
 THK CAGOT's HUT. 171 
 
 The words are a sort of imitation of those 
 which I caught imperfectly from the performer ; 
 or rather a paraphrase of the ideas, for I could 
 not catch their expression connectedly. 
 
 i2
 
 172 the cagot's hut. 
 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 While I was still occupied in noting down 
 the song, for some time after the voice and in- 
 strument had ceased, my imperfect knowledge 
 of music not keeping pace with the performer's 
 fine execution, I was roused from my task by a 
 gentle knock at the door, which rather startled 
 me, as the old woman always bustled in 
 very unceremoniously. The notion that it 
 might be the stranger, glanced across my 
 mind. " Give yourself the trouble to come in,' 1 
 said I, in the courteous but overstrained parlance 
 of the country, and I sat bolt upright in my 
 bed, to receive my visitor with all due honour ; 
 but down I sank again very quickly, turning my
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. ITS 
 
 face to the wall, and throwing up my shoulder as 
 a protection, when I caught a glimpse of the 
 girl of the house, putting her hooded head into 
 the room. 
 
 "Are you awake, Sir?" asked she, and I 
 thought a titter was mixed with the question. 
 
 " No," answered I, sulkily, rather offended 
 at the impertinence, without considering that 
 my rapid retreat beneath the bed-clothes, was 
 visible enough. 
 
 " I am sorry for it," replied she, almost 
 laughing fairly out, " for there is a gentleman 
 in the house who wished much to pay his respects 
 to you. - " 
 
 The narcete of the girl's tone, and the quaint 
 patois idiom, were of themselves sufficient to re- 
 move my ill humour; but the announcement of 
 the visit I had half anticipated consummated 
 the return of my composure, and I broke cover, 
 as I may call it, still more rapidly than I had 
 sought refuge. 
 
 " Shew him in by all means — he does me
 
 174 THE OACOT's HUT. 
 
 infinite honour — I am broad awake, and shall 
 be enchanted to see him," exclaimed I, in a 
 breath, bouncing out of bed. The girl took 
 flight precipitately, and I commenced dressing ; 
 but before I had made much progress, a bolder 
 knock at the door announced my visitor, and 
 he entered simultaneously with my movement 
 to admit him. 
 
 The moment I saw his face I knew it for one 
 that had somewhere before been familiar to me ; 
 more I did not recollect. It was evident that 
 the recognition was reciprocal, and he soon 
 proved that his memory possessed more retail 
 qualities than mine, which only had the power 
 of wholesale recollection. 
 
 " This is indeed, Sir," said the stranger, 
 putting forth his hand, " an unexpected and 
 may to me prove a fortunate meeting. I little 
 thought, when 1 last had the pleasure of seeing 
 you with our friend Vinaroz, that our next 
 rencontre should be in these wild scenes." 
 
 I shook with much cordiality the proffered
 
 THE cagot's hut. 175 
 
 hand ; for the mention of my friend at once 
 brought to mind that I really had met this 
 young man more than once, a few months be- 
 fore, at his hospitable mansion, near Paris; 
 where was frequently united all that was distin- 
 guished and respectable among Vinaroz's coun- 
 trymen, (for he was a Spaniard,) with much of 
 other nations, that was talented and liberal — 
 he himself was both. Among the many French- 
 men of reputation I was there in the habit of 
 mixing with, several were unknown to me by 
 name, and such was the case with the stranger. 
 His frankness soon put an end to my fears that 
 I had before known his name and now forgot 
 it ; for he continued to speak, after my short 
 reply to his salutation. 
 
 tf Although we have never been formally in- 
 troduced, the house in which we have before 
 now associated, is a guarantee to both that we 
 may freely trust in each other ; but the circum- 
 stances that have thrown us together would 
 have justified the confidence I meant to givt-
 
 176 the cagot's hut. 
 
 you, even when 1 supposed that I had never 
 seen you before. 1 ' 
 
 I did not perhaps quite agree with this gene- 
 rous opinion ; but as I had no confidence to 
 give and all to receive, I did not check his 
 enthusiasm — certain that / could not be betray- 
 ed, and that he should not. I therefore said, 
 for I saw that he waited for my reply, 
 
 " Depend upon it, you are safe in whatever 
 you may say to me. I pledge my honour not 
 to abuse your good opinion, and I shall be 
 happy to be of service to you ; — but I must in 
 candour premise that I am pretty sure I know a 
 good deal of your present purposes." He 
 stared wide at this. " That is," continued I, " as 
 far as they are connected with your visit here, 
 no more. For instance, I know there is a lady 
 concealed in the house, whom you are come to 
 visit, and with whom you have passed the last 
 two hours — but whatever your connection may 
 be I know not, and I have no wish to pry into 
 so delicate a secret."
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 177 
 
 He pressed my hand with warmth in his, and 
 said, 
 
 " You are right so far; I freely confess it. 
 My visit here was to the lovely person whose 
 concealment you have discovered. But I can- 
 not tell you more at present : you know but half 
 the fact; nor can I confide all just now, for 
 reasons arising solely from her feelings — mine 
 would prompt me to tell every thing, for I hate 
 a half confidence, and your conduct in this 
 house entitles you to ours most fully ."" 
 
 " Tray do not go further — " said I; "I am 
 better pleased to know only what 1 do— if at 
 any future time, when you know me better, you 
 and your fair friend may think well of giving 
 me your entire confidence, my self-esteem will 
 be more gratified than would be my curiosity in 
 possessing it now." 
 
 " Well, well, then, 1 ' said he, " since you 
 consent to our reserve, and make yourself a 
 party to it, you must not reproach me hereafter 
 
 i 3
 
 178 the cagot's hut. 
 
 if you find that it has been greater than you 
 approve." 
 
 " I shall freely acquit you of every thing 
 unfair or unhandsome." 
 
 " Good ! the time is fast approaching, then — ■ 
 perhaps to-morrow — when I may require your 
 aid in furthering my happiness and securing her 
 safety. Things are in a distracted state just 
 here — events come on fast and hotly — a crisis is 
 at hand — and my fate is in the balance." 
 
 This was spoken with that air which accom- 
 panies the utterance of things that the speaker 
 forgets are known only to himself — when the 
 mind is abroad, looking widely into " coming 
 events," and enveloped, as it were, in the sha- 
 dows which they cast before them. The stran- 
 ger seemed for a moment possessed with that 
 unconsciousness, the frequent distinction of high 
 minds and ardent spirits. He paused for a few 
 minutes, and he looked as if he held communion 
 with mighty aspirations.
 
 the cagot's hut. 179 
 
 I marked him as he stood. He was scarcely 
 above the middle height, but he did just pass 
 it. He was dark complexioned, and his profu- 
 sion of black hair, whiskers, and mustachios. 
 would have given, perhaps, an air of fierceness 
 to his countenance, had it not been softened by 
 a warm glow upon his cheek, and a brilliancy 
 of eye quite foreign to aught of violence. His 
 muscular form assorted well with the half mili- 
 tary undress, a grey frock coat and vest, black 
 handkerchief, and pantaloons of dark green, 
 edged with scarlet. He wore short boots which 
 shewed marks of rough travelling, and inside 
 his frock I perceived a black belt, but it had no 
 weapon then. 
 
 He soon recovered from the fit of abstraction 
 which had absorbed him, and he accepted my 
 offer of the only chair which the room contained, 
 my sketch-book and lamp being removed from 
 it to the little table. I sat down on the bedside 
 and he spoke : 
 
 " I had almost forgotten you, or rather I
 
 180 THE CAGOTS HUT. 
 
 should say myself, in the vast field of thought 
 which opened suddenly before me ; but I must 
 come back to mere personal considerations — yet 
 that notion is not so narrow as to embrace my- 
 self alone. No, there is one other person com- 
 bined with every feeling of my heart, more than 
 myself, whose safety and well-being is dearer — 
 much dearer than mine— need I point out the 
 person more clearly?" 
 
 " No, no," said I, 51 I want no further clue 
 for the labyrinth of your sensations." 
 
 " 'Tis well — you understand me — and I am 
 satisfied. Every hour that passes is pregnant 
 Avith events that are to us of infinite importance. 
 The mighty struggle now going on, between 
 Reason and Freedom on the one hand, and 
 Bigotry and Despotism on the other, involves 
 us in its career, so intimately and so deeply, 
 that our fate is in suspense till that of Spain is 
 decided. At present all looks well. The good 
 cause triumphs — the really righteous cause — 
 that of Virtue and Justice in all their grandest
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 181 
 
 elements and attributes, against the gross abuses 
 which outrage nature and degrade mankind. — 
 All may continue well — but reverses may be at 
 hand, and the threatening aspect of this frontier 
 army, gives cause for apprehension. Prompt- 
 ness and energy may be required in the mea- 
 sures which I and the object of my cares must 
 take. Aid may be necessary to secure her 
 safety, and that I may find alone from some 
 stranger's hand. I would not compromise you 
 in aught, but I do not hesitate to ask you to 
 hold yourself ready for a day or two, should 
 your time and your health permit, to assist in 
 any step which may become expedient, to serve 
 the lady in question, and which she herself may 
 point out. 1 ' 
 
 " I pledge myself to do so," answered I, un- 
 hesitatingly. 
 
 " You relieve my mind, then," replied he, 
 " from the only fear that could oppress it, in 
 this season of triumph and in this brief and 
 stolen visit of love and happiness. One honour-
 
 182 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 able man from whom she may obtain the pro- 
 tection I may be unable to afford, was alone re- 
 quired — and all that has passed since your arrival 
 here forbids me to doubt that I have found such 
 a one in you." 
 
 I bowed my acknowledgment of the compli- 
 ment, and he shook my hand firmly as he went on. 
 
 " Now then one concluding entreaty, and 
 pray do not take it ill. It is, that you will not 
 seek to discover more of my beloved one's 
 secret than she has already permitted me to di- 
 vulge — that you will not attempt to see her, nor 
 interfere with her in any way, till my return, or a 
 letter from me may authorise your full acquaint- 
 ance — but that you will continue the course of 
 conduct, while you are here, which has already 
 gained you so much esteem and gratitude." 
 
 " I freely promise all that you demand," was 
 my reply. 
 
 " I have nothing more to require," said he. 
 " And now you will excuse my saying, adieu. 
 Time is precious, and it presses fast. Every
 
 the cagot's hut. 183 
 
 moment passed away from my Malvide, is, to 
 my feelings, so much lost. You will not take 
 this ill, but make allowances still greater than I 
 can ask for. Farewell, at least for a while. 
 Before the dawn I must be away from hence. 
 This neighbourhood is alive with dangers — but 
 before I set out I may again disturb you/ to 
 trespass on you with my parting acknow- 
 ledgments, and final request for the protection 
 of her who is so dear to me." 
 
 After the interchange of a few words, he 
 quitted the room ; and I had just laid myself 
 down upon the bed, when he returned. 
 
 " There is one point more," said he, " on 
 which I did not think it necessary to touch, but 
 where political opinions are in doubt, one should 
 not, in these times, take any thing for granted. 
 I might safely make an exception, I think, with 
 regard to you ; but you cannot be offended at 
 my taking the better course, and ascertaining 
 whether we feel alike on the momentous question 
 which now agitates the world."
 
 184' the cagot's hut, 
 
 I was about to reply, but he continued — 
 " Permit me one observation. From the 
 society in which I have been in the habit of 
 meeting you I am quite sure you are on the side 
 of all that is liberal in Europe ; but I remember 
 to have heard you on one occasion express 
 yourself strongly against some of the measures 
 of the French Revolution, and you know how 
 much the present ones of Naples, Piedmont, and 
 Spain, are identified with that. 
 
 *f So much the worse," interrupted I, for he 
 was inclined to continue — " So much the worse 
 for it and them ; as its atrocities are thus 
 brought in full contrast with their splendid 
 moderation, at once blasting it by comparison, 
 and degrading them by contact. Excuse me, 1 ' 
 said I, for he was about to speak, " if I entreat 
 you not to let us commence a political discus- 
 sion. Your time must not be wasted, nor 
 our good understanding endangered. I see to 
 what your inquiries point. You fear that, 
 should we differ in opinion, my conduct towards
 
 the interesting object of your solicitude might 
 
 the cauot's hut. 185 
 
 >f your solicitude mi & , 
 be affected ?" 
 
 He nodded assent. 
 
 " Make your mind easy on that head. Were 
 I the most servile of the Serviles in my political 
 creed, my private conduct would not be changed 
 — and were yours the odious character that I 
 have supposed possible for myself, I would 
 still in this matter act towards you faithfully 
 and cordially. But be quite convinced that in 
 all that is essential we think alike. You love 
 liberty, and hate tyranny — so do I. You 
 wish for triumph, great and lasting, to the 
 liberal cause in Spain— my wishes and hopes 
 are yours. And further let me add, that had I 
 lived at the birth-day of the French Revolution, 
 I should have hailed it with the same enthusiasm 
 with which I glorify the dawn that even now 
 breaks over Spain ; — but should this in its 
 progress sink into the excesses which have eter- 
 nized the infamy of that y I would execrate the 
 one as I do the other. My ardent prayer is,
 
 186 
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 that such may not be the result ; and indeed the 
 example of the past is the best guarantee for that 
 which is to come. Let Spain march on in all 
 the magnificence of her present progress ; and 
 should even overwhelming force throw her back 
 again into the depths of darkness and disgrace, 
 better lie so till the fitting- hour of regeneration 
 arrives, than gain a freedom defiled by crimes, 
 whose brand sinks deeper than that of slavery 
 itself, — a freedom which must disappear in rapid 
 and loathsome extinction, as the gleams of pu- 
 trescency expire in the rottenness by which they 
 are engendered. 1 ' 
 
 Such, or nearly such, were the words, and 
 certainly it was the tenor, of the reply which 
 I made to my unknown catechist. It is not 
 necessary to record his rejoinder, for it did not 
 bear in any way on the course of the events in 
 which we were now parties. He almost imme- 
 diately left me ; and I soon heard him in deep 
 converse with her who was, for the time being 
 at least, his world.
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 187 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 ■ 
 
 Once more left to myself, my thoughts natu- 
 rally reverted to the subject of this lust inter- 
 view. I entered on a train of reflection on the 
 singular chances which had thus again brought 
 into contact two men, not known to each other, 
 even by name, yet between whom the very germ 
 of a casual acquaintance, seemed at once to 
 ripen into friendship ; for I had no reason to 
 doubt the stranger's sentiments towards me, and 
 I could answer for the sincerity of those which 
 he had excited. And thus, perhaps, it is that 
 the best and most solid attachments of life ate, 
 in their very formation, cemented and con- 
 firmed, by some secret sympathy which defies
 
 1S8 the cagot's hut. 
 
 f 
 
 our research, and our ignorance of which makes 
 us marvel at our own facility, and that of the 
 object who so readily admits and returns our 
 regard. And probably the philosophy of prac- 
 tice teaches that thus our friendships should be 
 formed — by impulse, not on calculation — not 
 bartering the best emotions of the heart for a 
 speculative return— not seeking objects for our 
 sympathy, nor choosing them for qualities that 
 really place them out of its range ; but follow- 
 ing the feeling, that fixes our friendships as if 
 by predestined doom — and letting our hearts 
 imbibe the generous flow, like plants that in- 
 stinctively open to the dew-shower which fills 
 them with fruitfulness and bloom. 
 
 Let those who have gone out into the wide 
 field of life on such a search as I have supposed, 
 examine the result of the selections they may 
 have made. Let them recollect the checks 
 which have withered their budding hopes — the 
 disappointments which have chilled their cul- 
 tured expectations : — and then they will per-
 
 the cagot"s hut. 189 
 
 haps repose with fresh delight upon the few yet 
 invaluable friendships which have sprung from 
 chance meetings, and often forced their way 
 through all the obstacles of opposing tastes, 
 opinions, and pursuits. But I must not pro- 
 ceed so illogically as to anticipate the corollary 
 of my argument, while the premises are yet 
 unproved. Rather let me return to the subject 
 of my story, and shew how my connection with 
 its hero led to the digression I have too long 
 indulged in. 
 
 I had, as my readers will allow, no small 
 cause to be pleased with my own sagacity, in 
 having conjectured the hut to be the haunt of 
 some of the persons connected with the political 
 intrigues known at that time to be in progress. 
 This stranger had all but avowed himself to 
 be involved in some such, and I did not hesitate 
 in looking on him as a delegate from the dis- 
 contented French, and the medium of commu- 
 nication between them, and the patriots of 
 Spain. So far I was satisfied as to his political
 
 190 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 character ; but my own opinions on public mat- 
 ters in no way influenced or interfered with the 
 sentiments which led me to regard my new 
 acquaintance as no common one. Accordance, 
 or dissent, on points of this kind, happily inter- 
 fere but seldom with individual attachments ; 
 for true liberality can draw the line between 
 opinions and feelings, and thus separate the 
 public from the private man. 
 
 But I was infinitely more at a loss when I 
 attempted to account to myself for the embar- 
 rassment in which my new friend and his fair 
 companion were involved. I hazarded several 
 conjectures on the subject, which were all at 
 variance with each other, and none satisfactory 
 in itself ; and I put an end to the fruitless in- 
 tricacy of this guess-work, by a fervent prayer 
 that, maid, wife, or widow, my heroine might 
 get safely through her perils, and prove worthy 
 of the guardianship that watched her. 
 
 All this while the night was passing over — 
 rapidly enough, even for me, but how much
 
 the cagot's hut. 191 
 
 faster for the couple with whom the hours were 
 but as moments, yet every moment a long age 
 of bliss — who neither counted the sands in the 
 glass of Time, nor heard the napping of his 
 wings ! The lovers were better employed. They 
 were making; the most of the brief interval 
 snatched from their difficulties, be they what 
 they might; and I fancied the breaks in their 
 murmured conversation to be filled up by those 
 looks and sighs, which speak a language more 
 expressive, and more eloquent, than that of 
 words. 
 
 The moment of separation at length arrived ; 
 it was within an hour of dawn, and the stranger 
 left his mistress's chamber, and came to wish me 
 a hasty farewell. Very few words passed be- 
 tween us. He was evidently affected by the 
 parting which had just taken place — he had, 
 like all lovers in like circumstances, out-staid his 
 time — and he had little to say to me but the 
 repetition of his hopes for my assistance should 
 it be required, and a renewed entreaty, that
 
 192 the cagot's hut. 
 
 until I saw or heaid from him I would not, in 
 any circumstances, approach the secret chamber, 
 nor interfere with its mysterious and interesting 
 occupant. 
 
 I said just enough to satisfy, but not detain 
 him.- My lamp, which had been calculated for 
 the actual duration of darkness, was growing 
 rapidly dim, and promised not to outshine the 
 stars. Its murky beam allowed just light enough 
 to give my visitor a clear passage from my room 
 into the one outside, and I saw him pause a 
 moment at the opposite door, as if he gave so 
 much breathing time to the firmness which he 
 summoned to support his final parting. But a 
 counter-current was at hand to oppose the tide 
 of resolution which he expected to set in. As 
 he stopped thus for a while, with one hand 
 pressed against his head, the other on his heart, 
 the door opened, and the female whom I had 
 seen the night before, less dimly even then than 
 now, came gently from the room, and clasped his 
 manly figure in her arms. The embrace was
 
 the cagot's hut. 193 
 
 mutually firm and fervent. The sobs of the 
 female were answered by soothing tones from her 
 lover, and after a time she retired into the room 
 again, he closing the door, and then girding a 
 sword around him, and fixing a brace of pistols 
 in his belt ; he next flung a short cloak across 
 his shoulders, placed a military looking travel- 
 ling cap on his head, and crossing towards the 
 fire-place was lost to my sight; and I soon 
 heard the old woman rise from her bed and 
 bolt the door, as this adventurous lover bent 
 his way into the dreary paths, which were 
 to lead to purposes and pursuits to me a 
 mystery. 
 
 I lay down again, but scarcely expecting to 
 sleep. Fatigued, however, by my previ< -us indis- 
 position and want of rest, I soon fell into a doze, 
 from which I was awoke by the almost suffocating 
 fumes of my expiring lamp, which I had forgot 
 to extinguish, and which was now dying, in any 
 odour but that of sweetness or sanctity. I arose 
 hastily, took down the piece of board, which 
 
 vol. i. x
 
 194 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 acted the part of a shutter to my window, 
 opened the casement, and put the lamp outside. 
 It was not yet dawn ; the air was not cold, for a 
 mild night had succeeded to the bad and 
 boisterous weather of the few preceding days. 
 I felt relieved by the stream of freshness which 
 seemed to flow into my confined and heated 
 closet; and I no sooner returned to my lying 
 position, than the influence of this new atmo- 
 sphere procured me the sleep which nature had 
 before sought for in vain. 
 
 I slept as if I were never to awake again ; an 
 utter torpor seemed to have seized on me. I 
 neither stirred from one postui'e, nor did a dream 
 ripple the surface of repose, in which my spirit 
 seemed to be steeped. I awoke, however, but 
 it was as if by force. I felt my mind struggling 
 to get free from the sloth which clogged it, and 
 the sense of hearing was the natural conductor 
 through which my brain was acted on. As I 
 gradually came into consciousness, it seemed as 
 if enchantment surrounded me, and held me in
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 195 
 
 its spell. A strain of wild and broken music, 
 came now and then upon the breeze, distant at 
 first, but repeated in louder strains, then dying 
 away in lengthened vibrations, and again return- 
 in£ in short and varied sounds. 
 
 I sat up in my bed, and looked out of the 
 open window. The mists had cleared away from 
 over the ravine, and the rocky mountains at the 
 other side, seemed to have approached the cot- 
 tage by full one half their apparent distance 
 the preceding day. The little hovel which 
 served for a barrack to Serjeant Passepartout 
 and his detachment, stood out in bolder and 
 nearer relief, and every object displayed the 
 effect of the changeful atmosphere of this ele- 
 vated region. I arose, in momentary doubt of 
 all that I saw and heard, for it seemed as if 
 fancy was playing one of its deceptive freaks, 
 and that I still slept. But sight and hearing 
 repeated their evidences of reality. As I 
 stretched out of my window and looked abroad* 
 all the desolate features of the scene appeared in 
 
 k 2
 
 196 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 only a closer monotony ; and I heard in louder 
 sounds the repetition of the music, which I now 
 knew to be bugle blasts, sent back in mimic 
 melody from the hills. 
 
 I at first supposed them to proceed from the 
 station, occupied by my friend the serjeant ; but 
 I soon ascertained them to come from another 
 and more distant quarter ; and I distinctly saw 
 Passepartout and his ten men, without any in- 
 strument of martial music, drawn up as if on 
 parade, with all their arms and accoutrements in 
 full marching order. I hastily threw on the 
 remainder of my dress, and passed by the 
 window out into the garden, from the farther 
 extremity of which, a clear view was to be 
 obtained, not only of the ravine, but of all the 
 surrounding space. To my great surprise, I 
 distinguished upon all the little paths leading- 
 down the hills in the direction of Gedro, a num- 
 ber of men, scattered in small groups or coming 
 singly along. These I at once discovered to be 
 Spaniards, and a little while confirmed my sup-
 
 the cagot's hut. 197 
 
 position that t-hey formed a portion of the army 
 of the Faith, having united their stragglingbands, 
 and being about to re-enter Spain, by the unfre- 
 quented, and , as it appeared, unguarded pass 
 which lay before me. 
 
 There was infinite variety and animation in 
 the scene I . gazed on. The sun shone out 
 brightly on the peaks, and the snow glistened in 
 his rays. Lower down, the dark shadows of the 
 rocks, or patches of pine wood, contrasted with 
 the brightness above ; and, mixed in the sunshine 
 and the shade, were the figures of the Spaniards, 
 of whom I counted above a hundred, in their 
 ragged yet romantic costume, all carrying mus- 
 quets, pikes, or other weapons. Two or three 
 bugles sounded at intervals, calling in the strag- 
 glers to the grand point of reunion, and fre- 
 quently new objects were seen peering forth from 
 the scanty covers of copse or furze, through 
 which they forced a way, to fall in with the more 
 beaten track. 
 
 A party had already halted at the opening of
 
 198 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 the gorge, in which the hut was situate, and just 
 where the noisy waterfall deposited its frothy 
 waves in a basin, from which they flowed in 
 limpid and silent streams into the valley. 
 That seemed to be the rallying point for the 
 assembling Spaniards, and it had all the air of 
 head quarters to these strolling bands. Several 
 mules were standing, heavily laden with baskets 
 and bales of different dimensions ; three or four 
 tents were already pitched; and others were 
 about to be constructed. These were all of 
 rude materials, blankets, carpets and the like; 
 and they formed a clumsy and mis-shapen parody 
 upon a military encampment. A number of 
 monks, women and children, sat or lay upon the 
 ground, some apparently asleep, others eating, 
 drinking, or occupying themselves about their 
 scanty baggage. 
 
 On a rocky elevation about three or four 
 hundred yards in advance of this encampment, 
 but not so far from me, a group caught my 
 attention. It consisted of six or seven persons,
 
 the cagot's hut. 199 
 
 in better and more completely military attire 
 than the rest, who surrounded and seemed 
 earnestly to listen to the observations of one, 
 who differed from them all in costume, and 
 whose height also made him remarkable. This 
 I ascertained to be Father Munoz, in the full 
 habiliments of his order, who had, it appeared, 
 succeeded in his plans for rallying some of his 
 followers, and was now on the point of exe- 
 cuting his daring and desperate project of 
 hostilely recrossing the frontier. Much as I 
 differed from this monk, in principles and 
 opinions, I could not look without interest, 
 upon so striking a specimen of fanatic fervour, 
 bravery, and benevolence ; a strange combina- 
 tion of powerful feelings, with high intellect ; 
 and forming a character, the most extraordinary 
 with which I had ever come in contact. 
 
 The situation in which I now observed him, 
 presented an aspect of peculiar power and 
 variety. He evidently filled the part of military 
 chief, and his functions seemed as various as
 
 200 the cagot's hut. 
 
 they were uncongenial with his age and profes- 
 sion. He appeared to unite in himself all the 
 duties of commander with those of adjutant 
 and quarter-master general combined. At one 
 time, he reconnoitred with his spy-glass the 
 distant heights, then he looked towards the 
 baggage, and instantly one of the surrounding 
 group hastened to the spot, where the bustle 
 announced some movement, in obedience to the 
 orders issued. Again he pointed towards par- 
 ticular points, leading to the pass through 
 which his advance was to be attempted, and 
 detachments of his little force quickly moved 
 forwards, under the direction of some one from 
 the party composing his personal staff. All 
 this seemed effected by an active yet composed 
 attention on his part, and a ready obedience in 
 those who served his orders, indicative of a 
 share of discipline that must have proceeded 
 alone from the respect in which this holy chief- 
 tain was held. 
 
 A strong contrast to his zealous and ardent
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 201 
 
 measures was presented in the lazy and luxu- 
 rious air of his brother monks, who were reclined 
 in indolent enjoyment, if it could be called so, 
 partaking every thing but their trouble with 
 the worn out and wretched women of the party ; 
 or some riding up to the rendezvous, while the 
 females, more delicate, but not so weak, plodded 
 on beside their mules, burdened and bowed 
 down, by their young children, or large pack- 
 ages of clothes or provender. 
 
 Father Munoz having made all his prepara- 
 tory arrangements for his enterprize, with an 
 apparent combination of boldness and caution^ 
 placed his advanced parties at their posts, and 
 assigned to the whole their several stations and 
 order of march ; and next, to my great surprise 
 and no little satisfaction, he quitted his party, 
 and alone took the path which led up to the hut. 
 I could not doubt his visit being meant for me, 
 and I was grateful for this anticipated recol- 
 lection of his patient, while I admired the good 
 feeling that could, at a moment of such impor- 
 
 k3
 
 502 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 tance to himself and his devoted band, prompt 
 a step which could alone, as I thought, have 
 arisen from a pure sense of duty ; and even 
 when I found in a little time that other motives 
 were mixed with that, it did not lessen my 
 esteem. 
 
 The movement most natural to these feelings 
 was to go forward to meet him, and I proceeded 
 to put it into execution. I was about to return 
 to my room, by the way I had come out, namely 
 through the window, no door being visible to 
 me, at the rear of the house. But in looking 
 towards the window, which belonged to the 
 secret chamber, with a punctilious avoidance of 
 a scrutiny that might see through it, I was 
 struck by observing an object, which confirmed 
 my whole mass of former suspicion and con- 
 jecture. This was no other than a small 
 machine, evidently telegraphic, of a construc- 
 tion which I did not understand, but which was 
 garnished with balls and ribbons of different 
 colours, and was actually in busy motion,
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. £03 
 
 worked by hidden hands, and strings from the 
 window, which my scrupulous regard to my 
 promise, prevented my more closely examining. 
 This political or amorous instrument, for the 
 communication of facts or feelings, was quite 
 close to the hut, but so low as not to overtop it, 
 and so slender and small in all its proportions, 
 as to be invisible from a very short distance, 
 without the aid of a telescope — and such I 
 had no doubt was steadily fixed upon it that 
 moment, and perhaps upon me as well, thought 
 I. I am not quite sure, whether or not this 
 last notion had its effect in hastening my retreat, 
 but I very quickly passed into my bed-room, 
 and through it into the kitchen. I was some- 
 what surprised to see it quite tenantless. There 
 "was no sign of any member of the family except 
 the cat, which held its silent watch in the chim- 
 ney corner, beside the unexpired embers of the 
 night, and took no notice of my and Ranger's 
 intrusion beyond the bristling line upon its back, 
 which marked its rising choler— and which, if
 
 204 THE OAGOT"S HUT. 
 
 borne by many a more reasoning, but not less 
 irrational being, would be in a state of perpetual 
 elevation. Had it not been for the silent tes- 
 timony of the little telegraph, I should have 
 believed myself sole occupant of the hut, but 
 although the Cagot proprietors had disappeared, 
 I felt too anxious for the interests of her whom 
 I believed to remain, to allow of my running 
 any risk to her prejudice, by the admission of 
 Father Munoz. I therefore quitted the house, 
 and walked down the path by which he was 
 rapidly ascending. 
 
 I saluted him cordially, but with respect, 
 taking off' my hat, and addressing a few words 
 of welcome, and thanks for the good advice, 
 which had been so effectual in my recovery. 
 He returned my salutation, as if his mind was 
 fixed on other matters ; and when he came close 
 to me, he mechanically stretched out his hand, 
 not to shake mine, but to feel my pulse. While 
 his right hand was thus employed, his left held 
 up his long sabre in its brass sheath, and also a
 
 THE cagot's hut. 205 
 
 crucifix, fixed to a wooden handle of about four 
 or five feet long. A brace of huge horse pistols 
 and a spy-glass were in his belt, which was also 
 filled with rolls of paper stuck thickly into it. 
 His cassock was tucked up all round, as high as 
 his knees, and his long sinewy legs were thus 
 displayed naked, but for the straps of his spur- 
 tilles — and this, with the other parts of his 
 dress before described, completed the marching 
 and fighting costume of this singular chieftain. 
 
 When he had satisfied himself that my pulse 
 was right, that is, supposing that he really 
 thought about it at all, he dropped my hand 
 abruptly, and said to me, look'.ig all the while 
 far above me, and into the distant peaks of the 
 mountains, as I thought, 
 
 " Sir, I am glad you are well. I was desirous 
 to see you, and have my hopes confirmed, as 
 they now are. Nothing more is necessary, but 
 to follow nature and trust in Heaven. And 
 now let me fairly own to you that other motive? 
 besides my good wishes for you, urged my visit
 
 SOS THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 to this hut. Iii the first place, you have, I 
 know, a gun, useless for awhile to you, but 
 which, in other hands just now, might be of 
 infinite assistance to the great cause of religion 
 and loyalty, which I am in the act of serving. 
 You understand me," — continued he, pointing 
 towards his encampment — " Will you lend me 
 this valuable weapon, taking my good faith as 
 security for its safe return, as soon as I have 
 repassed our frontier line, and chastised the 
 rebel bands that would interrupt my progress ?" 
 " My good father and very worthy physi- 
 cian,'" answered I, " as your request is made 
 with candour, I must refuse it without reserve. 
 In the first place — opposed as I am to your 
 attempt, however I may esteem your motives ; 
 anxious for your failure, though I personally 
 regard you; wishing well to your enemies, while 
 they are individually unknown to me — I cannot 
 voluntarily contribute, in ever so trifling a 
 degree, to your triumph and their defeat. In 
 the next place "
 
 the cagot's hut. 207 
 
 .. 
 
 Enough, enough,'" interrupted he, in his 
 lofty tone, and on the same principle I suppose 
 which induced Henry IV. of France to pass 
 over the last eighteen leasons out of nineteen of 
 the mayor of a town, who did not salute his 
 approach with a discharge of artillery, the first 
 being that he had no cannon. " Enough; I 
 admire your frankness, and honour the fair deal- 
 ing which marks your refusal : nor would I 
 accept your gun if your compliance had revolted 
 your conscience." 
 
 " And besides," said I, wishing to soften the 
 absolute rigour of my denial, " you have, it 
 seems, no enemy to contend with, and your fol- 
 lowers appear all well armed." 
 
 " Why, 1 ' answered he, calmly, " my followers 
 are armed, but not xccll. They have had their 
 weapons returned to them from the neighbour- 
 ing French depot ; but let that pass. And so 
 you think my enterprise is without aiffi- 
 culty, and that I shall not be opposed ? Look 
 yonder !"
 
 208 the cagot's hut. 
 
 With these words he arranged his spy-glass, 
 gave it into my hand, and pointed to a distant 
 part of the mountains that lay dark in the shade 
 of Mount Perdu, which towered above all the 
 others. I had no sooner placed the glass to my 
 eye, and levelled it in the direction he designed, 
 than to my utter astonishment I discovered the 
 face of the particular hill I looked at alive with 
 men. My heart throbbed with pleasure, for I 
 knew them at once to be the constitutional force 
 of Spain. 
 
 Some sudden exclamation escaped me, and 
 the monk observed, 
 
 " You see them then ?" 
 
 " I do, indeed," answered I ; " and I advise 
 you, my good father, to retrack your steps into 
 the safe shelter of France, nor venture beyond 
 the bounds that will deliver you to the vengeance 
 of yonder heroes." 
 
 "Their vengeance! seek shelter !" cried he, 
 with energy. " Rather let me hurry on to 
 chastise the rebel crew, and drive them before
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 209 
 
 this consecrated blade, which the most reverend 
 and holy Francis Xavier* himself has blessed 
 and bound around me. 11 
 
 With these words he drew out his blade, a 
 real " toledo," of prodigious length, and of ap- 
 parent corresponding sharpness of point and 
 edge. He swung this formidable weapon over 
 his head, held his crucifix like a standard, high 
 in his other hand, and with his eyes staring for- 
 ward towards the scene of approaching action, 
 he stood a moment in this menacing, and, I may 
 say, appalling attitude. But I had not the 
 least alarm. Had the ruffian Sanchez been so 
 near, I dare say I should have felt very dif- 
 ferently. 
 
 The monk recovered from his warlike reverie 
 in a few minutes, and putting up his blade, he 
 asked me if the family of the hut were all from 
 home ? 
 
 * The prelate alluded to was, I suppose, Francis Xavier 
 Mier y Campillo, Bishop of Almeirai and Inquisitor 
 General.
 
 210 the cagot's hut. 
 
 " The family are all, I do believe," an- 
 swered I. 
 
 " Either you are mistaken," said he, " or 
 some one besides the family is in the house this 
 moment, I think." 
 
 As he said this, he looked through his glass 
 towards the mountain. I made no immediate 
 reply, but I began to feel seriously uneasy for 
 the person whom I tolerably well knew to be in 
 the house. 
 
 " Look once more," said he, " and steadily, 
 at yonder point of rocky appearance, just under 
 that large long patch of snow." 
 
 I pointed the glass as desired, and in a very 
 little my eye rested on a machine of precisely 
 the same telegraphic appearance as that which 
 was so near us. It appeared busily worked by 
 the figure of a man, who stood close to it. I 
 started with surprise. 
 
 " You are astonished ?" said Father Munoz ; 
 " and I am convinced that those signals com- 
 municate with the Cagot's hut."
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 211 
 
 " Why should you think so ?" asked I, in a 
 manner that must have looked very like com- 
 plicity on my part. 
 
 " In the first place," replied he, " because 1 
 can no where else discover or indeed imagine a 
 return of this kind of communication ; and in 
 the second, because I know that the family are 
 in actual understanding with yonder odious 
 enemy. What ! you are incredulous again ? 
 Take the glass once more, and look firmly on 
 that little rugged path, leading up from that 
 gorge to the left, and tell me if you recognize 
 an acquaintance." 
 
 Again I put this magic glass to my eye, and 
 although expecting some new wonder, I was 
 indeed surprised to mark the bent yet active 
 form of the old Cagot woman, trudging up the 
 path, in direct course for the Liberal army, not 
 far out of her reach. 
 
 u 
 
 ' Your glass has indeed taught me something 
 new, for all these matters were to me most per- 
 fect secrets," said I.
 
 212 the cagot's hut. 
 
 " I believe it," replied he ; " and you will 
 not be now surprised if I should wish to examine 
 that hut." 
 
 " Not surprised at your wish, but most un- 
 willing that you should put it into force. I 
 consider myself in some measure the guardian 
 of the house, and all it contains, however un- 
 known to me. I cannot consent to have it exa- 
 mined, but I cannot prevent your entering it by 
 force." 1 
 
 " By force !" exclaimed Father Munoz, " No, 
 not even if I had the right. But we are on 
 French ground, and the right is not mine ; so, 
 be satisfied as to the safety of all that is there, 
 whether friends of your's, or our foes. And now 
 I must hasten to my duty, strong in confidence^ 
 and confident in faith. Adieu, Sir; and that 
 you may know fully the principles which are 
 my impulse and my support, read this.' 1 
 
 He then gave me from his belt a printed 
 paper ; and while I read as follows, he wended 
 his way down the path which led him to his post.
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 213 
 
 " Proclamation. 
 
 " Soldiers and Children in Jesus Christ. 
 
 " By the aid of the Lord, you are about to 
 gain a glory equal to that which your fore- 
 fathers acquired over the impious Moors. The 
 bells of the temple of God have called forth 
 your valour and your love for our holy religion. 
 Ye have taken up arms, and heaven will favour 
 and forward your undertakings. Ye are about 
 to begin your glorious task of exterminating 
 the troops of the line, militia, and constitu- 
 tionalists. Continue firm and zealous in your 
 object, and you are more than a match for these 
 perverse and odious wretches. You will imitate 
 your ancestors, who raised the cross on the 
 Spanish soil, in sign of the total destruction of 
 the Moorish race. A new sect, far worse than 
 the infidels of old, now trample into ruins the 
 sacred temple of the only true faith. If you 
 wish indeed to gain the road to heaven, follow 
 me to victory ; and look on the standard of the 

 
 214 THE cagot's hut. 
 
 crucifix which I bear before you, as the base- 
 ment and guide of your actions upon earth, and 
 of your eternal salvation. 
 
 " Sacrifices are dear to the Lord ! Christians, 
 I place myself at your head, and together we 
 shall triumph ! I lead you on the path to vic- 
 tory ; and our enemies, who are the foes of reli- 
 gion and of Christ, shall perish to a man. Let 
 us swear before heaven, and in presence of the 
 image of God, not to lay down our arms before 
 they be exterminated — the philosophers, the 
 troops of the line, and the militia, one and all ! 
 
 ** Let us cry aloud, and with one voice, and in 
 the name of our Redeemer, Long live the Faith ! 
 long live our absolute King ! — and. for the safety 
 and the glory of these, blood and flames to 
 every Constitutionalist ! 
 
 " Munoz, the General.""
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 215 
 
 ■ 
 
 - 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 While I read this very characteristic speci- 
 men of Christianity as practised, and reflected 
 what it ought to be as professed, following the 
 laudable example of my betters, by letting my 
 commentary far exceed the text in length and 
 obscurity, the reverend and pugnacious author 
 had joined his disciples ; and the bugles sound- 
 ing to arms, the bustle of preparation became 
 general. The fighting men sprang from the 
 earth with alacrity ; the women busily com- 
 menced to repack and arrange the baggage, 
 strike the tents, and load the mules ; while even 
 the ecclesiastical incumbrances showed some 
 signs of activity* as if aroused from their torpor 
 by the inspiration of the scene.
 
 216 the cagot's hut. 
 
 When a pause in the bugle sounds allowed 
 me distinctly to hear the hundred echoes, in 
 which they beautifully died away, a sharper, but 
 not less harmonious strain came from the moun- 
 tain, distant and faint at first, but swelling, as 
 each loud-mouthed cavern caught the tones and 
 sent them downwards. I then knew the spirit- 
 stirring trumpet blasts ; and, as they vibrated 
 around, I seemed to inhale the very breath of 
 the freedom they proclaimed. The bugles from 
 below loudly answered the defying notes. The 
 trumpets again, and more fiercely than before, 
 replied. Blast succeeded to blast, and echo 
 angrily mocked echo, as if the strained throats 
 of the mortal musicians had given sensation as 
 well as sound to animate the voices of the hills. 
 
 During the continuance of this fierce concert, 
 the monk had addressed, and read to his as- 
 sembled followers, the to them inspiring, but, in 
 my view, the impious proclamation. I could 
 not hear his single voice amidst the clangour of 
 loud sounds, but I clearly saw his violent ges-
 
 the cagot"s hut. 217 
 
 tures, at every passage of his extempore speech, 
 or printed production, which demanded parti- 
 cular emphasis. He proved himself in this 
 instance as eloquent as he was zealous and 
 brave, for no sooner had he finished his ha- 
 rangue, than the collected crowd bore testimony 
 to its effect. The monk raised his sword 
 and crucifix on high, and gave a signal shout, 
 which was joined by full two hundred voices, 
 each vying with the rest in force. Prolonged 
 and repeated yells sent the signals of fanatic 
 zeal into the narrowest and deepest recesses of 
 the mountains, and every rock returned the 
 salute in reverberations that reached the skies. 
 The descending bands of the patriots, now be- 
 coming visible in every pass, caught the dving 
 tones, and flung their hoarse shouts upon the 
 vibrating circles of the air, till all the atmo- 
 sphere seemed filled with sounds, as if thousands 
 of aerial sprites were mocking this discordant, 
 vet animating chorus. 
 
 I could scarcely calculate the time passed in 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 these preparatory sounds, which formed an 
 appalling overture to the deadly drama about to 
 be acted. I felt myself so worked upon by the 
 wild and impressive scene, and so interested in 
 the coming contest, that had I been personally 
 involved in its results, I could not have been 
 more alive to the transactions which were pass- 
 ing, or more heedless of the time they con- 
 sumed. 
 
 As the invading party moved steadily up- 
 wards to gain the Spanish ground, the patriot 
 defenders of the soil poured down, and took up 
 their position, at a few hundred yards distance 
 from the French line of demarcation. Serjeant 
 Passepartout, and his ten soldiers stood firmly 
 at their post, their regular position only slightly 
 and occasionally disturbed by an impatient atti- 
 tude or disapproving gesture at some movement 
 of one of the hostile parties. 
 
 During this opening of the enterprize I kept 
 near to the hut, following the movements of 
 the opposing parties, with my anxious glances,
 
 THE CAGOt's HUT. 219 
 
 but turning them frequently towards the window 
 of the secret chamber, in expectation of seeing a 
 female form appear; and as I intently listened 
 to catch the report of the first hostile musket 
 my ear involuntarily turned towards her, whose 
 possible call for assistance I held myself ready 
 to attend. But as the champions of the Faith 
 advanced with apparent resolution, gallantly 
 led on by Father Munoz, and clearly opposed to 
 an enemy of double their number, I could not 
 help feeling for some minutes that interest in 
 the fortunes of the fexc, so natural even when 
 one considers them as foes ; and I went me- 
 chanically down the rugged side of the ravine, 
 my gun in hand, following their line of march. 
 I was really startled after a little time, at seeing 
 my near contact with their rearward platoon, 
 and I was brought to my senses by the shame 
 of thus almost identifying myself with it, on 
 hearing the following chorus to a kind of battle 
 song, which the whole party simultaneously 
 chanted, as Father Munoz, having passed the 
 
 i. 2
 
 220 THE CAGOT S HUT. 
 
 frontier line, struck his standard upon the earth, 
 and sounded the key note of the martial air, to 
 which the wretched words were adapted. 
 
 Murieron los Liberals, 
 Murio la Constitucion, 
 Porque viva el Rey Fernando 
 Con la Patria y Religion! 
 
 Let the Liberals die, 
 
 And their Code let it perish ! 
 That the King, with the Faith, 
 
 And the Country, may flourish. 
 
 Brought to my recollection by the besotted 
 bigotry of this stanza, I stopped short, and re- 
 sumed my proper character of a distant observer 
 of the scene. I sat upon a rock, which gave me 
 an ample view of the hut, and allowed me to 
 mark distinctly the progress of Father Munoz's 
 band, the movements of the constitutionals, and 
 the conduct of Serjeant Passepartout and his 
 neutral party. 
 
 Father Munoz still led the van ; but once 
 within the Spanish territory, he turned round
 
 the cagot's hut. 221 
 
 to his band, and quickened their advance by vigor- 
 ous and inspiring gestures, which were repeated 
 by those close to his person, and who formed 
 his staff. The fighting men intrepidly moved on, 
 and as they came up close to their commander, 
 formed in the order of battle which he traced. 
 But nothing seemed to prove more complete! v 
 the confidence of the whole, than the prompti- 
 tude with which the remainder of the party, 
 monks on their mules, Avomen and children on 
 foot, followed the warriors, not resting on the 
 safe protection of French teritory for the result 
 of the day, but closely joining themselves to the 
 chances of the coming fight. This was, how- 
 ever, not caused alone by their certainty of 
 success, although that was unbounded, but 
 by the advantage taken of it by their skilful 
 leader, for he knew that the generous enenn 
 would rather suffer his advance to the most 
 advantageous mound for his inferior numbers., 
 than oppose it at the risk of injury to the help-
 
 222 the cagot's hut. 
 
 Jess followers, thus apparently, but not actually 
 exposed. 
 
 The ground on which the champions of the 
 Faith were deploying was a plain of small ex- 
 tent, rugged, certainly, for their movements, 
 but smooth in comparison with the rocks and 
 ravines which were around it. It ran alonjr the 
 side of the mountain to the eastward, and lost 
 itself in a gorge of deep and dark appearance. 
 This plain seemed the last accessible pasture 
 ground on our side of the mountain, for the 
 abrupt elevation which bounded it, forbade the 
 ascent of any animals but the wild goat in 
 search of safety from his pursuers, or the men 
 whose love for liberty made them struggle now 
 through its rude obstructions. 
 
 The force of the Constitutionals must have 
 been full five hundred men, but more than half 
 that number, as soon as the exact amount of 
 their enemies was visible, were seen to retreat 
 from the advanced position retained by the rest,
 
 the cagot's hut. 223 
 
 and they retired along the narrow pass which 
 was about to be contested, until they disappear- 
 ed from the scene of approaching action. This 
 was evidently done by the patriot chieftain from 
 a chivalric feeling, founded, perhaps, on con- 
 tempt for his foe : but he ranged and stationed 
 his remaining men with great care, in the 
 heights at each side of the pass, and in a posi- 
 tion which, if defended with courage, appeared 
 to me impregnable. 
 
 This chief was, with others about him, at 
 first seen on horseback, and the skill and safety 
 with which thev managed their small and active 
 steeds, was almost miraculous, and seemed to 
 excuse the exaggeration of the country people, 
 who, vaunting the feats of Mina's cavalry, re- 
 ported them to gallop on the most pointed peaks 
 of the rocks. The person in chief command on 
 the present occasion, was full as conspicuous as 
 was Father Munoz in his important post ; and 
 soon dismounting from his horse, he put him- 
 self on a personal equality with his rival. The
 
 224> the cagot's hut. 
 
 generals seemed to vie with each other in vigour 
 and activity, and I cannot describe the feeling 
 with which I thought that the patriot chief 
 might be Mina himself, or my intense curiositv 
 to obtain exact information on that point. 
 Passepartout and his men remained with steadi- 
 ness on their own ground. The serjeant proved 
 himself on this day a veteran ; and the young raw 
 conscripts under his command, caught the in- 
 spiration of his disciplined demeanour, and kept 
 coolly observant of events, the novel and exciting 
 nature of which must have been a trial to their 
 inexperienced nerves. 
 
 When Father Munoz and his fighting fanatics 
 had reached the foot of the rude heights where 
 the patriots were posted (the monks and women 
 having halted on the plain), a short pause was 
 made. Each man seemed to breathe awhile for 
 fresh energy, to encounter the danger thus 
 so well envisaged by the whole. It was indeed 
 a formidable sight. The patriots seemed in their 
 position quite invulnerable. They were indivi-
 
 THE CAG0x"s HUT. 2£5' 
 
 dually niched in the rocky recesses, from which 
 they had the power of picking out their assail- 
 ants, and sacrificing them one by one, while 
 collectively they might defy the utmost efforts 
 of their foes. Still the latter showed no dastard 
 hanging back ; and when, at their general's 
 command, the bugle at last sounded the signal 
 for firing, a discharge took place, not in regular 
 volley, but in the independent way, called by 
 us " hedge firing,'' such as is practised for a 
 feii-de-joie, every man selecting his object, and 
 firing at discretion. I marked the flashes of this 
 first discharge, heard the sudden and faint con- 
 cussion of the sounds, which fell flattened, as it 
 were, against the rocks ; then followed the pro- 
 gress of the concentrated clouds sent up from 
 every musket, and as they at first enveloped, 
 but, with gradual dispersion, soon shewed the 
 patriots again, I watched anxiously for the re- 
 turn of the deadly salute, as the echoes caught 
 its report, and sent it in distant and irregular 
 repetitions from crag to crag. 
 
 l3
 
 226 the cAd&rH hut. 
 
 But not a shot was returned by the patriots, 
 who stood firmly in their position ; nor could I 
 distinguish that they were diminished by one 
 man. Father Munoz , s bugle sounded " cease 
 firing,' 1 and a momentary silence ensued. He 
 seemed to wait the enemy's fire, but it came not, 
 and there was something inexpressibly awful 
 in the fixed and expectant attitudes of the 
 assailants, waiting for the death they braved, 
 and the statue-like aspect of their enemies, each 
 standing immovably on his rocky pedestal, and 
 not deigning to notice the assault so fiercely 
 given and so unflinchingly received. 
 
 Whatever might be Father Munoz's feelings, 
 he was determined that those of his followers 
 should not flag. He once more raised his crucifix 
 on high, and taking off his hat, he waved it 
 round his head, and uttered just such a shout 
 as had before burst from him. Its effect was, 
 as then, electrical. Kvcry throat of his band 
 was opened out, and a long and loud huzza 
 burst spontaneously from all ; its echoes died
 
 the cagot's hut. 227 
 
 far away, and then came down from the moun- 
 tain-side a harsh and general screech of laughter, 
 that seemed vollied from the bitterest depths of 
 contempt. The unwearied echoes caught the 
 tones, and in their insensible yet living mimicry, 
 they prolonged them from hill to hill, blending 
 with each other the loudest with the feeblest 
 repetitions, in a way so wild and thrilling as to 
 give an air of fiendish mockery to the whole. 
 My blood felt frozen, and every nerve cramped 
 up, as I breathlessly gazed on the immovable 
 men from whom such strange and demon sounds 
 proceeded. 
 
 The fanatics, if as much shocked, were much 
 more moved than I ; for after giving an instant 
 to the rising of their indignant desperation, it 
 burst forth in a torrent of vigorous and varied 
 development. Father Munoz, as usual, gave 
 the signal for this out-bursting. He jumped 
 with furious gestures, stamped, and raved. The 
 whole force of his followers was instantly dis- 
 played in the like antics— the women screamed,
 
 228 the cagot's hut. 
 
 tore their hair, and danced in frantic ecstacy — 
 and even the lazy monks clapped their hands, 
 thumped their breasts, and uttered loud and 
 pious execrations. 
 
 But the insulted warriors did not rest con- 
 tented with these tokens of rage. Their destiny 
 led them forward to a more ruinous demonstra- 
 tion. They rushed one and all against the 
 rocky bulwarks before them, and with straining 
 efforts clambered over every obstacle to their 
 destruction. It was tluir day of doom! No 
 sooner was the whole body of their force fairly 
 entangled in the rocks than a loud shout from 
 above, which seemed to speak both vengeance 
 and victory, was the signal for a shower of pon- 
 derous rocks, torn from the earth by arms new 
 nerved by hate, and; hurled with a deadly 
 accuracy of aim. Nothing could be more ter- 
 rible than the simultaneous diseharge of these 
 savage missiles. The huge blocks of granite, 
 shoved from their resting places, at first rolled 
 slowly down, like animals coiling up their
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 229 
 
 energies for the fierce speed they were about to 
 put forth. Some went on gradually for a time , 
 on the smooth slopes which here and there 
 smiled greenly among the grey and desolate 
 heaps of granite. Others at once bounded off 
 from crag to crag, but a very short space, and a 
 period almost imperceptible, intervened between 
 the desperate setting out of these solid bodies and 
 their rapid crash into thousands of fragments, 
 every one an instrument of death. The view of 
 this silent shower of fate was almost momentary, 
 but it was harrowing. The wretched victims of 
 its coming effects looked towards it — shrieks of 
 terror broke from some, as they flung themselves 
 upon the earth, to be mangled and crushed 
 without an effort — others held up their arms as 
 if such feeble intervention might avert their 
 fate — others more collected shrunk safely down 
 behind projecting rocks — and a few from their 
 stony ambuscades took steady aim, and returned 
 from their muskets unerring answers to the 
 deadly salutation thus sent down.
 
 230 the cagot's hut. 
 
 Three or four of the patriots were hit and fell. 
 Full a fourth of the fanatics were struck to 
 earth. My eye involuntarily fixed on Father Mu- 
 noz, and the group which stood, like him, brav- 
 ing what the bravest might have shrunk from. 
 Several received the bruising or deep-cutting 
 splinters, but the general stood unharmed. He 
 urged on his men with unabated vigour, and 
 such as had survived the shock, and were not 
 disabled, prepared for an attempt to force the 
 heights. The partial execution done by the 
 last discharge gave encouragement to their 
 marksmen, and revenge for their killed or 
 maimed companions enforced the example set 
 by their daring chief. But they fought against 
 impossibilities, and without a chance of success. 
 The patriots, having exhausted their prepared 
 store of rocky missiles, now took their fire-arms 
 into use, and their impetuosity for close combat 
 being not to be restrained, they abandoned their 
 position, and hurried down to meet their foes. 
 
 A more desperate conflict then commenced,
 
 THE CaGOT's HUT. 231 
 
 and bayonets, pikes, and swords, were soon 
 brought into action, as individual exertion and 
 bodily force more particularly characterized the 
 fight. I observed many instances of great 
 bravery in the single combats into which the 
 contest was now divided, but the result was 
 never for a moment doubtful. The patriots on 
 all sides drove their opponents down, and a 
 retreat from their temporary advance was soon 
 general among the fanatics. Father Munoz 
 made almost incredible efforts to rally and re- 
 assure his men. If he gave up a foot of ground, 
 it was only in exertion to restrain the flight, now 
 becoming general. He seemed to seek danger 
 wherever it was thickest, and from him alone 
 the patriot warriors shrunk. At first I thought 
 this was caused by fear of his prowess, but I 
 soon perceived it to proceed from respect for his 
 profession. No man would fight him hand to 
 hand ; and though several of his immediate fol- 
 lowers were wounded, and two or three fell 
 dead beside him, I could see that no musket
 
 232 THE CAGOt's HUT. 
 
 was levelled at his person. Several chance balls, 
 however, as I afterwards ascertained, pierced his 
 hat and the flowing drapery of his robe ; and 
 the brass scabbard of his sabre was contused in 
 more than one place. He certainly escaped 
 enough of risks on this day to strengthen his 
 disciples' belief that he bore " a charmed life.'' 
 
 During the continuance of this sanguinary 
 scene, the women of "the Faith," and the 
 assistant monks, prayed, wept, and screamed by 
 turns. Perceiving at length that the day was 
 lost, they fell back with their frail possessions 
 upon the French territory. They were soon 
 followed by many of the discomfited and dis- 
 abled combatants — but Father Munoz maintain- 
 ed his ground, shifting from rock to rock as 
 each spot appeared susceptible of defence, or 
 while any aid was left to his exertions. 
 
 During the whole affair, the commander of 
 the patriot force was distinguishable not more 
 by his valour than his surprising activity. He 
 bounded from place to place wherever an enemy
 
 THE cagot's hut. 233 
 
 was to be opposed or a friend assisted. On 
 several occasions he joined in personal combat 
 with two or more of the enemy, and his victory 
 seemed half achieved before he struck a blow. 
 He was the mark for many well directed shots. 
 I several times observed the ground ploughed 
 up by bullets close at his feet, or splinters struck 
 from rocks beside him or above his head. He 
 was once wounded, but slightly it appeared, for 
 he merely tore his handkerchief from his neck 
 and bound it round his arm ; and instantly 
 levelling his pistol, fired at the brawny fellow by 
 whom he had been hit. He had a sure revenge, 
 for the fellow, shot through the heart or head, I 
 could not at that distance distinguish which, 
 sprang high from the crag where he had stood — 
 the certain movement following a wound in 
 either of those vital parts — and, dropping dead, 
 he rolled down from rock to rock in frightful 
 succession, his limbs and carcass almost visibly 
 dislocated and defaced, as he hung dangling 
 for a moment on a jagged point, and then wai
 
 S34 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 dashed upon some lower projection. I could 
 not resist the hope which flashed upon me that 
 this mio-ht be the ruffian Sanchez, or at least 
 that he had fallen, for whenever he came across 
 my mind a presentiment of ill seemed coupled 
 with the recollection. 
 
 As the retreating fanatics came again across 
 the frontier line into France, they were severally 
 disarmed by Serjeant Passepartout and his men, 
 and I thought I could distinguish in their 
 abruptness the contemptuous dislike which even 
 the partial bravery of the vanquished was not 
 sufficient to entirely remove. As soon as they 
 had given up their arms, these outcasts, thus 
 promptly disbanded, disposed of themselves 
 with all the vagabond recklessness which I had 
 observed at my first meeting with them. A few 
 stood, sullenly watching the fruitless struggle of 
 their gallant chief, who called on them in vain. 
 Others, most of them wounded, joined the 
 monks and women, who wept and wailed loudly 
 as they applied rude remedies, and staunched,
 
 the cagot's hut. 23-5 
 
 or bound up their hurts. A few fled up the 
 gorges of the hills, apparently ashamed of their 
 too easy defeat; and I was only withheld from 
 inquiring of them the name of the patriot chief, 
 by the fear of insulting and irritating their 
 already goaded feelings. Some lay down in the 
 ravine by the side of the rivulet, as it would seem, 
 to die. Not one came near the hut ; and my 
 surprise at their avoiding this shelter where they 
 might have expected aid, was not removed till I 
 afterwards learned that Father Munoz had most 
 peremptorily commanded his troops to hold the 
 hut inviolate — and he was thus implicitly obeyed, 
 even in defeat and ruin. 
 
 As the fugitives came towards me I could 
 plainly distinguish their features, and I recog- 
 nised several of those who had been my fellow 
 lodgers two days before at Gedro. I could 
 have well enough occupied myself in reading 
 the varieties of character displayed in the diffe- 
 rent expression of their countenances, from indig- 
 nant rage to hardened indifference, had not my
 
 236 the cagot's hut. 
 
 attention been particularly fixed on one, whom 
 I instantly knew to be Sanchez. A creeping 
 sensation, such as some people feel at the sight 
 of particular reptiles, seemed to curdle through 
 my veins as I gazed on this object of my abhor- 
 rence. I saw him lie down behind a rock, which 
 intervened between him and the foes he ran from 
 as well as the friends he had forsaken, but which 
 allowed me an ample view of his figure, every 
 movement of which was now familiar to me. 
 
 I had frequently during the last two or three 
 eventful hours, forced my eyes from the scene 
 on which they appeared rivetted, to look round 
 at the house I was so well inclined, but so 
 little able, to protect, had injury been attempt- 
 ed. But at each glance, while no danger really 
 existed, I could see no object on which hostility 
 might be practised. Now, however, when this 
 desperate and already detected ruffian, over- 
 flowing no doubt with venom, and projecting 
 revenge, came within reach of harm to the hut 
 and its one inhabitant, I saw, as I turned mv
 
 the cagot's HUT. 237 
 
 watchful gaze abruptly round, the girl of the 
 house, in her usual dress, standing in the garden, 
 and close to the little telegraph, which she 
 grasped with one hand, while with the other 
 she waved a silken flag, in animating gestures 
 of victory and welcome. 
 
 Where has she been ? How has she come 
 here ? Was she with her mother on the mission 
 to the patriots ? Did she remain in the secret 
 chamber? And where is the mysterious fe- 
 male? All these were the quick and self-put 
 questions of my brain, which came in a simulta- 
 neous and unanswered rush. My eye then 
 turned with inquiring rapidity across the ravine 
 towards which the signal flag was waved. 
 There I saw a scene of incomplete and perplex- 
 ing information — but giving, with a startling 
 discovery, a promise of an instant and ample 
 denouement. 
 
 The last of the defeated fanatics— and that 
 I need hardlv say, was no other than Father 
 Munoz, — was disarmed, and had repassed the
 
 238 tiik cagot's hut. 
 
 frontier. He was deprived of his sabre and 
 pistols — and he slowly retired— his crucifix held 
 to his breast — his hands clasped together — his 
 head down. The patriots were collected in an 
 irregular group, forming a broken crescent, in 
 about the centre of which stood their victorious 
 leader, with the other officers, ^ho had sup- 
 ported him so well. The trumpets blew a 
 flourish ; a thrice repeated shout drowned the 
 exulting notes; and their long huzzas and vivai 
 proclaimed the hero's fame, to all who listened* 
 " Long live Don Melchior !" " Long live De 
 Trevazos !" " Lono; live the Avenger !*" were 
 the enthusiastic tribute to the conqueror's praise 
 ■ — and to me the proud announcement of the 
 hero I had already welcomed as my friend. For 
 as he gracefully removed his plumed cap, and 
 displayed his ardent and animated countenance, 
 I could not be mistaken, and I learned the truth, 
 which, I dare say, my readers need not now be 
 told, that it was no other than the stranger 
 visitor of the preceding night, who now stood
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 239 
 
 displayed in all the pride and glory of suc- 
 cess. 
 
 My quick-glancing gaze flew back in search 
 of her, who should, I thought, have been the 
 first to hail, and hallow by her presence, the 
 triumph of the scene. My eye only rested on 
 the Cagot costume of the girl, waving her flag, 
 and hurrying down the rugged path. And 
 when again I turned my looks to meet the 
 hero, they caught the intercepting form of the 
 crouched ruffian, who looked up towards the 
 scene round a projecting elbow of the rock, by 
 which he was reclined. I marked the impatient 
 acknowledgments of Don Melchior, as he bowed 
 his thanks to his gallant band. But placing one 
 hand on his heart, he pointed the other towards 
 the hill where I stood, and he followed the 
 direction thus given to his soldiers' observation, 
 with a quick and active step, attended only for 
 a few paces by Serjeant Passepartout, to whom 
 he delivered his swoixl and pistols, and who 
 seemed, as he accepted them, to apologize to
 
 240 the cagot's hut. 
 
 the gallant owner of the weapons he deserved so 
 well to wear. 
 
 I could not restrain the movement of joy, 
 which made me struggle over the rude obstacles 
 that kept me from the ravine. My eye never 
 quitted Don Melchior for one moment, and it 
 was not till I saw him pass by the rock where 
 Sanchez lay concealed, that a pang of appre- 
 hension for his safety flashed fiercely across my 
 brain, I stood for an instant arrested on the 
 spot — and it was in vain, that I recovered myself 
 and stirred, as I saw the crouching villain rise, 
 and follow, with bent body and long strides, the 
 victim he had too surely marked. 
 
 Don Melchior came quickly on with light and 
 unsuspicious step, and the firm, yet cautious 
 tread of the murderer fell unheard behind him, 
 on the mossy slope he traversed. The moment 
 I perceived his perilous situation I shouted with 
 all my might, at once to warn him, and scare 
 the assassin ; but he looked up towards me, and 
 returned the shout with a joyous expression, for
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 241 
 
 the welcome he supposed it to convey ; and the 
 unruffled assassin, only raised his arm the higher 
 that the blade it wielded might more steadily 
 fall upon his destined prey. 
 
 Joined to my shout, a piercing scream burst 
 from the path close to my side, and the hood of 
 the Cagot girl hung floating from behind that 
 beauteous head, whose thick curled ringlets I 
 could not fail to recognise, as a light form 
 bounded past me. Don Melchior stood for a 
 moment transfixed in surprise, at the sounds of 
 alarm, and at the same instant Passepartout and 
 his men, catching the figures of the hero and 
 his assassin, which the rock had till then con- 
 cealed, joined in the loud and terrified signal 
 which I and the frantic girl had raised. Don 
 Melchior, startled and perplexed, just turned his 
 head half round, when Sanchez, with one fierce 
 exclamation, "We have met!" plunged his 
 murderous knife with a downward slope, into 
 the hero's side. Don Melchior tottered from 
 him, and was falling — when I, with an instinc- 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 the cagot's hut. 
 
 tive effort, raised my gun to my shoulder, and 
 having covered the villain, was in the act of 
 putting my finger to the trigger, when a flash 
 from Serjeant Passepartout's carbine, arrested 
 the movement, and before the report reached 
 my ear, the coward lay writhing on the earth 
 in the agonies of an immediate and far too easy 
 death. 
 
 How often, in the course of this recital, have 
 I wished that my pen could fly across the page, 
 and trace, in words of flaming speed, thoughts 
 and events as rapid and as hot as the lightning. 
 But now I seem to wish a long and lingering 
 pause : for how describe the accumulated burst 
 of feelings which followed the assassin's stroke ! 
 " To fall thus':' was, I believe, the bitter 
 thought that struck all those who saw and who 
 could think. The gallant comrades of his glory, 
 the astonished and delighted witnesses of his 
 courage, his own troops, Passepartout and his 
 soldiers, and myself, all saw and felt no doubt 
 alike. But there was one among us yet who felt
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 243 
 
 herself at that moment as alone in life, and whose 
 heart appeared to be pierced by the stroke so 
 steadily aimed at her lover's. She had force to 
 fly to the spot, such force as makes the body writhe 
 when severed from existence. She reached her 
 lover, wild, screaming, and exhausted. He 
 had fallen to the ground, and with out-stretched 
 arms he received the beauteous form which sunk 
 upon his, to staunch with senseless weight his 
 wide and gushing wound. I was in a moment 
 one of the group that surrounded this pair, of 
 whom we could scarcely imagine which was the 
 nearer to death. 
 
 The mixed feelings of grief, astonishment, 
 and horror, agitated every bystander around 
 me, but in addition to these I had to suffer that 
 wild and still incredulous conviction that made 
 me certain of the fact discovered to me, but 
 doubtful of my own intellect. 
 
 The female before me was, I saw it, the 
 Cagot girl. Her dress, her height, her whole 
 appearance left no possibility of doubt, but her 
 
 m 2
 
 244 the cagot's hut. 
 
 form of symmetry, her face of beauty, how 
 could these be there ? and when, with a con- 
 vulsive spasm, she tore open the firm-clasped 
 capulet, and exposed her neck and heaving 
 bosom, what was my amazement to see, instead 
 of the gross deformity I had in fancy loathed, 
 perfection that might invite a sculptor's hand, 
 and make his heart thrill as he gazed. 
 
 I hastily threw her cloak and hood over this 
 rich field of beauty, which I felt to be already 
 violated by the rude yet admiring stare of the 
 astonished observers.
 
 the cagot's hut. 245 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 For several minutes the bodies lay untouched 
 and motionless. An attempt to clasp his un- 
 conscious mistress in his arms was instantly fol- 
 lowed by a fainting fit, which rendered the fallen 
 hero as insensible as she. The blood gushed 
 freely from his wound, and covered her pro- 
 fusely, and had it not been for this streaming 
 evidence of life, their pallid faces and fixed 
 forms might have seemed silently to claim the 
 shelter of a grave. 
 
 A stupifying cloud appeared to hang over us 
 who stood by. The spectacle before us, would 
 at any time, even by a train of preparation, 
 have been enough to have produced a bewildering
 
 246 THE CACOTS HUT. 
 
 inaction, but the violence of the shock from 
 triumph to despair, the sudden wrenching of 
 the joy which seemed rooted in all hearts— the 
 instant revulsion of feelings, all flowing in 
 channels the most opposite to the point towards 
 which they were thus strained, this was too 
 much for even manhood to sustain, and a group 
 of agonized and powerless observers Avas the 
 result. 
 
 I believe I was one of the first who shook off 
 this lethargy, and I was aroused only by the 
 impetuous grief of one of Don Melchior's sol- 
 diers, who, coming with others to the spot, 
 would have rushed towards the body of his 
 adored commander, to strain it in his arms. 
 This abruptness shocked me, I feared that the 
 life blood would have ebbed away in the violent 
 movement of the body ; and, as I interposed 
 between it and the distracted soldier, Father 
 Munoz's figure caught my eye, as he was in the 
 very act of dressing one of his wounded fol- 
 lowers, not a hundred yards from me. Salvation
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 247 
 
 seemed within my glance. I pushed my way 
 right through the crowd around me; and just as 
 I cleared the lane of men, and stepped out into 
 the open space, my foot actually touched, antl 
 had nearly fallen upon the outstretched corpse 
 of the atrocious Sanchez. I shrank back with 
 a spasm of disgust. The wretch betrayed in 
 death what he might have, when living, suc- 
 ceeded to conceal. His face was bare, and 
 his upturned eyes, and the curl upon his lip, 
 spoke volumes of malignity and baseness. A 
 thick black stream flowed from his temple, 
 where the bullet had entered, and added to 
 the ghastly expression of his colourless cheek. 
 I sprang across the corpse, and was in a few 
 moments close to Father Munoz. 
 
 He looked up at me, and seeing the evident 
 expression of distress which prompted my 
 breathless entreaty that he would accompany 
 me, he paused for a moment, and laid down the 
 half bandaged leg of the sufferer he was reliev- 
 ing
 
 248 the cagot's hut. 
 
 " What is the nature of the wound ?" asked 
 lie. 
 
 " A desperate thrust of a knife," cried I, 
 " close to the heart, if heaven has kept that 
 unhurt."" 
 
 " A knife ! that cannot wait, this may ;" re- 
 turned he, with animation, and adding a word 
 or two of comfort to his patient, he hurried with 
 me along the track I had just left behind. He 
 did not ask me whom I had summoned him to 
 attend. In his evident anxiety to afford aid, he 
 not only omitted to inquire whether it was 
 officer, or private, friend or foe ; but he also 
 seemed to forget the defeat and disgrace under 
 which he himself laboured, proving the noble- 
 ness of his nature, by the triumph of genuine 
 benevolence over the most powerful prejudices 
 and passions of the mind. 
 
 I had seen enough of this extraordinary man, 
 to be convinced that the rank of my friend 
 would in nothing influence his attentions. But 
 I was not sure of the effect which a knowledge
 
 the cagot's hut. 249 
 
 of his opinions might produce ; and I trembled 
 at the risk I was about to run in naming at once 
 the wounded man. I felt it, however, but just 
 to do so towards him, in order that I might be 
 enabled to combat the repugnance which was 
 naturally to be excited in the priest ; and to- 
 wards the priest himself, as a matter of delicacy, 
 not to surprise his still festering feelings, by the 
 too abrupt view of his late successful rivals. 
 
 There was not a moment to lose. 
 
 " Father Munoz," said I, " I have not at 
 such a time stood on points of form. I have 
 ventured to put you to a severe trial. The man 
 whom you are about to see, but whom I fear 
 you cannot save, is no other than Don Melchior 
 de Trevazos." 
 
 " What ! Don Melchior ! God be praised F 
 ejaculated he ; and my heart sunk with dis- 
 appointed grief to hear the expression, and in 
 dread of the refusal of assistance which I ex- 
 pected to follow it. 
 
 N 3
 
 250 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 " God be praised !" reiterated the monk ; 
 " you said he still lived ?" 
 
 " I fear to ask the question now," said I, 
 <k but he was not dead when I left the spot." 
 
 " Then I may be in time to save him — or, at 
 least, to breathe the words of holy truth into his 
 car, and give comfort to his parting spirit ; let 
 us hasten to him !" 
 
 These reassuring words were scarcely finished, 
 when we reached the place where the wailing 
 Spaniards, with Serjeant Passepartout and his 
 men, stood closely encircling the still senseless 
 bodies of Don Melchior and Malvide. At sight 
 of the monk, his patriot fellow countrymen made 
 way for him one and all, with every demonstra- 
 tion of respect, inspired by his triple character 
 of general, priest, and doctor. When he reached 
 the centre of the circle, and saw the afflicting 
 spectacle, he started with a movement which 
 seemed the combined effect of astonishment and 
 horror. AH the austere collcctedness of his na-
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 251 
 
 ture was overpowered by the scene ; and, to the 
 amazement of myself and the other spectators, 
 the rigid priest, the stoical physician, the in- 
 trepid warrior, threw himself upon his knees, 
 bent low over the bodies, and giving a full vent 
 to his feelings, which were a mystery to all 
 around him, he burst into a passionate flood of 
 tears. He made no affected efforts to conceal 
 his emotion, but for some moments sobbed aloud 
 in speechless anguish. His recovery from this 
 gush of feeling was as instantaneous as had been 
 the attack. He started up quickly, and with a 
 bitter and self-reproaching tone, exclaimed, 
 " Good God, what am I about ! — while he is 
 dying — and she ! Heaven forgive this last and 
 worst exposure of criminal anguish !" 
 
 With the utmost promptness and self-com- 
 mand, he commenced the operations of his sur- 
 gical skill, anxiety of the deepest kind marked 
 upon his countenance, where the violent traces 
 of some fierce conflict of passions were stamping 
 their deep but fugitive imprint. It Beemed ai
 
 252 Tin: cagot's hut. 
 
 if his mind was separated into distinct parts — all 
 the faculties of judgment and exertion bearing 
 on the immediate objects of his case, while the 
 wild emotions of personal feeling swept like a 
 hurricane through his brain. So, at least, 1 
 read the convulsed expression of his face and 
 frame, and the sequel will prove that I read 
 rightly. 
 
 Father Munoz had, in the first instance, to 
 give a divided attention to the senseless pair be- 
 fore him — but he gave it as though he felt them 
 to be as one. He promptly but steadily seized 
 Don Melchior's wrist, and felt his scarcely beat- 
 ing breast. Almost, at the same instant, he 
 took Malvide's fair hand in his, and I plainly 
 distinguished the trembling of his arm while he 
 counted the faint pulsation of hers. Without 
 inquiries from those around him as to the 
 causes of what he saw, he appeared to read what 
 had passed in the evidence before him, and he 
 applied himself without hesitation to give aid 
 where assistance was most important.
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. £5 } 
 
 I cannot pretend to recollect the means of 
 relief which he applied to Don Melchior. What 
 styptics he employed, or how he treated the 
 wound, are points of little importance to the 
 reader, and were not, even at the moment, at- 
 tended to by me. It was enough for me to 
 observe, that various accessories to Father 
 Munoz's skill were contained in the well filled 
 cavities of his leathern girdle, which held, besides 
 his prayer-book, and the thick folds of his pro- 
 clamation, some instruments of surgery, with 
 two or three phials and rolls of lint, plaster, 
 and bandage. From this assortment he chose 
 whatever he thought most suited to the case ; 
 and such was my confidence in his skill and his 
 integrity', that I felt neither apprehension as to 
 the first, nor doubt of the latter. In his hands 
 I considered Don Melchior as mar to a chance 
 of safety, as was consistent with his apparently 
 desperate state. My immediate Observation 
 turned therefore to the other object, which so
 
 254 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 irresistibly shared without weakening the deep 
 interest excited for the unfortunate chieftain. 
 
 Scarcely had the monk's still sensitive fingers 
 loosed their hold of Malvide's arm, when she, 
 like some instrument in which vibration had 
 been awakened by the touch, gave signs of 
 returning animation. A shivering movement 
 told that the nerves were newly strung ; and 
 the dawn of reviving nature broke, in a streaky 
 flush, upon her pallid cheek. Her quivering 
 lip and trembling lid, rising at once, as if to 
 take in air and light, shewed the instinctive 
 struggle of mortality to cling to life ; and the 
 awakening of the mind was almost instantly 
 perceptible, in the sudden opening of eyes and 
 mouth, the distension of nostril — that membrane, 
 as eloquent as either feature— the incredulous 
 stare, as memory told what had passed— the 
 hand pressed against the brow to feel if sense 
 were there — the abrupt start and half articulate 
 scream, while reason's fully risen orb flashed its
 
 the cagot's hut. 255 
 
 maddening beam upon her. Recollecting the 
 fulness of her misery, she turned her looks 
 upon her lover, and withheld from flinging her- 
 self upon his bleeding body, by the dread of 
 interrupting the monk's benevolent care, her 
 emotion burst forth in one of those suppressed 
 and suffocating screams, so terrific to the hearer, 
 and which seemed to rend the utterer's heart. 
 
 Her countenance was a picture of inexpressible 
 agony, as her glance fell alternately upon Don 
 Melchior, and her own dress, which was covered 
 with his blood. She knelt and rung her hands. 
 She did not speak, as if the fear of agitating 
 him overpowered the natural wish, at such a 
 time, to let her heart overflow in words. But 
 her lips quivered convulsively ; her eyes were 
 raised at times, and then, for an instant, closed ; 
 and she, more than once, seized her blood- 
 stained capulet, and hugged it with frantic- 
 energy, as though she thus enfolded to her 
 breast all of him which she dared venture to 
 embrace.
 
 %oG the cagot's hut. 
 
 It was not certainly a fitting moment for a 
 critical examination of the interesting girl ; and 
 even now I wonder at the strange perversity of 
 feeling which prompted me to enter upon such 
 a task. But such was the combined effect of 
 admiration, pity, and surprise, that I forgot for 
 awhile every more important consideration, and 
 I began to observe the object that should have 
 inspired them with as minute a scrutiny as one 
 exercises in a ball-room, or on a race-course. I 
 could scarcely believe my eyes — those perjured 
 evidences, which so lately told me that this 
 heroine of mine was lame and loathsome, and 
 which now testified to her surpassing grace and 
 beauty. She was, indeed, most beautiful ; and 
 her anguished movements shewed sorrow in such 
 subdued and natural grace, as might have put 
 joy's fantastic antics to the blush. 
 
 There are various kinds of female beauty, as 
 all the world allows ; and each in its turn con- 
 sidered the most lovely. The rich red bloom 
 of health, the pallid tint of grief, the azure or
 
 THE CAGOTS KIT. ~57 
 
 the hazel eye, curls of light brown, or ringlets 
 of deep jet — which is admired the most, or 
 which is the most to be admired ? While each 
 makes the assortment that he fancies best, I 
 may, perhaps, be suffered to express my notion 
 on a point which ever has held, and ever will 
 hold, mankind in a state of most lucky dis- 
 
 agreement. 
 
 To my mind, variety in the face of a lovely 
 woman, as in that of nature's self, is the greatest 
 possible charm. To suppose loveliness in a 
 woman, is to admit that her features, skin, and 
 hair are all goo d. But these are individually 
 unimportant points ; for it signifies little whether 
 a complexion be white or brown, a nose Roman or 
 Grecian, an eye black or blue. Neither is it by 
 those faces where all may be called in keeping, 
 that we are most pleased. If we are told that a 
 woman is beautiful aadjair, we expect to see 
 light eyes, light hair, brilliant skin, and rosy 
 cheeks. If a brunette is announced, dark locks, 
 dark eyes, and dark complexion, spontaneously
 
 258 the cagot's hut. 
 
 associate themselves in our minds. We see 
 each object agreeing with, or even surpassing 
 our expectation ; we mark and marvel at the 
 regularity of nature's master-pieces, and Ave 
 acknowledge each beautiful of its kind. 
 
 But this is different far from that amazed de- 
 light with which we gaze upon the rare, yet to- 
 be-met-with, specimens of beauty, still more ex- 
 quisite, by which we are every moment taken by 
 surprise, and where wonder forms the chief spell 
 of our fresh springing admiration : where we 
 see black folds of glossy hair shrouding a 
 snow-white brow, and bright blue eye : or 
 where an orb of hazel, or still more eloquent 
 grey, beams on a cheek of bloom ; or where 
 auburn ringlets curl round an eye of black, 
 whose long dark lashes fall on a colourless 
 cheek, from which early care has too soon 
 plucked the roses. 
 
 These are a few of the many incongruous yet 
 fascinating combinations which nature loves to 
 effect, baffling our conjectures as to what is beau-
 
 the cagot's hut. 25{ 
 
 tiful, and leaving perfection as undefinable as 
 it is various. 
 
 Malvide's was, to my taste, a sample of beauty's 
 best variety. I cannot venture to describe the 
 rluctuatino: charms of her countenance, which 
 displayed an ever shifting sameness of loveliness, 
 like the moving surface of the sea, each instant 
 changing, but eternally the same. Her hair was 
 dark ; her brow, and cheek, and bosom brightly 
 fair ; her eyes deep grey — long liquid shapes, not 
 starting out as if to peer into the world, but 
 retiring rather towards the brain, from which 
 they drew their intellectual beams. Her mouth 
 — that next best feature of the face, whose every 
 movement telegraphs the mind, ere the tongue 
 can speak its bidding — was neither small nor 
 large, a happy medium between primness and 
 expanse; lips bedewed and ripe, sufficiently 
 apart to let the soft breath keep them moist, 
 and the white teeth shine between ; the nether 
 one indented towards the chin, and the upper 
 softly marked with the silken down, which is as
 
 260 THE cagot's hut. 
 
 essential to the beauty of a dark haired woman, 
 as the fringe that gives expression to her eye, or 
 the ringlets that adorn her brow. 
 
 I can go no further in this sketch. Let the 
 retail dealers in beauty each fill it up as he may 
 choose ; and, with such elements as I have de- 
 scribed, I defy any or all to convert Malvide 
 into aught but what she was, a beautiful — a 
 perfectly beautiful girl. 
 
 While I was employed in collecting the ma- 
 terials for my most imperfect portrait, let it not 
 be supposed that Father Munoz was indifferent 
 to the subject of his care. And I think my 
 readers will already have acquitted me of a 
 rising charge of levity at such a time, by antici- 
 pating the monk's announcement that Don Mel- 
 chior's wound was not, in the least degree, dan- 
 gerous. Such was, in fact, the happy in- 
 telligence promptly announced to the anxious 
 lookers on. A rib — but heaven knows which, 
 and anatomists may inquire — those natural bul- 
 warks which so often thwart the deadly designs
 
 the cagot's hut. 261 
 
 of blade and bullet, had interposed between 
 the knife of the assassin and the hero's life. The 
 former was turned aside, the latter saved ; and 
 the rush of blood which caused us such alarm, 
 was, perhaps, the best token of the intended 
 victim's preservation. 
 
 When the salutary pain inflicted in the dress- 
 ing of Don Melchior's wound brought him to a 
 sense of his suffering and his actual state, his 
 first exclamation was " Malvide !" and he wildly 
 looked around for her on whom he called. His 
 eyes fell upon Father Munoz's face, and a sur- 
 prised ejaculation escaped him. 
 
 " What do I see?" cried he. " Is this possi- 
 ble — you, Mazaredo ! my long lost friend i" 
 
 " Hush, hush !" replied the monk. " It is, 
 indeed, no other than your old friend ; but this 
 is no time for explanation. You are hurt, but 
 not badly ; repose is all that is required to your 
 rapid recovery. Do not speak another word." 
 
 " But this dress, this tonsure ?" for the monk's 
 bare head shewed the mark of his calling.
 
 262 the cac;ot"s iict. 
 
 " ,r Tis even so, Mclchior/' said, or rather 
 sighed he, as if one passing feeling of regret 
 rose upon him in his own despite. 
 
 "Ah, my own Mai vide !" exclaimed Don 
 Melchior, his fugitive glance having rested upon 
 her. 
 
 " Not a word, not a word, my beloved, 1 " said 
 she, pressing her hand against her own lips, aa 
 if the breath of his existence lay within them. 
 
 Scarcely a whisper broke from one of the 
 many anxious observers, until the wounded 
 object of their care and caution was safely laid 
 in bed in the secret chamber of the Cagofs hut, 
 which had been so long the place of shelter, 
 rather than repose to the beauteous tenant, who 
 now resigned her refuge, and threw aside the 
 mystery that hung round her and it.
 
 THE CAGOTS HUT. 2G3 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 I cannot pretend to strict accuracy of dates, 
 but for four or five days Don Melchior's con- 
 valescence went regularly on, and in less than a 
 week he was able to leave his bed. I know not. 
 if his rapid recovery was to be attributed to the 
 slightness of his wound, the goodness of his 
 constitution, or the skill of his physician. But, 
 be the chief cause what it might, I am sure that 
 the care of his nurse was not the least. Most 
 ably was she seconded by the assiduous old 
 Cagot woman, who shewed, on every occasion 
 that required it, an intelligence that went as far 
 to remove my belief in the incorrigible dull- 
 ness of her race, as her benevolence went to
 
 264 THE cagot's hut. 
 
 confirm my conviction of their susceptibility to 
 the best feelings of humanity. And I may 
 perhaps thus passingly be allowed to hope, that 
 should any one, led by these pages to visit this 
 excellent old being in her wild retreat, find any 
 difficulty in discovering her, they will let their 
 benevolence take place of their curiosity, or 
 eo hand in hand with it, and seek out other 
 objects among the proscribed race, who will, I 
 venture to predict, repay, at least with gratitude, 
 all the kindness that may be shewn them. 
 
 Don Melchior being installed in the whilom 
 secret chamber, Malvide became the temporary 
 tenant of my closet, while I shifted my quar- 
 ters to the inn at Gedro, and took possession of 
 the same moiety of a room which I had occu- 
 pied on the first night of this adventurous 
 epoch. My days were passed entirely at the 
 Cagot's hut, and the frequent companion of my 
 walk bacWards and forwards was Father 
 Munoz, who, though much occupied with the 
 care of his unfortunate and defeated comrades,
 
 the cagot's hut. 265 
 
 with his own political correspondence and per- 
 sonal concerns, still found time enough to devote 
 to the duty he had undertaken towards his 
 former friend, with whom he passed hours 
 together in secret conversation. I observed that 
 he had made a point of not seeing Malvide in 
 any of his visits. This was an understood 
 arrangement between Don Melchior and him- 
 self, and I was quickly made acquainted with 
 it and its cause by the sweet girl whose modesty 
 made her pass the subject over lightly, and who 
 evinced no vanity on an occasion that might, 
 more than most others, have excused a display 
 of that most natural and most general weak- 
 ness of our nature. 
 
 Malvide and myself became, as may be sup- 
 posed, in a short time, very intimate. While 
 Don Melchior and Father Munoz were shut 
 up together, she and I used to walk in the 
 neighbourhood of the hut, through the ravine 
 which was the scene of such eventful occur- 
 rences, or in the many intricate paths around, 
 
 vol. i. N
 
 206 THE CAGOT's HUT. 
 
 to me before unknown, but which were as fa- 
 miliar to her as the izards which we frequently 
 disturbed in these rambles. We never, however, 
 went out of call from the hut; and Malvide 
 perpetually broke off in recitals of former events, 
 to listen to the hoarse voice of the old woman, 
 who, by a particular sound, gave signal of the 
 monk's departure on a round of professional 
 visits to his wounded soldiers, distributed in 
 rude tents, throughout the vallies of Estaube 
 and Heas. 
 
 It was chiefly in those walks with Malvide, 
 as well as in snatches of conversation with Don 
 Melchior, and from glimpses of confidential chat 
 breaking through the monk's habitual reserve, 
 that I learned enough of former circumstances 
 to be able to enter fully into the feelings and 
 objects of the whole trio. It was net long 
 afterwards till I became perfectly acquainted 
 with all the connecting links of their history, 
 inasmuch as it formed a chain to bind them now 
 together ; and I will, for my readers' satisfac-
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 26'7 
 
 tion, throw into as brief a form as possible, the 
 details of former events, so necessary to an 
 understanding of the scenes which I have been 
 just reciting, and of those which succeeded them 
 so quickly. 
 
 I pass over, as foreign to the interest of 
 my story, many bustling occupations which broke 
 in on the course of affairs at the hut during Don 
 Melchior's convalescence, as the visits of Serjeant 
 Passepartout, who shewed himself throughout 
 this interval in a quite new aspect, smotherino- 
 the flame of his constitutional gallantry, sup- 
 pressing the uprisings of his national vanity, 
 and silencing the voice of his provincial gasco- 
 nading, for the provence itself furnishes the only 
 sufficient epithet to express the thing. He was 
 respectful to the lady, who, under her peasant's 
 disguise, he had made love to, good-naturedly 
 solicitous about the man he had saved, and 
 totally silent as to the villain he slew. He 
 gained the good will and esteem of all concern- 
 ed, and did not take one liberty in consequence, 
 
 n 2
 
 268 the cagot's hut. 
 
 which was the certain method of preserving 
 what he had acquired. In our moments of fa- 
 miliar chat, he could not, however, help drop- 
 mg some hints as to his affair with the Arrago- 
 nese countess, who turned out after all to be an 
 actress from the theatre of Astorga, and the 
 niece of one of the worthy ewes, forming part 
 of the fugitives of the Faith. But the serjeant 
 was quite satisfied with his conquest, and I felt 
 no inclination to disturb him in its possession, 
 nor to stand in the way of the score of designs 
 he professed against the wives and daughters of 
 the muleteers, and the widows of the poor devils 
 who had been killed in the late affair, who 
 wanted consolation. 
 
 One of the most unpleasant interruptions to 
 the dreary tranquillity of the place, was caused 
 by the burying of the dead bodies. This occu- 
 pied two whole days, during which Serjeant 
 Passepartout shewed an admirable aptitude for 
 the situation of undertaker and sexton. Under 
 his auspices and the superintendence of his
 
 the cagot's hut. 269 
 
 party, some dozens of fine fellows were flung 
 into their graves, head or feet foremost, as the 
 case might be. Neither ceremony nor ceremo- 
 nial attended their burial. No rites of religion 
 were observed, save the murmured prayer of 
 some kind comrade, as the sods were shovelled 
 in upon each body ; and the holiest water that 
 could be sprinkled over them were the tears 
 dashed oft* from deep bronzed cheeks by hands 
 that had rarely been dipped in the benetier. A 
 mass was said by Father Munoz the following 
 Sunday in the church of Gavernie, for the repose 
 of the souls of the fallen. I witnessed this ce- 
 remony, and was struck by the imposing and 
 almost more than earthly bearing of the monk, 
 as he paid this gorgeous tribute to the memory 
 of his gone companions. But I was more 
 moved an evening or two afterwards, when, 
 strolling alone over the battle field, I saw a 
 solitary and worn looking man, sitting upon a 
 newly dug grave, and, with some rude instru- 
 ment, chiselling the name of his comrade, who
 
 270 the cagot's hut. 
 
 rotted beneath, on a stupendous mass of gra- 
 nite, a monument large enough to have fur- 
 nished mausoleums for half the grandees of 
 Spain. The name was, I think, Antonio Os- 
 tolazo ; but that matters little ; it is still to be 
 seen by any one who will explore the desolate 
 vale of Estaube and the pedestals of Mount 
 Perdu, and I may safely promise a surer im- 
 mortality to the owner of this eternal monument, 
 than can be afforded bv the mouldering fanes 
 which enshrine so many more celebrated and 
 much prouder soldiers. 
 
 When these last duties were performed, the 
 remainder of Father Munoz's disjointed band 
 dispersed itself still wider than ever across the 
 sheltering soil of France, and no chance re- 
 maining for another attempt at entering Spain 
 in this quarter, those who were unmaimed 
 during the last effort, went off in different 
 directions towards Bayonne or Toulouse, in 
 search of some new portion of the expelled 
 fanatics, to whose fortunes they might unite
 
 THE CAGOT 1 S HUT. 271 
 
 their own ill luck. The wounded were, one by 
 one, removed farther into the country, towards 
 the hospitals established for the French army, 
 in which they found effectual succour ; so that, 
 at the end of a week, scarcely any of " the 
 Faith " remained near us, and those only of the 
 most desperately and hopelessly wounded, with 
 their wives, and a compassionate monk or two, 
 who had humanity enough not to abandon them 
 quite. 
 
 The patriot troops had, after a day or two, 
 retired ; Count Pinati, Mina*s lieutenant, having 
 come across the hills, after the gallant affair of 
 Puycerda, to take the command of Don Mel- 
 chior's little division, and join it to the main 
 body of the Catalonian army, as Mina's force 
 was now named. 
 
 I have not attempted to sketch the various 
 instances of devoted attachment shewn by his 
 soldiers on the occasion of Don MelchiorV 
 wound, or during the time of his recovery. It 
 was by force almost that he succeeded in getting
 
 272 the cagot's hut. 
 
 them away from the bivouac they had establish- 
 ed near the hut, which they, although disarmed 
 like the others on entering the French territory 
 were resolved to watch by and defend against all 
 other treachery on the part of the fanatics, whose 
 bands they suspected to contain more than one 
 villain of Sanchez's stamp. Serjeant Passepar- 
 tout also insisted on placing a guard of two of 
 his men on the hut, to preserve it from foul 
 play ; and, at my strong solicitation, joined with 
 Malvide's, Don Melchior consented to this the 
 first day, but on Father Munoz pledging his own 
 faith for the fair conduct of his followers, all 
 other precautions were given up, and nothing 
 arose to make us repent of the confidence thus 
 placed in them through him. 
 
 Having so far cleared the channel through 
 which my story is to run, I will now, without 
 disturbing the current of events, turn to that 
 backwater of narration, which steadies but does 
 not weaken the stream. 
 
 Don Francesco de Trevazos, the father of
 
 the cagot's hut. 273 
 
 Don Melchior, one of the innumerable nobles 
 who swarmed in Spain, had held a lucrative 
 situation in the court of Charles IV. previous to 
 his abdication. He was confirmed in it by 
 Ferdinand, having been one of the persons who 
 particularly favoured the designs of the young- 
 prince, whom public opinion and state necessity 
 have preserved from being considered a usurper. 
 But Don Francisco was, like many others, actu- 
 ated by excellent motives in abetting the designs 
 of Ferdinand. Indignant at the virtual sove- 
 reignty of the vile Godoy, and deceived by the 
 promise of good in the young prince's character, 
 which was blasted in its very blossoming, the 
 father of our hero, with the majority of the 
 nation, learned too late the extent of their mis- 
 take, and found that, of two evils, they had taken 
 the least— only because it wanted energy to 
 make itself the greater. Don Francesco was a 
 cordial friend of liberality and reform ; his efforts, 
 united with those of many eminent associates, all 
 tended to the ineffectual task of inculcating his 
 
 n3
 
 274 the cagot's hut. 
 
 own principles into the mind of the new monarch. 
 But a hopeless despondency succeeded to these 
 exertions, and all the truly patriotic men in 
 Spain, waited anxiously for some occasion to 
 take a bold and decisive step towards the rege- 
 neration of their country. 
 
 It was at this time that the imbecile and 
 unworthy Ferdinand determined on his memo- 
 rable visit to Bayonne, the scene not less of his 
 disgrace, than of Napoleon's dishonour. Many, 
 and among them Don Francisco, saw the con- 
 sequences of this step, and expostulated with the 
 principal ministers on its imprudence. But it 
 appears too evident, that Ferdinand himself was 
 obstinate in his resolution, with a certain know- 
 ledge of what was to be its result. 
 
 The conferences and conventions at Bayonne, 
 ended in the formal renunciation of the throne 
 of Spain by Ferdinand and his father, in the 
 nomination of Joseph to the vacant dignity, and 
 the occupation of almost all the strong places in 
 the country by the troops of the French Empe-
 
 the cagot's hut. 275 
 
 ror. This is not the place to canvass political 
 questions, and I pass by the meanness of Ferdi- 
 nand and the violence of Napoleon, to consider 
 for a moment the situation of those who acted 
 in accordance with the principles which guided 
 the father of my hero, and influenced so deeply 
 the fate of Don Melchior himself. 
 
 Joseph, acting either from his own impulse or 
 by excellent advice, made an admirable selection 
 of ministers. They were named at Bayonne in 
 July 1808, and the new king entered his 
 kingdom under the sanction of the names of the 
 best and most enlightened men, who had filled 
 high offices under Charles IV. and Ferdinand. 
 All the public functionaries were confirmed in 
 their places, and they almost all acquiesced in 
 their nomination, and became at once Afrancesa- 
 dos, as the adherents of Joseph were soon named. 
 
 Under this arrangement, Don Francisco de 
 Travazos continued to hold his place, and he, in 
 common with almost the whole of the nobility 
 and corporate bodies of Spain, gave his willing
 
 276 the cagot's hut. 
 
 allegiance to the new king, and paid him 
 homage. 
 
 No usurper ever mounted a throne with more 
 plausible pretensions or fairer prospects than 
 Joseph. Nominated by his brother, the most 
 powerful of king makers — succeeding to Ferdi- 
 nand the most contemptible of kings — hailed by 
 the country as a deliverer — the opening acts of 
 his government, being the suppression of that 
 monstrous tribunal, impiously called holy; the 
 formation of codes of laws ; appropriation of 
 church lands to the wants of the state, and the 
 consequent relief of the subject ; encouragement 
 of public instruction ; patronage of arts, manu- 
 factures, and commerce : — these were the titles of 
 Joseph to his throne, and the excuses of those 
 Spaniards who adopted his claim. If others 
 were wanted, they might be found in the fact of 
 foreign families having reigned over the country 
 since the Austrian succession, — in the absolute 
 necessity of a new dynasty to purge away the 
 abuses of the old — and in the example of the great
 
 the cagot's hut. 277 
 
 continental states, which approved and confirmed 
 the appointment of Joseph, and sanctioned the 
 submission of Spain. But having thus briefly con- 
 sidered the arguments in favor of the Afrancesa- 
 dos,* I hurry to remove any notion, which might 
 arise in the reader^ mind, that, Avhile making 
 allowances for them, I do not give my whole 
 sympathy to the splendid patriots by whom 
 they were opposed. No ! Glory to the brave 
 spirits, which shone forth at that crisis in the 
 fate of Europe, teaching to despots, through 
 their proudest peer, that men must not be 
 bartered like brutes, nor countries transferred 
 like estates, even though a good master be 
 given for a bad one. Freedom may be forced on 
 nations, as maniacs take medicine by compul- 
 sion ; and the patriots of Spain taught this les- 
 son to the world, that it is better to establish the 
 great principle of liberty, even at the cost of 
 
 * I would refer the reader interested in the subject, to the 
 able writings and incontrovertible reasonings of Rianosa, 
 Marina, Llorente, and Blaquiere.
 
 278 the cagot's hut. 
 
 quick recurring bondage, than enjoy for a while 
 comparative happiness, by fixing a precedent of 
 enduring slavery. Such were the views of 
 Porlier, Lacy, Mina, and the rest of the since 
 murdered and proscribed martyrs ; such the 
 inspiration that raised the spirit of resistance, 
 which spread on wings of flame, at once deso- 
 lating and purifying the land. Joseph was 
 driven from his throne, as the type of that pre- 
 sumptuous principle which placed him on it ; 
 and Ferdinand recovered his kingdom, by vir- 
 tue of the imprescriptible right of which he was 
 the unworthy emblem.
 
 THE CAGOl's HUT. 279 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 Twelve thousand Afrancisados followed 
 Joseph into Fiance, giving to him a proud 
 proof of personal attachment, and to nations, 
 generally, a fine lesson of fidelity. Among the 
 refugees, were Don Francisco de Trevazos, with 
 his numerous family, and Luis Mazeredo, a phy- 
 sician of Madrid, and his only son, Munoz, then 
 a boy of about fourteen years of age. The ex- 
 patriated Spaniards fixed themselves chiefly in 
 the towns and villages of the South of France, 
 in sight of those frontiers from which they 
 were proscribed, envying the fortunate patriots 
 who remained possessors of the soil, but proudly 
 conscious of their own pure motives in the very
 
 280 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 conduct which had brought upon them destruc- 
 tion and disgrace. 
 
 Toulouse possessed many advantages for 
 those settlers, who had money to support the 
 expences of a principal provincial town. Edu- 
 cation, the chief object with heads of families, 
 was the main cause of Don Francisco, his family, 
 and Doctor Mazaredo fixing there; and the 
 four sons of the former, with the doctor's only 
 child, and several other young Spaniards, were 
 soon established as inmates in the college. 
 
 It is not more easy to account for school 
 friendships, than for those of riper years. One 
 is as much the result of some chance circum- 
 stance as the other ; and it is scarcely of impor- 
 tance to know by what means the intimacy of 
 young Melchior and his companion Munoz was 
 contracted. Foi three or four years, during 
 which they remained together in college, their 
 attachment continued to increase, and the 
 totally different cast of their minds, and utter 
 dissimilarity of character were the means of
 
 the cagot's hut. 281 
 
 preserving it unimpaired. They were within a 
 week or two of the same age, and when they 
 came to be seventeen or eighteen years old, their 
 dispositions were fully developed. Melchior 
 always destined for the military service, burned 
 with impatience to commence his career. Munoz, 
 intended by his father for his own profession, 
 applied himself assiduously to its study. The 
 rank of Don Francisco, the ample pension he 
 enjoyed from the French government, and the 
 lucky preservation of a large property, which he 
 had prudently transferred into foreign funds, 
 enabled young Melchior to maintain an excel- 
 lent appearance, and go much into society, in 
 the atmosphere of which alone he seemed to 
 live. Doctor Mazaredo Avas poor, scantily pen- 
 sioned, and only enabled by the profits of his 
 profession to support himself and his son re- 
 spectably, and without show. Munoz was, 
 moreover, of a turn quite the reverse of his 
 friend, hating company, shunning the world,
 
 282 the cagot's hut. 
 
 and giving himself wholly up to abstruse and 
 theoretic study. 
 
 Melchior had many opportunities just then 
 of meeting in company Malvide d'Euplandre, 
 only daughter of a man of ancient family and 
 high rank, at that time a warm adherent of the 
 Emperor and of his family, who lived almost 
 entirely at his chateau, on the banks of the 
 Garonne, a place admirably suited to the in- 
 dulgence of the deep attachment which almost 
 spontaneously sprung up in the breasts of the 
 young couple. In a few months they were 
 lovers, of the most decided, and, as we have 
 seen, of the most determined stamp. 
 
 Munoz had but few chances of seeing Mal- 
 vide. He never spoke to her ; but it so hap- 
 pened, that a sympathy of feeling with his 
 friend, on that one particular point, made him 
 also an adorer of this beauteous girl, to see whom 
 was to love. An accidental glimpse of her 
 person, and a few words caught from her dulcet
 
 the cagot's hut. 283 
 
 voice, acted on the inflammable feelings of 
 Munoz, with a violence that was irresistible. 
 No female had ever before created the slightest 
 sensation in his mind, and a passion now burst 
 forth on this insufficient excitement, like a vol- 
 cano throwing out its self-engendered flames. 
 He encouraged and fed this phrenzy even while 
 he felt that it consumed him ; and in the silence 
 and solitude of his college, he had no one 
 resource to turn the current of his diseased 
 sensations. But he possessed, as well as Mel- 
 chior, a great degree of that fine quality of 
 sentiment, which irresistibly impels the lover 
 to keep his secret to himself. Neither of them, 
 therefore, made the other his confident. Mel- 
 chior was too much occupied with his mistress 
 to discover Munoz's passion ; but the latter 
 found out, from various causes, that Melchior 
 was the enamoured and accepted lover of the 
 woman he adored. He had hopelessly, des- 
 perately, cherished this idolatry for a person he 
 had never spoken to, and but once heard speak !
 
 284< the cagot's hut. 
 
 But he was, even in his early youth, one of the 
 most eccentric and incalculable of mortals — and 
 this character he was now about to establish, by 
 an extraordinary and unlooked for, but still 
 consistent freak. Deterred by his circumstances 
 and station in life from indulging the slightest 
 degree of hope of obtaining the object of his 
 extravagant passion, and making a wild and 
 irrational estimate of friendship and the duties 
 which he thought it imposed, he at once re- 
 solved to give up the notion of Malvide, and to 
 remove any bar which his presence might by 
 possibility create, to the progress of his friend's 
 pursuit. Thus consoling himself for the imagi- 
 nary relinquishment of a mistress whom he 
 never knew, by the unreal security of a friend- 
 ship, the advantages of which he was flinging 
 away, he formed and put into execution the 
 design of abandoning France, unknown to all, 
 and absolutely, and at once, retiring from the 
 world for ever. 
 
 He quitted the college without notice or pre-
 
 the cagot's hut. 285 
 
 paration — and he did not even leave a letter 
 for his friend Melchior, having too strict a 
 regard for truth to conceal it had he written, 
 and dreading the possible effect it might pro- 
 duce on his friend, and consequently on the 
 friendship which he valued more than life. For 
 his father, he left a letter expressive of his 
 sudden but fixed determination to abandon the 
 world ; and he entered Spain and joined the 
 pious possessors of one of its many convents, 
 and soon became as wild an enthusiast in the 
 mysteries of religion, as he had been an extrava- 
 gant worshipper at the shrine of passion. All 
 this was in accordance with his extraordinary 
 character, and not wonderful in a boy of eight- 
 een. Having gone through all preliminary 
 forms, and thoroughly prepared himself for 
 the career on which he was about to enter, he 
 finally took the vows of his order, and became 
 soon distinguished amongst his brethren for his 
 deep piety, his lofty conceptions, his learning, 
 and his medical skill. He devoted all his worldly
 
 286 the cagot's hut. 
 
 thoughts to the perfect acquirement of the 
 killing-or-curing art, and his celebrity soon 
 spread beyond the walls of his retreat : and 
 thus distinguished, in that little circle of renown 
 he might have lived and died, had not the poli- 
 tical events of his time inflamed his mind with a 
 new excitement, and forced him from his obscu- 
 rity into the agitated arena of revolutionary life. 
 Don Melchior, in the mean time, had gone 
 through his noviciate as a military man, having 
 been removed by his father to the college of St. 
 Cyr, whence he started to join the regiment of 
 cavalry to which he was appointed ; but the 
 rapid succession of political movements at 
 that period, depriving France of her military 
 chieftain and military character, our hero had 
 but the experience of one short and disastrous 
 campaign, that which began with the defeat of 
 the Prussians at Fleurus, and ended with the 
 overwhelming discomfiture of their conquerors 
 at Waterloo. Melchior fought in both battles, 
 and in the intervening affair of Quatre-bras, and
 
 the cagot's hut. 287 
 
 he acquired, on those days of desperate conflict, 
 a feeling of respect for British valour and forti- 
 tude that almost amounted to adoration. Don 
 Melchior was a true liberal. He inherited from 
 his father the best principles of civil freedom, 
 and he added a wide toleration of religious tenets 
 that sprung from a spontaneous independence of 
 mind. Heretic and papist were with him empty 
 words. Conscience was the only tribunal he 
 acknowledged in these matters; and he felt that 
 a community of political interests might fairly 
 and safely exist between men whose religious 
 feelings were as widely separated as the poles. 
 His mind was instinct with notions like these. 
 They were confirmed by the general liberality 
 of his military companions ; and the licentious- 
 ness in which the latter indulged produced no 
 effect on our hero, beyond teaching him its dan- 
 ger and exciting his disgust. He had entered 
 the French service, because that of his own 
 country was out of his reach, and because, edu- 
 cated in France, he spoke its language, and fol-
 
 288 the cagot's hut. 
 
 lowed its manners and customs, like a native ; 
 but he felt himself still a Spaniard ; and though 
 possessing an hereditary attachment to Joseph 
 and a contempt for Ferdinand, he burned with 
 enthusiasm at the thoughts of those heroes who 
 had expelled the former and now groaned under 
 the latter ; and he anxiously awaited the day 
 when he might join the ranks of the patriots 
 who abounded in Spain, and whose bosoms 
 throbbed with the desire to set her free. 
 
 On the disbanding of the army of the Loire, 
 our young soldier retired to his father's resi- 
 dence at Toulouse, and here he returned with 
 new ardour to the indulgence of his passion for 
 Malvide d'Euplanade. The lovers had regu- 
 larly corresponded during Melchior's absence ; 
 and this short but perilous separation was all 
 that had been wanting to rivet the chains by 
 which the young pair so willingly allowed 
 themselves to be bound ; and for some weeks 
 they revelled in the luxury of secret love. But 
 the total change of circumstances in young
 
 the cagot's hut. 289 
 
 Melchior's family, resulting from the ruin of 
 Napoleon, made the avowal of this attachment 
 then impossible. The pensions hitherto paid to 
 the exiled Afrancesados were discontinued on 
 the accession of Louis XVIII.; and the con- 
 sideration in which they had been held during 
 the influence of Joseph was now replaced by 
 every mark of distrust and detestation. The 
 virulent hostility of the Spanish government 
 was unbounded, and that of France shewed but 
 little wish to alleviate the sufferings of a body 
 of men whom they did hate, and affected to 
 despise. 
 
 Don Francisco and his sons felt neither a rio-ht 
 nor an inclination to interfere in the politics of a 
 country which afforded them shelter. The 
 father, therefore, cautiously abstained from any 
 public manifestation of his opinions ; and the 
 three grown up brothers, including our hero, 
 resolved to embark for South America, and 
 there join the standard of independence, under 
 which so many gallant exiles from old Spain 
 
 vol. i. o
 
 290 the cagot's hut. 
 
 were at that moment fighting. Melchior parted 
 from Malvide, with proud sentiments of con- 
 fidence in her, and that sanguine certainty of 
 success which is the instinctive feeling that 
 raises the ambitious man so much above the 
 level of his kind. 
 
 Malvide had much of the heroine in her cha- 
 racter. High-minded and tender-hearted, with 
 a strong intellect and warm feelings, she loved 
 her lover not less for his lofty aspirings than for 
 the overflowing softness of sentiment by which 
 they were tempered. She liked romantic inci- 
 dent and feeling— not that vapid, common place 
 kind which sinks its votaries into lanf uishraent 
 and affectation — but those spirited breaks in the 
 equalities of action and thought, which give 
 vigour to the mind and animation to the mono- 
 tony of life. Her grief at parting with her 
 lover was much assuaged by the effect of this 
 disposition ; and during three years of his ad- 
 venturous career in the new world, her anxiety 
 for his safety at once preyed upon and supported
 
 THE CAGOT's HUT. 291 
 
 her spirit. She did not pine away during this 
 agitating interval ; but her mind was centered 
 in one object with an intensity that would have 
 worn out an intellect less elastic than hers. 
 
 Melchior ran a rapid and brilliant career in 
 Venezuela and other parts of South America 
 where liberty was triumphant. His two brothers 
 perished in the struggle, one in action with 
 Morillo's troops, the other in a desperate sea 
 engagement, in which he commanded a patriot 
 sloop. These losses inflamed young Melchiors 
 hatred to the cause of despotism and its agents ; 
 and among other effusions of his highly excited 
 mind, the following (which I thought worth 
 translation) escaped him at this period. 
 
 TO THE WARRIORS OF CHILI 
 
 Rouse, Men of Freedom, for the fight 
 
 In Freedom's majesty and might ! 
 
 Let the sound of your march be sabres clashing, 
 Let your signal sign be the cannon flashing, 
 
 And your battle-cry " Our Right !" 
 
 O 2
 
 292 the cagot's hut. 
 
 When furious to the field you rush, 
 
 Sweep on, as the herded wild horse dashes 
 O'er the Pampas,* trampled by his crush — 
 
 Be your charge like the tropic shower which splashes 
 So loud that the thunder's roar is hush, 
 
 Or seems as rolling faint and high, 
 
 A whirlwind of the upper sky ! 
 ■ 
 
 Gaze on yon tempest-driven clouds ; 
 
 Shattered through Heaven's wide space they fly- 
 Thus let the Despots' servile crowds 
 
 Shrink from you, Sons of Liberty ! 
 Think, as ye rush on the hireling hordes, 
 
 What cause ye serve when their bosoms bleed — 
 And know that each gleam from your brandished swords 
 
 Is a watchlight for a Nation freed ! 
 
 Our hero became so distinguished for his in- 
 trepidity and talent, on several occasions, that he 
 gained rapid promotion in the Colombian ser- 
 vice, and was much noticed by Bolivar, who held 
 out many inducements to him to identify himself 
 by naturalization with the country he had so dis- 
 
 * The immense plains of waving grass, which extend 
 for nearly one thousand miles between the banks of the 
 Plata and Chili, are called Pampas by the Spaniards.
 
 THE CAGOT S HUT. 293 
 
 interestedly served. But no persuasion had one 
 instant's influence with Melchior, whose whole 
 thoughts turned towards his native country and 
 the girl he loved. He had made a name, his 
 great object in the perils and privations he had 
 voluntarily encountered; and having aided in 
 the establishment of liberty in America, he now 
 prepared to return to Europe, certain of having 
 acquired a claim upon the liberal feelings of* 
 Spain, and hoping to have established for 
 himself an influence in the good opinion of the 
 father of Malvide. 
 
 Full of these prospects, he look leave of the 
 scene of his exploits and the companions of his 
 glory; and embarking on board an English 
 merchant ship, he arrived safely in London 
 early in December 1819. During a stay of a few 
 days there, he met several Spaniards, to whom 
 his reputation was well known, and by one of 
 those, an agent from Cadiz, he was initiated 
 into the secret of the preparations for revolt, at 
 that time on the point of completion in the
 
 294? the cagot's hut. 
 
 army near that place, under the direction of 
 Riego, Quiroga, and their companions. Don 
 Melchior did not hesitate for a moment in the 
 course to be pursued ; but leaving London im- 
 mediately, he proceeded to Falmouth, whence a 
 packet was on the point of sailing for Gibraltar. 
 A quick passage favoured his views, and from 
 that fortress he passed safely across the frontier, 
 and with strong letters of introduction from 
 his London friends, he arrived at Las Cabezas 
 de San Juan, Riego^ quarters, on the last day 
 of the year 1819. A hurried but animated and 
 interesting conference took place between these 
 gallant spirits, on the night of that day — and 
 the next morning, the 1st of January 1820, the 
 constitutional flag was unfurled upon long suf- 
 fering Spain, and liberty proclaimed. 
 
 Melchior, in the first instance, acted as a 
 volunteer on Itiego's staff, but in a few days he 
 was placed in command of a portion of that 
 hero's immortal little army ; and he personally 
 shared in all its harassing and dubious enter-
 
 the cagot's hut. 295 
 
 prizes, until the final acceptance of the constitu- 
 tor 
 
 tion by Ferdinand, and the triumphant establish- 
 ment of freedom. Raised to the very pinnacle of 
 delight by this rapid accomplishment of all his 
 public hopes, the ardent mind of Don Melchior 
 could imagine no oossibility of failure in those 
 private and personal views, to which he now 
 thought he might in strictest duty turn his 
 undivided attention. He obtained, through the 
 influence of his gallant chief Riego, an appoint- 
 ment under the immediate command of Mina 
 
 
 (who had recently returned from France, and was 
 nominated Captain General of Navarre), and 
 he immediately repaired to the scene of his new 
 duties. He obtained from Mina a short leave 
 of absence, to pay a visit to his family and 
 friends at the other side of the Pyrenees. He 
 quickly passed the route between Pampeluna 
 and Perpignan ; and being now, as it were, 
 within reach of all he loved, compared at least 
 with the distances which had so lately separated 
 them, his heart acknowledged the near approach
 
 296 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 to his immediate family : but he still felt as if 
 half the globe intervened between him and the 
 dearest object of his affections — and the last 
 league he had to traverse in his rapid journey, 
 seemed infinitely the longest since he left Co- 
 lumbia. 
 
 Malvide was apprised of her lover's approach, 
 as she had been of all his movements since he 
 returned to Europe, through the medium of 
 Felix, a trusty servant of her father, almost her 
 earliest playmate, and, since childhood up, her 
 faithful ally, long in the confidence of herself 
 and Don Melchior, and wholly devoted to their 
 interest. By his contrivances a correspon- 
 dence had been carried on for several years in 
 perfect secrecy and safety ; and Melchior's last 
 letter, two days before the one fixed for his 
 arrival, gave the joyous news for which her 
 heart had so long panted, and which now seemed 
 too much for it to bear. 
 
 A hint dropped of an interesting event, is, I 
 know, like seed sown upon that most fertile field,
 
 the cagot's hut. 297 
 
 a reader's imagination. Is it not then enough for 
 me to say that Melchior came, that Malvide re- 
 ceived him, that their interview was as secret as 
 it was holy — and will not a rich harvest of ima- 
 ginings spontaneously spring up in every reader's 
 mind ? Will not all instantly recollect what 
 passed, once at least in their lives, in their own 
 individual cases ? — and can it be necessary to 
 enter into details of what the whole world knows 
 by heart ? In the present instance, at all events, 
 I can give no minute particulars ; for though I 
 pressed both Melchior and Malvide to be very 
 exact and communicative at this part of their 
 story, they both assured me they could not, for 
 they did not recollect a word that had passed at 
 their meeting. They only remembered the 
 gnawing, restless, enchanting wretchedness with 
 which they awaited the appointed hour; the rap- 
 ture which they respectively caught each other's 
 figure in the moonlight grove by the river side ; 
 the beating of heart, and swimming of brain 
 when they pronounced each other's name ; and 
 
 o 3
 
 298 the cagot's hut. 
 
 the delirious forgetfulness of all beside when 
 they stood clasped in firm embrace. Their only 
 feeling was that nothing human could sever them ; 
 but Felix, ere long undeceived them, by rushing 
 towards them, dragging them from each other's 
 arms, forcibly carrying Don Melchior to the 
 boat from which he had just landed, and leaving 
 Malvide almost fainting on a bench, from which 
 she was roused by her father himself, who had 
 wandered out, thus malapropos, to enjoy the 
 beauties of the evening, and destroy a scene of 
 extacy that was worth them all. 
 
 Fortunately no discovery attended this inter- 
 ruption. A succession of interviews gave the 
 lovers time to calm their transports, and an inter- 
 change of ideas and opinions led to a more 
 rational consideration of the measures which 
 their mutual happiness required them to adopt. 
 Melchior was received by his father and mother, 
 his remaining brother, and two sisters, with all 
 the feelings of pride and pleasure, excited by the 
 happy return and honourable success of a son
 
 the cagot's hut. 299 
 
 -and brother ; but dear as those greetings were, 
 they were of very inferior import to those in 
 another quarter, and I therefore leave them too 
 to the reader's fancy, certain that it will not 
 dwell upon them much longer than I do myself. 
 The Vicomte d'Euplandre, the father of 
 Mai vide, was glad to see his old favourite Mel- 
 chior safely returned from his various exploits — 
 but he had no interest in the exploits themselves, 
 and was by no means pleased at the triumphant 
 aspect of the cause, which our hero had entered 
 into with such distinguished zeal. In fact the 
 Vicomte had changed his political opinions. He 
 had conveniently cast off his attachment to the 
 Bonaparte family when fortune ceased to be on 
 visiting terms with them ; and being now a 
 warm worshipper of the newly risen sun of 
 Bourbon prosperity, he discovered for every 
 flagrant act of Ferdinand some excellent excuse, 
 and in the noble conduct of the patriot liberators 
 of Spain he saw nothing but the most atrocious 
 guilt. He very shortly took occasion to in-
 
 300 the cagot's hot. 
 
 form Melchior of this, and gave him to under- 
 stand that he would not be sorry to be freed 
 from the danger of infection which lurked in 
 every fold of his young friend's reputation, and 
 which he dreaded might communicate itself to 
 the very susceptible sympathy of his own 
 countrymen. He therefore did every thing but 
 recommend Melchior to hurry back to Spain ; 
 and gave him plainly, though not broadly, 
 to understand, that that interview was to end 
 their intercourse. 
 
 The shock which all this would have pro- 
 duced to Melchior' s sanguine mind was broken, 
 in some measure, by the previous hints he had 
 received from his own family of the Vicomte's 
 change of opinions, or principles— or whatever 
 else they might be conveniently and respectfully 
 called. In the few minutes snatched from love 
 and its immediate topics, the lovers discussed 
 with condensed energy the course to be fol- 
 lowed. It was mutually agreed that no abrupt 
 declaration was to be made by Melchior. He
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 301 
 
 was to wait awhile, until matters became con- 
 solidated in Spain, and the efforts which he 
 was, with others, making to procure an amnesty 
 for the exiled Afrancesados might enable his 
 father to resume his former station in his own 
 country, and entitle him to claim an alliance for 
 his son with the daughter of the Vicomte, ac- 
 cording to the cold and commercial forms of 
 French marriages. Having thus arranged, and 
 thus postponed, the open avowal of their mutual 
 passion, the lovers once more separated, con- 
 fident in the reciprocal attachment which they 
 felt that nothing could now shake, and scarcely 
 less certain of the eventual happiness of which 
 they would not entertain a doubt. 
 
 The year 1820 trailed slowly on, according to 
 the estimate of the lovers ; and flew fast away, 
 in the opinion of those whose hopes for the good 
 of Spain led them to look to a favourable ad- 
 justment of her many difficulties. The clash of 
 her parties was echoed beyond her frontiers, 
 and the discontent of her former despot found
 
 302 the cagot's hut. 
 
 sympathy in the feelings of those who thought 
 his debasement might lead to their own. The 
 liberal patriots of Spain had to combat against a 
 host of besetting evils, and they found full em- 
 ployment in endeavouring to avert, or prepare 
 for the dangers which they saw in perspective. 
 The army was strengthened as much as was 
 consistent with the means of the state, and our 
 hero, with the other military officers of distinc- 
 tion, was incessantly employed in the formation 
 of the new levies. He had sufficient interest to 
 keep his place near the frontiers, and he there 
 contrived through the agency of Felix, the only 
 confident of his amour, to keep up a constant 
 correspondence with Malvide. Fatigued not 
 less by his military occupations than by the 
 harassing anxieties of hope deferred, an old 
 wound received in South America caused him 
 considerable annoyance, and he was ordered to 
 the Baths of Barege, on the French side of the 
 Pyrenees, the sovereign remedy for injuries of 
 the nature of that under which he suffered.
 
 THE cagot's hut. 803 
 
 The summer of 1821 saw him fairly established 
 there — not so much for considerations of health 
 as for those of happiness ; for Malvide had per- 
 suaded her father to consent to the family 
 passing the season at Bagneres, that delightful 
 residence for all who would see nature in its 
 loveliest aspects, and be within reach of its most 
 wild and bold varieties. 
 
 In the paths of this romantic region Malvide 
 and Melchior once more revived the oft-breathed 
 vows of eternal fidelity ; and every auxiliary of 
 time and place added to the picturesque en- 
 thusiasm of their attachment. The father, 
 unsuspicious to the very last of the extent of 
 their intimacy, threw no obstruction in their way. 
 He could not reasonably decline the visits of his 
 old friend's son on the ground of political 
 opinions, for nothing hostile had yet broken out 
 between their respective nations, and it was only 
 on those grounds that he wished to withdraw 
 from the acquaintance. Don Francisco, with 
 the remainder of his family, had in the mean
 
 S04 THE cagot"s hut. 
 
 time returned to Spain, in virtue of the per- 
 mission tardily granted by the liberal govern- 
 ment — liberal, in every thing, to the utmost 
 extent of their powers, except in their intolerant 
 treatment of the Afrancesados, "which formed a 
 deep stain on the general purity of their mea- 
 sures. These long persecuted men were at 
 length allowed to enter Spain, but the permission 
 was joined with indignities which nothing but 
 the inherent love of country could have prompted 
 them to submit to. They were declared to have 
 forfeited all their honorary distinctions and rank, 
 and to be unworthy of future employment in the 
 service of that land, for whose good they had la- 
 boured and suffered so much. Harsh terms, but 
 still accepted by many, who, with feelings of true 
 patriotism, acknowledged insult and injury to 
 be more than atoned for by the privilege of 
 once more treading their native soil, and of lay- 
 ing; their bones beneath it. 
 
 During daily excursions to all points of in- 
 terest in the scenes around them, Melchior and
 
 the cagot's hut. 305 
 
 Malvide became thoroughly intimate with the 
 most retired and secret recesses of the moun- 
 tains ; and the rude inhabitants were often the 
 objects of their bounty. Among others, the 
 wretched Cagots excited at first their curiosity, 
 next their compassion; and a chance shelter, 
 taken during a sudden storm at the hut, with 
 which my readers are already well acquainted, 
 ended in many acts of kindness to the poor old 
 couple who owned it, from her who was after- 
 wards to become its heroine — and mine.
 
 306 the cagot's hut. 
 
 bn> 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 • 
 
 Another separation came, another absence, 
 a renewed correspondence — and again a meet- 
 ing, under circumstances of unusual, and, I may 
 say, of most romantic interest. Frequently, 
 during their summer sojourn in the Pyrenees, 
 did Melchior, in all the vehemence of his affec- 
 tion, implore Malvide\s consent to his demand- 
 ing her formally of her parents; and on her 
 strenuous representations of the certain denial 
 which would bring ruin on their dearest hopes, 
 he used to urge, with the eloquence of pas- 
 sionate entreaty, a private marriage, to put 
 refusal of its legal confirmation beyond the 
 power of parents, proud of their own honour,
 
 the cagot's hut. 807 
 
 and feeling it compromised in that of their 
 child. But this latter proposition was more 
 repugnant to Malvide's principles than the for- 
 mer seemed dangerous to her passion for Mel- 
 chior. I must not enter into a detail of the 
 motives which induced her decidedly to object 
 to this clandestine marriage, or of the arguments 
 by which her lover hoped to enforce his pro- 
 posal. It was enough that she viewed such a 
 step with the feelings of horror common to all 
 French females of family and condition, and she 
 vowed that she never would consent to this 
 measure of desperation until driven to the very 
 last extremity. She was firm ; he submitted 
 perforce ; and he was soon with his troops in 
 Catalonia, and she at her father's chateau in 
 Lanmiedoc. There another winter and another 
 spring " dragged their slow length along;" and 
 in sure succession came the summer of 1822, 
 which was destined to bring about the catas- 
 trophe of the chequered drama, in which Mel-
 
 308 the cagot's hut. 
 
 chior and Malvide had still to sustain so great a 
 share of anxiety and agitation. 
 
 It was in the course of that summer, while 
 thick coming events threw doubt and danger 
 over every hope for Spanish happiness, and 
 filled with a thousand inquietudes the breasts of 
 the lovers, that JMalvide's father, with anabrupt- 
 ness more peremptory than parental, informed 
 her of a proposal of marriage, her acceptance of 
 which he considered quite a matter of course. 
 
 The match was, in the common acceptation of 
 terms, unexceptionable. The suitor was youne 
 wealthy, of good family, and good character. 
 Malvide acknowledged all this, but she frankly 
 told her father and mother that she would rather 
 die than accept this lover, because a feeling 
 worse than death was coupled with the thought 
 of such a union. This refusal was inexplicable 
 to the astonished parents, for they, with that 
 shortsightedness of which one finds instances 
 every day, had no suspicion of their daughter's
 
 the cagot's hut. 309 
 
 secret attachment, and she dared not bring her- 
 self to confess it, even now. 
 
 A scene of too common occurrence ensued, 
 and a series of sad consequences were the result ; 
 severity on the part of the parents — useless 
 entreaty on that of the daughter — tears and 
 threats, prayers and persecution. Force could 
 not in those days be attempted against the incli- 
 nations of the unhappy girl ; but, dear as she 
 was to her parents, a train of unpremeditated, 
 yet torturing unkindness was the result of their 
 wounded pride and disappointed hopes. Parents 
 are certainly sometimes to be pitied on these 
 occasions, but never more so than when they 
 bring on their own and their children's suffering 
 by a false estimate of the authority and the 
 obedience, which, duly balanced, should form 
 the happiness of all. In the present case, I can, 
 however, give no sympathy but to my heroine ; 
 but I confess myself not an unprejudiced person 
 — and I hope my readers will be all biassed the 
 same way as I was, for I wish them not only to
 
 810 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 excuse but to admire the whole conduct of 
 Malvide. 
 
 Her character was now put to the test. The 
 whole host of opposing passions and sentiments 
 were aroused. Instinct and feeling — reason, 
 reflection, love, duty, were all fermenting in her 
 mind, with a force that would have been fatal 
 to intellect as well as happiness, had she not by 
 a bold exertion decided on the course to be pur- 
 sued, with a vigour suited only to a desperate 
 case; but which in such as her's I should be 
 glad to see adopted as a precedent. There is a 
 line of demarcation between submission and 
 resistance. It exists for children as well as 
 nations ; and parental no more than political 
 obedience can be expected to go further. This 
 line is no doubt fine-drawn, and sometimes diffi- 
 cult to distinguish. It twists and serpentines, 
 too, according to circumstances and character; — 
 and in fact the tracing of it must be left to that 
 discriminating tact, that prompt sense of Avhat 
 is right, which is clear in seeing, and quick in
 
 THE CACOT's HUT. 311 
 
 doing. My heroine possessed, in my opinion, 
 that ready sensitiveness in an eminent degree. 
 Acting upon it, she let her submission to her 
 parents go its full extent. She acknowledged 
 their right to suggest a husband to her — but not 
 to dictate one. She admitted their privilege of 
 rejecting her choice — but not such a choice as 
 Melchior. Reason and sentiment combined to 
 convince her that he was out of the pale of her 
 parent's jurisdiction — and her mind was made 
 up to act at last on that conviction. Firmly 
 bearing up against all the points of petty ty- 
 ranny in which her father and mother vented 
 their feelings of wounded pride and disappointed 
 expectation, she even endured the torture of a 
 detested suitor's persecuting endearments, while 
 her heart was torn by anxiety for her lover's 
 dangerous situation, for the leagued bands of 
 bigotry had begun to assume an attitude of 
 offence, and several warm actions had beefc 
 fought between them and the patriots. Mal- 
 vide saw that the crisis of her fate, her character,
 
 312 the cagot's hut. 
 
 and her happiness had arrived — and she acted 
 with a prudence befitting such a time. She 
 wrote to Melchior, detailing her situation, her 
 feelings, and her determination. She announced 
 her intention of confessing their attachment to 
 her parents, of soliciting the consent which she 
 had still no hope of their granting ; and in case 
 of their refusal, she declared her resolution of 
 setting off, at all hazards to her personal safety 
 or to her fame, to throw herself under the only 
 protection which she would thenceforth acknow- 
 ledge as legitimate or legal. She pointed out 
 the Cagot's hut, as the place of rendezvous, and 
 the safest shelter that circumstances would 
 admit of; and she fixed a day for her arrival 
 there, either accompanied by her father, and 
 sanctioned by his consent to their union, or 
 alone, and resolved to join her fate irrevocably 
 with his. 
 
 This letter dispatched, and a sufficient time 
 allowed for it to reach Don Melchior, she made 
 the ample revelation of her long-cherished secret
 
 the cagot's hut. 313 
 
 to her parents, and detailed the progress and 
 the actual state of her attachment, on the very 
 evening previous to the one fixed for the actual 
 signing of the hated marriage contract. The 
 mother was moved at this account of her daugh- 
 te^s constancy, and of the good conduct evinced 
 in her rejection of Melchior's proposal for a 
 private marriage. She looked from time to time 
 at her husband through the big tears which 
 stood in her eyes, emblematic of the fulness of 
 her heart, and it only wanted one word— one 
 gesture of consent from the Vicomte to. have 
 made her embrace her daughter and consent to 
 her wishes, with all the ardour of motherly affec- 
 tion. But the Vicomte gave no sign. He was 
 an obstinate man, without much tenderness or 
 one atom of the romantic in his disposition. He 
 was totally untouched by his child's appeal, 
 totally uninfluenced by his wife's emotion. He 
 only saw one side of the question, and that the 
 reverse one of the brightly illumined portion 
 which shone in the rays of sentiment and feeling. 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 314 THE CAGOTS HUT. 
 
 He considered Melchior as a ruined man— his 
 cause as desperate— and his alliance an impossi- 
 bility. He saw that the liberal party of Spain 
 had no chance, no hope ; that all the monarchs 
 of the Continent were leagued against liberty — 
 that England would stand neuter, and that 
 Spain must fall. That conviction was enough : 
 every other consideration was foreign to the 
 point towards which his calculations centered. 
 To Malvide's eloquent entreaty, he answered, 
 " Never !" striking the table with his open 
 palm. 
 
 She turned her looks to her mother, with an 
 imploring gesture. 
 
 "Never!" echoed the dame, taking a pinch 
 of snuff and blowing her nose at the same mo- 
 ment, ashamed or afraid to put her handkerchief 
 to her streaming eyes. 
 
 " Then my destiny is decided !" solemnly ex- 
 claimed Malvide. 
 
 " Exactly so," cried the Vicomte, pointing 
 to the contract which lav before him.
 
 the cagot's hut. 315 
 
 "Exactly so," echoed the mother, tapping 
 her snuff box ; and thus the conference ended. 
 
 Those only who know the sacred feeling 
 attached to parental authority in France can 
 understand the sufferings of her who now 
 resolved to violate its commands, and cast off 
 her long allegiance. She did not underrate the 
 importance of the step she was about to take. 
 She felt the full force of that deep sentiment of 
 veneration which had grown with her from her 
 cradle; and to break through the barriers it 
 opposed to her decision, either an impetuous 
 burst of passion, or a well weighed course of 
 reflection was required. Had Mai vide acted on 
 the first, her vigour would most probably have 
 subsided into remorse ; as it was, the bold step 
 taken — the barrier once broken down — every hour 
 brought with it self-approval and fresh energy. 
 
 She dashed away the lingering tears that 
 trickled down her cheek, after that last inter- 
 view with her harsh father and weak mother, 
 and her heart strings seemed new-braced, as 
 
 p 2
 
 316 the cagot's hut. 
 
 with dry eyes and beating bosom, she com- 
 menced her preparations for flight. Felix was 
 her only counsellor and assistant. He procured 
 a peasant's dress, and a false passport for St. 
 Sauveur, in the Upper Pyrenees, which was 
 given without difficulty on his demand at the 
 Mayor's office at Toulouse, for " Jacqueline 
 L'Heureux, a country girl, aged twenty-two,"" 
 and no signalemcnt was required. Felix sent 
 forward also a small trunk, stocked with the 
 mere essentials of comfort, addressed to the 
 care of some worthy Bourgeois at Bagneres de 
 Luchon, on the very verge of Spain, an acquain- 
 tance of a friend of a relation of his, and 
 far enough removed every way to leave but 
 little risk of discovery through him. 
 
 A fine night favoured our heroine, and no 
 accident betrayed her. Supported on the arm 
 of Felix, she safely passed through the lawns 
 and woods, and reached the river side. There 
 a boat awaited her, the same which had carried 
 IMelchior to her longing arms, on the secret visit
 
 THE CAGOX'S HUT. 317 
 
 which I have already mentioned. As she stepped 
 over the side and took her seat in the little skiff, 
 the memory of that delicious meeting rose upon 
 her mind, and overpowered the sorrow which 
 was stealing upon her, at every step which took 
 her from the scenes of her youth. But now, 
 revived and reassured, she would not suffer 
 another retrospection to interfere with the for- 
 ward movement of her thoughts — she would 
 look back no more. A league from the opposite 
 side of the river she safely met the Bayonne Di- 
 ligence in which her place was secured. There 
 she took leave of Felix, and stepped into the 
 crowded carriage, where she had to commence 
 her series of masquerade concealments in a mood 
 but little suited for the practice of such antics. 
 She protested to me, during her recital of 
 events, that nothing connected with her stolen 
 journey equalled, in irksomeness, if not in actual 
 suffering, the necessity of supporting her as- 
 sumed character, of talking patois to her fellow 
 travellers, and falsely answering all their inqui-
 
 318 the cagot's hut. 
 
 sitive demands as to her birth, parentage, and 
 connections. 
 
 Quitting the Diligence at Lourdes, she pro- 
 ceeded on foot, following the windings of the 
 Gave, skirted Fierrefitte, slept in a cottage 
 inn at Luz, and continued the course of the 
 valley of Barreges till she reached Gedro, 
 whence she struck off, by the route I took after- 
 wards, into the valley of Heas, and thence into 
 that of Estaube, where she soon discovered the 
 Cagot's hut, that bourne of the long-sought 
 security, to attain which she had suffered so 
 much. 
 
 But on approaching this place of rendezvous, 
 a thousand heretofore unknown emotions rushed 
 upon her. The whole force of every feminine 
 feeling seemed to assail, instead of assisting her. 
 The wild anxiety to clasp her lover in her arms, 
 which had hitherto urged her on — the longing 
 desire to pour out into his bosom the flood of 
 her secret thoughts — all this seemed checked at 
 once; and she felt an oppression of spirits, a
 
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 319 
 
 stagnation of feeling, instead of the buoyant 
 delight which had, up till then, supported her. 
 She feared she had gone too far — that delicacy 
 was violated as duty had been defied — and that, 
 instead of the fond embrace of an enraptured 
 lover, she might have to encounter the chill 
 triumph of a contemptuous conqueror. It was 
 thus she was tortured by the cruel fears which 
 woman is the heir to, which make her doubt the 
 generous hearts that love her best, for every step 
 the world calls weakness, and value her the 
 most when she considers herself of least price. 
 There may be men — and women do well per- 
 haps to cherish the belief — who despise the 
 beings that doat on them, but still there axej'eu. 
 such ; and Melchior and his like were none of 
 them. Malvide would have felt this too, confi- 
 dently and proudly, had not that passing shade 
 of female distrust — distrust of herself rather than 
 him — discoloured the truth awhile, and thrown 
 an uncertain hue upon the perspective which she 
 was yet destined to enjoy.
 
 320 the cagot's hut. 
 
 
 She trembled as she gazed on the hut to 
 which her limbs seemed to refuse to bear her. 
 Once, in the conflict of feeling, which oppressed 
 her, and almost bent her to the earth, she re- 
 solved to abandon her intention and return 
 home. But an undefinable pang accompanied 
 the thought, that seemed to carry despair in its 
 suggestion. She started forward on her path, 
 and, as if she had been flying from all the com- 
 bined evils of life, she hur ried up to the well 
 known door of the hut. At every step she 
 expected to meet Melchior, and she shuddered 
 with terror each instant lest he might appear. 
 Arrived at the threshold she paused once more, 
 and she felt a faintness come across her brow. 
 She hastily knocked, and at the same moment 
 she raised the latch ; and, tottering into the 
 room, she sank into a chair, and covered her 
 face with her hands, in terror of the encounter 
 she so dreaded, yet so longed for. 
 
 It was evening. The old Cagot couple were 
 at their meals of cruchade. Surprised at the
 
 the cagot's hut. 321 
 
 abrupt entrance of a female, dressed in the cos- 
 tume of the district, but still a stranger, they 
 both for a moment paused. The old man, 
 however, carelessly resumed his occupation, 
 while his more active and more beneficent help- 
 mate rose and approached the agitated girl. 
 
 Malvide answered her first kind words by 
 an inquiring stare around the chamber ; and 
 when the old woman really recognized her, and 
 gave expression to her astonishment and plea- 
 sure, she quickly asked if Melchior were there ?, 
 Being answered in the negative, she exclaimed, 
 " Thank God ! thank God !" and a flood of 
 tears gave relief to her heart, which seemed 
 strained to bursting. 
 
 The kind hearted old woman had not suffi- 
 cient of that tormenting intelligence which just 
 sees enough into one's sorrows to make it wish 
 to pry deeper. She only perceived that the 
 young lady wept ; she did not inquire nor 
 care for the cause, but confined her efforts to 
 lessen the effect. She was just dull enough 
 
 p 3
 
 322 the cagot's hut. 
 
 to know that that is best done by leaving the 
 disease to its own cure ; and a few minutes 
 proved the justice of her calculation, by Mal- 
 vide's recovered composure, a weight of woe- 
 having apparently been heaved from her breast. 
 But this unnatural respite did not continue 
 long. A sudden shock came across her mind 
 once more, in the thought that his absence might 
 be caused by displeasure at the bold step she 
 had taken — by danger — by death even— and she 
 shook in every joint while the last horrid con- 
 jecture seemed to freeze her heart. She sum- 
 moned strength enough to inquire from the old 
 woman if her lover had not been at the hut, or 
 had sent no messenger ? The chilling negatives 
 that answered these anxious questions completed 
 her wretchedness. She now felt indeed forlorn, 
 and almost abandoned. If Melchior were indeed 
 then ill — a prisoner — wounded ! Such were 
 alone the frightful probabilities her fancy con- 
 jured up; for, after a moment's thought, she 
 would not, could not suffer the degrading
 
 THE cagot's hut. 328 
 
 notion of his abandonment of her to linger in 
 her brain, and to believe him dead, was to her 
 worse than death. Every feeling of self was 
 then forgotten, and her only considerations were 
 given for his safety. 
 
 This was a night of unmitigated misery to 
 our poor heroine. The grateful old mistress of 
 the hut did all she could to alleviate her dis- 
 tress. The spare room, always ready for the 
 chance guests which adventure might bring 
 there, was put into its best trim. Malvide had 
 experienced its shelter before, and she reckoned 
 on finding enough for her wants ; but as things 
 were, accommodation more indifferent still would 
 have amply suited her desires. She scarcely felt 
 the texture of the bed she pressed, and seemed 
 alive only to sensations of mental suffering. Her 
 first rational determination was to write imme- 
 diately to Felix. She had promised him to do 
 so, when anticipating different results to what 
 she now thought her too hasty journey ; and 
 she sat down to redeem her pledge to her faith-
 
 324 the cagot's hut. 
 
 ful assistant, so agonized as to be scarcely com- 
 prehensible. Enough was, however, said to ex- 
 plain the distress, and intimate the possible peril 
 of her situation ; and the letter was dispatched 
 by day-break, in the care of the old woman, 
 who undertook to forward it from Gedro to 
 the post town of St. Sauveur ; and at the same 
 time she promised to procure a safe messenger 
 with a horse to cross the mountain paths to 
 Bagneres de Luchon for the little trunk, for the 
 receipt of which our poor heroine, under the 
 signature of Jacqueline l'Heureux, gave a proper 
 authorization. 
 
 These matters arranged, Malvide felt some- 
 thing less miserable. There is, even in anxiety 
 like her's, a relief unspeakable in the bare effort 
 at exertion, a remedy for distress, which the 
 sluggard half of mankind does not comprehend. 
 Malvide having done all that depended upon 
 her, had only to endure the lingering torments 
 of suspense for full five days, from the time her 
 letter to Felix was dispatched, until the hour
 
 the cagot's hut. 325 
 
 when that devoted fellow presented himself at 
 the door of the hut, habited in the grotesque 
 disguise, borrowed or bought from some disgar- 
 nished pilgrim, at which I myself soon after- 
 wards stared. 
 
 His young mistress's delight may be ima- 
 gined, by those who can have pictured the 
 anguish of her solitary state. Felix was nearly 
 as much rejoiced, in being the means of reliev- 
 ing her agitation. Almost without a word of 
 inquiry or salutation, and waiving all those cere- 
 monious preparations, which less practised and 
 less considerate confidents delight in, he put a 
 letter into Malvide's hand. To break the seal, 
 almost devour the contents with her eyes, and 
 next the paper with kisses, was the work of a 
 minute ; for the letter was a short one, and from 
 Melchior. It was scrawled hurriedly, at the 
 very moment of a victory over the Baron 
 D'Eroles and his fanatics ; but it said enough 
 in one or two lines to stamp it, in Malvide's 
 regard, as the most precious epistle she had ever
 
 326 the cagot's hut. 
 
 received, even from Melchior. It told that he 
 was safe — that he was her's as ever — and that 
 he had not received the letter she had so faith- 
 fully promised, and he so ardently looked for. 
 Here then was the whole mystery of his non- 
 appearance plainly cleared up, and in a way so 
 simple, that a hysteric laugh burst from the 
 delighted girl, at her own expence. In all the 
 conjectures of her miserable incertitude, the 
 easiest, the most natural of all, had never crossed 
 her mind: her all important epistle had mis- 
 carried ; and to that moment her lover was in 
 utter ignorance of her situation, and of her close 
 neighbourhood to him, for he was only a few 
 leagues distant across the mountain frontier. 
 
 Malvide very soon found time to inquire with 
 anxious solicitude for her parents, whose suf- 
 ferings she imagined and deeply felt for. Felix 
 gave a trite, but feeling description of their 
 emotion and affright, when it was discovered 
 that Malvide had fled— the tears and lamen- 
 tations of the mother, mixed with reproaches to
 
 the cagot's hut. 327 
 
 the cruel father, who drove her daughter to 
 despair — the half stifled misery of the proud 
 and cold blooded Vicomte — the alarm of the 
 servants — and the agitation of the discarded 
 lover. Felix declared, that though he scarcely 
 pitied any one of the chief trio, he could hardly 
 restrain his tears, when, as a last desperate hope 
 of discovery, the Vicomte ordered the river to 
 be dragged ; and tottered, pale and trembling, 
 himself into the first boat, while the worn out 
 mother sank fainting on the bank. 
 
 At this part of his recital Malvide wrung her 
 hands, and wept bitterly, at the thought of the 
 misery which these unwise parents had made 
 her the means of inflicting on them. Rut then 
 came Felix's account of his oxon sufferings, when 
 the receipt of her and Don Melchiors letter, 
 enclosing one for her, told him of their double 
 disappointment, and of her destitute state. Then 
 without a moment's delay, he resolved to set out 
 to join her, and to go at all risks into Spain, and 
 bring Don Melchior to her. He did not tell
 
 328 THE CAGOT'S HUT. 
 
 exactly this extent of his intentions to his old 
 master and mistress, but he swore to them that 
 he would set out in search of their daughter, 
 and that he would never return without tidings 
 of her. His preparations were soon made. He 
 took care secretly to forward a guitar, and 
 some little portable luxuries, for Malvide ; and 
 providing himself with the before-noticed apt 
 disguise for frontier travelling in such times, 
 furnished with a passport, and more money than 
 he could require, he set off, and journeyed night 
 and day, until he arrived at the Cagot's hut, 
 and threw himself — not unexpectedly, for she 
 reckoned on his zeal — before his delighted and 
 agitated mistress. 
 
 It may be well supposed that Felix did not 
 linger long- in the hut. Even had his own 
 inclination prompted any loss of time, the exi- 
 gency of the case would have overcome it. But 
 
 CD */ 
 
 he was anxious to be gone, for he was a fellow of 
 an adventurous spirit ; he longed to mix in the 
 strange company, to be looked for at the other
 
 THE CAGOT'S HUT. ?29 
 
 side of the hills ; and he felt proudly anxious 
 to signalize himself in the service of his attached 
 mistress, and of the gallant lover with whom her 
 destinies were now for ever to be joined. A 
 little time served for his scanty preparations — a 
 hearty meal, a few hours repose, his relics and 
 amulets put in proper order, his false beard 
 replaced on his chin, and his staff grasped firmly 
 in his hand — and away he trudged across the 
 mountains, followed by Malvide's anxious looks, 
 which seemed to out-pace his steps, and would 
 have penetrated the secrets of distance and 
 time. 
 
 The adventures of Felix on this expedition, 
 would have formed one of the most amusing of 
 modern pilgrimages, had I room for such an epi- 
 sode. But I must slur over his meetings with 
 the various curious characters which at that time 
 abounded in Spain ; the accidents which for 
 many days retarded his main object; his falling 
 in with Father Munoz, whom he immediately 
 recognized as Don Melchior's old friend ; and
 
 330 THE cagot's hut. 
 
 his rencontre with the villain Sanchez, who, in 
 his presence, and deceived by his professed 
 opinions, avowed to the monk his intention of 
 murdering Don Melchior, and set out for his 
 quarters, under a treacherous semblance of pa- 
 triotism, to effect his purpose. To prevent it, 
 however, two obstacles were in the way — Father 
 Munoz's and Felix's disapproval. The strange 
 circumstances of this gratuitous villany revived 
 all the old warmth of the monk's attachment ; 
 and he immediately despatched Felix, furnished 
 with passes of security against the outrages of 
 the Royalist bands, to outmarch the intended 
 assassin, and put Don Melchior on his guard. 
 He entered fully into Felix's confidence, who 
 told him not only of the continued attachment 
 of his old friend for Malvide, but entrusted him 
 with the secret of her present retreat, certain 
 that, in the result of any accident to Don Mel- 
 chior, the Monk would use all his powerful 
 i nfluence for her protection. Felix little knew 
 the chord he touched on, when he sounded the
 
 the cagot's hut. 331 
 
 praises of Malvide ; and the only return asked 
 by Father Munoz, for his solemn promises of 
 protection to that dear object, was a profound 
 secrecy, as to his having been informed of her 
 circumstances and situation. 
 
 Felix thought that was the least return he 
 could make for so important a protection, and 
 being discreet as well as zealous, he never vio- 
 lated his promises to the monk ; and neither 
 Melchior nor Malvide, knew the guardian that 
 protected the latter, during a lawless and hazard- 
 ous interval, until Father Munoz informed his 
 friend of the fact, and allowed me an oppor- 
 tunity for knowing, how far I too had shared in 
 the safety secured to the hut, by his peremptory 
 orders for its inviolability. 
 
 The marches and countermarches perpetually 
 employing Don Melchior and his fellow pur- 
 suers of the fugitive fanatics, made it a difficult 
 matter for the pretended pilgrim to come into 
 actual contact with him. The object was at 
 last attained. He found Don Melchior ; warned
 
 332 the cagot's hut. 
 
 him of the projected attempt against his life ; 
 informed him of the situation of her, for whom 
 alone he thought that life worth preserving ; and 
 bearing a hasty but eloquent letter from the gal- 
 lant soldier to his faithful mistress, with instruc- 
 tions for the formation of a miniature telegraph, 
 and signals for its use, Felix once more bent his 
 steps towards the secret hold of the lovers, and 
 never paused in bis career, until the very 
 evening when I so unexpectedly formed one of 
 the party among whom he alighted. 
 
 The march of circumstances from that moment 
 has been, I hope, as clearly as it was truly 
 traced. I have made my recital of previous 
 transactions bear mainly on points of immediate 
 interest to my heroine. Any oversight in those 
 little dovetailings, which make a narrative more 
 perfect, will be readily dispensed with for the 
 entertainment of my straight-forward object, of 
 coming quickly to the situation of chief impor- 
 tance, in what I have chosen to denominate, 
 like the rest, a tale. And I now resume the
 
 the cagot's hut. 333 
 
 narrative of events, at the place where I again 
 became an actual observer of them ; feeling all 
 the relief, which one naturally experiences in 
 getting rid of a second-hand story, and having 
 only to deal with such facts, as one can vouch 
 for on one's own authority. 
 
 
 
 F.XD of vol. i. 
 
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