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.