Everybody's face expressed anxiety.

A man who, we were told, was the mayor, was haranguing a group.

As everyone was listening, with the greatest attention, we drew near and asked them the cause of the excitement.
"'Gentlemen,' said he, 'you ought to know the news: the king is in his capital, and we have once more hoisted the white flag, and there has not been a single dispute to mar the tranquillity of the day; one party has triumphed without violence, and the other has submitted with resignation.

But I have just learned that a band of vagabonds, numbering about three hundred, have assembled on the bridge over the Durance, and are preparing to raid our little town to-night, intending by pillage or extortion to get at what we possess.

I have a few guns left which I am about to distribute, and each man will watch over the safety of all.' "Although he had not enough arms to go round, he offered to supply us, but as I had my double-barrelled pistols I did not deprive him of his weapons.