Hardly had he taken up a position in the market town of Labarre, which
was to be his headquarters, than he was informed that a gathering of
fanatics had been seen on the little plain of Fondmorte, which formed a
pass between two valleys. He ordered out his Spanish steed, which he was
accustomed to ride in the Turkish manner--that is, with very short
stirrups, so that he could throw himself forward to the horse's ears, or
backward to the tail, according as he wished to give or avoid a mortal
blow. Taking with him eighteen men of his own company and twenty-five
from the town, he at once set off for the place indicated, not
considering any larger number necessary to put to rout a band of
peasants, however numerous.

The information turned out to be correct: a hundred Reformers led by
Esprit Seguier had encamped in the plain of Fondmorte, and about eleven
o'clock in the morning one of their sentinels in the defile gave the
alarm by firing off his gun and running back to the camp, shouting, "To
arms!" But Captain Poul, with his usual impetuosity, did not give the
insurgents time to form, but threw himself upon them to the beat of the
drum, not in the least deterred by their first volley. As he had
expected, the band consisted of undisciplined peasants, who once
scattered were unable to rally. They were therefore completely routed.
Poul killed several with his own hand, among whom were two whose heads he
cut off as cleverly as the most experienced executioner could have done,
thanks to the marvellous temper of his Damascus blade. At this sight all
who had till then stood their ground took to flight, Poul at their heels,
slashing with his sword unceasingly, till they disappeared among the
mountains. He then returned to the field of battle, picked up the two
heads, and fastening them to his saddlebow, rejoined his soldiers with
his bloody trophies,--that is to say, he joined the largest group of