two, no notches being made for the legs: the victim's legs were placed
between the two pieces of wood, which were then, by means of a vice at
each end, brought gradually together. Translators Note.]

These prisoners were three young men and three girls in men's clothes,
who had been seized just as they were about to emigrate. As the abbe was
always protected by a guard of soldiers, he sent for the officer in
command and ordered him to march against, the fanatics and disperse them.
But the officer was spared the trouble of obeying, for the fanatics were
already at hand. On reaching the gate of the courtyard he heard them
outside, and perceived that they were making ready to burst it in.
Judging of their numbers by the sound of their voices, he considered that
far from attacking them, he would have enough to do in preparing for
defence, consequently he bolted and barred the gate on the inside, and
hastily erected a barricade under an arch leading to the apartments of
the abbe. Just as these preparations were complete, Esprit Seguier
caught sight of a heavy beam of wood lying in a ditch; this was raised by
a dozen men and used as a battering-ram to force in the gate, which soon
showed a breach. Thus encouraged, the workers, cheered by the chants of
their comrades, soon got the gate off the hinges, and thus the outside
court was taken. The crowd then loudly demanded the release of the
prisoners, using dire threats.

The commanding officer sent to ask the abbe what he was to do; the abbe
replied that he was to fire on the conspirators. This imprudent order
was carried out; one of the fanatics was killed on the spot, and two
wounded men mingled their groans with the songs and threats of their
comrades.

The barricade was next attacked, some using axes, others darting their