leaving several corpses in the gutter. Major Jeannin cried out, "Finish

them off." The entire battalion which occupied the Mauconseil barricade,

then appeared with raised bayonets upon the uneven crest of this

barricade, and from there without breaking their line, with a sudden,

but regulated and inexorable movement, sprang into the street. The four

companies, in close order, and as though mingled and hardly visible,

seemed like a wave precipitating itself with a great noise from the

height of the barricade.

At the barricade of the Petit Carreau they noted the manoeuvre, and had

paused in their fire. "Present," cried Jeanty Sarre, "but do not fire;

wait for the order."

Each put his gun to his shoulder, then placed the barrels between the

paving-stones, ready to fire, and waited.

As soon as it had quitted the Mauconseil redoubt, the battalion rapidly

formed itself into an attacking column, and a moment afterwards they

heard the intermittent sound of an advance at the double. It was the

battalion which was coming upon them.

Charpentier," said Jeanty Sarre, "you have good eyes. Are they midway?"

Yes," said Charpentier.

Fire," said Jeanty Sarre.

The barricade fired. The whole street was filled with smoke. Several

516

The History of a Crime