noneers deserted their pieces and ran like
the rest. The courts were cleared in an instant. Two Swiss officers,
MM. de Durler and de Pfyffer, instantly made a sortie at the head of
one hundred and twenty soldiers, took four cannon, and found themselves
once more masters of the door of the Royal Court. A detachment of
sixty soldiers formed themselves into a hollow square before this door
and kept up a rolling fire on the rioters remaining on the Carrousel
until the place was completely swept. At the same time, on the side of
the garden, another detachment of Swiss, under Count de Salis, seized
three cannon and brought them to the palace gate. Napoleon, who
witnessed the combat from a distance, says: "The Swiss handled their
artillery with vigor; in ten minutes the Marseillais were chased as far
as the rue de l'Echelle, and never came back until the Swiss were
withdrawn by the King's order."

It was now, in fact, that M. d'Hervilly arrived, hatless and unarmed,
through the fusillade of grape. They wanted to show him the
dispositions they had just made on the garden side. "There is no
question of that," said he; "you must go to the Assembly; it is the
King's order." The unfortunate soldiers flattered themselves that they
might still {311} be of use. "Yes, brave Swiss," cried Baron de
Viomesnil, "go and find the King. Your ancestors did so more than
once." In spite of their chagrin at abandoning the field of which they
they had just become masters, they obeyed. Their only thought was to
repair to that Assembly where a last humiliation awaited them. The
officers had the drums beat the call to arms, and, in spite of the rain
of balls from every side, they succeeded in marshalling the soldiers as
if for a dress parade in front of the palace, opposite the garden. The
signal for departure was given. An unforeseen peril was reserved for
these heroes. The battalions of the National Guard, stationed at the
door of the Pont Royal, at that of the Manege court, and the beginning
of the terrace of the Feuillants, had stood still, with their weapons
grounded, since the affray began. But hardly had the Swiss entered the
grand alley than these battalions, neutral until now, detailed a number
of individuals who hid behind the trees, and fired, with their muzzles
almost touching the troops. On reaching the middle of the alley, the
Swiss, who hardly deigned to return this fire, divided into two
columns. The first, turning