A shot or two had been fired at them as they rode through a wood.

When they arrived they dismounted, and the commander ordered the principal men of the village to be brought to him.

My brother and the father of the bridegroom were among them.
"'My troops have been fired at,' the Frenchman said, 'and I hold you responsible.' "'It was no one from this village,' my brother said; 'we have a wedding here, and not a soul is absent.' "'I care not,' the officer said; 'we have been fired at, and we shall give the people of this district a lesson.' "So without another word he turned to his soldiers and ordered them to fire the village from end to end.
"'It is outrageous,' my brother said, and the others joined him in the cry.

I, too, implored him to pause before having such an order carried into execution.

His only reply was to give the order to his men.
"The six principal men were seized at once, were set with their backs against the wall of a house, and shot." "You cannot mean it!" Jack exclaimed indignantly.