Carried on by the rapidity of their course, the Camisards could not pull
up till they were within a hundred yards of the enemy; they fired once,
killing several, then turned round and retreated.

When a third of the way, back had been covered, they met their chief, who
had found a fresh horse by the wayside standing beside its dead master.
He arrived at full gallop, as he was anxious to unite his cavalry and
infantry at once, as he had seen the forces of the marechal advancing,
who, as we have already said, had turned in the direction of the firing.
Hardly had Cavalier effected the desired junction of his forces than he
perceived that his retreat was cut off. He had the royal troops both
before and behind him.

The young chief saw that a desperate dash to right or left was all that
remained to him, and not knowing this country as well as the Cevennes, he
asked a peasant the way from Soudorgues to Nages, that being the only one
by which he could escape. There was no time to inquire whether the
peasant was Catholic or Protestant; he could only trust to chance, and
follow the road indicated. But a few yards from the spot where the road
from Doudorgues to Nages joins the road to Nimes he found himself in face
of Marechal Montrevel's troops under the command of Menon. However, as
they hardly outnumbered the Camisards, these did not stop to look for
another route, but bending forward in their saddles, they dashed through
the lines at full gallop, taking the direction of Nages, hoping to reach
the plain round Calvisson. But the village, the approaches, the issues
were all occupied by royal troops, and at the same time Grandval and the
marechal joined forces, while Menon collected his men together and pushed
forward. Cavalier was completely surrounded: he gave the situation a
comprehensive glance--his foes, were five to one.