red out, shouting and yelling furiously, and brandishing
their rough weapons, which shone blood red in the glow of the fire in
the ruins. Someone had evidently been placed on the watch, and had told
them where the troops had taken up their post, for they came on without
hesitation, bearing outwards until they faced the centre of the line, at
a distance of fifty yards; then one of the men, who appeared to be the
leader, shouted an order, and they rushed impetuously forward. The front
line at once opened fire. Many of the peasants dropped, while the others
hesitated a little, and so gave the men who had first fired time to
reload; but, urged on by the shouts of their leaders, the peasants again
rushed forward.

"Fire a volley, and then fix bayonets!" Hector shouted. The fifty
muskets flashed out, and as the peasants were but fifteen yards away
every shot told, and their front rank was completely swept away.

"Every other man in the second line fire!" Hector ordered, and
twenty-five shots added to the confusion among the peasants. The
slaughter, however, only had the effect of maddening the great crowd,
who numbered upwards of two thousand, and with a howl of fury they
rushed forward again. Hector waited until they almost touched the row of
bayonets, and then gave the order for the remaining men to fire and all
to fix bayonets. The instant this was done he shouted "Charge!" for he
saw that while standing quiet his men were no match for the peasants,
whose long poles with the scythes at the end gave them great advantage
over the shorter weapons of the soldiers. With a cheer the latter threw
themselves upon their opponents, their close formation and more handy
weapons depriving their enemies of this advantage. Thrusting and
overthrowing all in front of them, the line burst its way through
the mob, the little party of cavalry charging furiously whenever the
peasants endeavoured to fall upon their rear, and the latter, boldly as
they fought against the infantry, shrank back before the flashing swords
and the weight of horses and riders.

As soon as they had passed through the crowd Hector gave the order for
his troops to face about, and they again burst their way through the mob
that had closed in behind them. Four times was the manoeuvre repeated,
the resistance growing fainter each time, as the peasants found
themselves unable to withstand the charge of the disciplined troops.
When for the fifth time they reached the gate