THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ÉMILE ZOLA. Эмиль Золя

      CHAPTER XVIII

      THE ATTACK

      M. DE CAZALIS, thanks to his National Guard uniform, had been able to follow all the different phases of the riot. So far back as the morning, when Mathéus left him opposite the Prefecture, he had slipped into the ranks of the first company he had met, which happened to be that of Sauvaire, and the ex-deputy was thus able to be present at the brush with the people in the Rue de la Palud.

      He had but a vague idea of the plans formed by Mathéus, and was urged by curiosity to follow all his manoeuvres. After the barricade had been captured he proceeded with Sauvaire’s company to the Cannebière, and witnessed all the unfortunate events that had occurred there. When he saw the procession led by the spy, go by with the corpse, he understood that a fight was inevitable, and remembered the rendezvous his accomplice had given him. But when a panic of terror had dispersed the multitude, he felt much perplexed. Prudence told him not to abandon his new companions-in-arms; so, for over two hours, he remained on the Place de la Revolution with the company, which was awaiting orders to march. What made him particularly uneasy, was not having a better idea of Mathéus’ plans, for the latter had merely told him to join him at the spot where barricades would be thrown up. He was suddenly relieved of his perplexity by an order, brought by a man on horseback, which Captain Sauvaire communicated to the National Guard in these terms:

      “My boys, the country has need of us. Forward, march!”

      Never had the ex-stevedore made such an eloquent speech. He felt so enthusiastic at himself, that he began to ascend the Cannebière at the head of his men, with the air of a conqueror, hardly giving a thought to the danger he was about to incur.

      M. de Cazalis felt very much surprised when the Company turned to the left, instead of going towards the Rue de Rome. His idea was that Mathéus had been making efforts to bring about the struggle near the Cours Bonaparte, and he could not understand how his accomplice would be able to steal Joseph, if the fighting took place in the old town. From that moment he gave up trying to understand, but as the company reached the Grande Rue he caught sight of the barricade and that was sufficient. He said to himself, he had kept the appointment, and he awaited events.

      The Cours Belzunce was full of troops. There were two platoons of infantry, and about three hundred artillerymen. As soon as Sauvaire’s company arrived, the major who had received orders to attack the barricade, had a short interview with the captain.

      “I was awaiting you,” he said to Sauvaire. “My orders are to show as much consideration as is possible, and it occurred to me that as the sight of the infantry would be likely to exasperate the workmen, it might be best for the National Guard to march on ahead and make a final effort at conciliation. Speak to the rioters as a fellow-townsman.”

      From that moment Sauvaire imagined that the destiny of France was in his hands. He formed his company into column and advanced resolutely into the Grande Rue, the tramp of his men ringing out in the silence. The major set his troops in motion behind the National Guard.

      When the captain found himself at fifty paces from the barricade, he commanded: “Halt!” and approached it alone. On hearing his word of command, some fifteen rioters showed themselves. The ex-master-stevedore, seeing the musket barrels flashing at his breast, gave a shudder of fright, but out of vanity, put on a good appearance externally.

      “Eh! the deuce!” he said, “I’m a friend, don’t fire. We’re all Marseillais boys; we can’t cut each other’s throats in a family circle. There are none but good fellows here. Is it not so? Come now, throw down your arms and let each go his own way.”

      There was but one cry in response to these exhortations.

      “It is too late!”

      “It is never too late to act like reasonable men,” continued Sauvaire. “In your place, I’d return to duty. They must have told you that the Commissary of the Government had admitted the justice of your claims. What more do you want?”

      “What we want is blood, withdraw!” screamed the rioters.

      Sauvaire, while speaking, had been attentively following the workmen’s movements. Suddenly, he fancied he heard a strange sound and was about to retreat, when a powerful voice shouted from behind the barricade:

      “Look out, stoop down!”

      Sauvaire let himself fall heavily to the ground, and the men behind him bent themselves.

      At the same moment a discharge from the barricades and neighbouring houses, passed over the heads of the attacking party with a terrible roar, but thanks to the warning, which had caused the soldiers to curve their necks, only about a dozen men were wounded. The attack had been so sudden and unexpected, that the National Guards, seized with panic, had fled. Sauvaire threw himself to the left, against the houses, and hurriedly rejoined his company which had reformed a hundred paces further on.

      During this time an incident had occurred, behind the barricade. M. Martelly and Abbé Chastanier had remained among the workmen, exhorting them to avoid the effusion of blood. Whilst Sauvaire was speaking, the shipowner had noticed that some of the more furious ones were preparing to fire, and it was he who had shouted to the soldiers:

      “Look out, stoop down!”

      When the rioters perceived what little effect their discharge had produced, they surrounded M. Martelly in a rage. Philippe, who had come down from the barricade, saw the danger his former employer was running, and, to save him, ordered two of the rioters to put him and the priest under arrest and not to lose sight of them. Ultimately both were taken to the little shop where Mathéus was confined.

      The troops, however, advanced again. The major had given the infantry orders to take the barricade by assault, and a few of the National Guards, exasperated at the volley they had received, had mixed with the soldiers. Among these was M. de Cazalis. Having perceived Philippe at the top of the barricade, he had but one thought, to hide behind something or in some doorway, and kill his enemy.

      As the new attacking column was about to rush upon the barricade, they were repulsed by a second discharge. This volley was much more murderous than the first. A captain, mortally wounded, was carried in a dying condition into a neighbouring house, and more than thirty men were incapacitated from taking any further part in the fray. The major then understood that the struggle was unequal and that he would never capture the barricade by storming it from the front, as the rioters, hidden behind all sorts of shelter, were able to take deadly aim, whilst those attacking could not do so. From that moment, soldiers and National Guards dispersed in the Grande Rue, and throwing themselves on either side of it, along the walls, opened a skirmishing fire. Shot then followed shot, irregularly, here and there; and as soon as a man showed himself, he was certain to get a bullet whistling at his ears.

      Sauvaire had sought refuge under a large doorway. The worthy man began to think the business of a National Guard no joke. His vanity had first of all been tickled, by the importance the rank of captain gave him, in the grave events that were occurring; but, when he saw they were fighting in earnest, his bourgeois pity got