The Galley Slave's Ring

renn, his son and Gildas reached the door of the sh

ouse fronts. A vast and swelling flood of people was rushing by. Some preceded, others accompanied the sinister ill

s!" "Ve

tracted by the noise, looked out of their windows, recoiled with

on their foreheads, the linendraper and his son realized that some horribl

procession h

National Guard, and brandishing guns, swords, knives and sticks, preceded a cart, that

y heaped up a

s breast bleeding from a recent wound, stood erect in the front part of th

n for the genius of Ven

loodstained head of an old man, to the right the bust of a woman whose arms, like her bl

he scarlet hat waved his torch a

brothers! Vengeance! To

, trembling with indign

o the barrica

, others not, rose up toward the somber and threatening

loody vision before the linendraper and his son. So painful was the first impression of both that they could not utter a word. Their e

ron bars, used to fasten the shop window from within, brandished it over hi

brothers! Let the blood of the victims fall upon the head of th

aving stones. The man's words and example produced a mag

barricades! Long

vers and crowbars to tear up the pavement. Soon as the first row of cobblestones was removed, th

ere joined by George Duchene, the young carpenter, who arrived in the company of a score of armed men, the me

nd munitions to the shop in the course of the afternoon. Dupont, who had driven the truck,

e men of his own quarter upon whom he felt sure he could rely, while Gildas, the previous poltroonery of whom had been transformed into heroism from the instant the sinister

hand and a bunch of cartridges tied up in a handkerc

t Caussidiere and Sobrier behind-they are making ready to march upon the Prefecture; Lesserre, Lagrange, Etienne Arago are, at the ear

troops,

uts of 'Long live the Reform!' 'Down with Louis Philippe!' On the other hand, the Municip

l and fatal spell that arms brothers against one another. Well, let us hope this struggle w

great age and weakness, he wanted to accompany me.

the first floor, through which the gleam of a lighted lamp could be seen. "They are bu

uses and armed with guns. Among these a ragpicker with a long white beard, but still strong, was conspicuous. His clothes were in tatters, and, although he carried a musket under his arm he did

ief! Sto

you, my good woman?

he pushed me aside and went into my shop, despite all I could do, saying: 'Well, if you have no arms, I shall take money to buy some.' So saying, he opened my till, took out of it thirty-two

man, but of ignoble countenance. Hardened vice had

husky voice, struggling to avoid being searched

ing firm to his collar. "You stabbed this poor woman after robbing her of her mon

e thing," said a workingma

identify

o, monsieur! It i

the workingman. "

er searching another of the thief's pockets, "

ed the tradeswoman. "Thank

scores with us," proceeded the ragpicker. "You stole and meant

ution, or are we not?" answered the thief in a hoarse voice and affec

revolution?" asked the ragpicker

el

le rise in revolt for the purpose

cting, you pack of hypocrites? Is it, perhaps,

sulted for a moment in a low voice. One of them, noticing the door of a grocery

l Monsieur Lebrenn of this a

few words in the ear of t

It may be a wholesome example. But while we wait, send m

a voice. "Come and help f

ent and bold face, was sixteen years of age, but looked only twelve. He wore a dilapidated pair of trousers, and old shoes to match, a

he ragpicker, "is

two marbles, three nails and a knuckl

he but budges. Listen, my friend Flamec

e, father

his pistol between the shirt and the skin of the thief

dget; if you do you may

a pistol," added father B

t beginning to tremble, although he made an effort to smile. "What do you pr

t annoys us to see old folks like myself die of hunger on the street like a stray dog when our strength to work is no more. We are in insurrection, my young fellow, because it is a torment to us to hear ourselves repeat the fact that, out of every hundred young girls who walk the streets at night, ninety-five are driven thereto by misery. We a

left over. I make my burrow in your bundle of old clothes, and sleep there like a dormouse. No fear, I tell you, father Bribri, I need not steal. As to me, when I insurrect, by the honor of my name! it is because it finally rasps upon

the five or six armed workingmen comi

t Azor loose upon you." Saying which he tightene

who were getting their guns ready, while another, coming out of the grocery that he had just before stepped into, brough

the thief. He straggled to di

th theft-take me bef

aged marrying his daughter," explained fathe

thache," added Flameche;

to the lamp-post

agistrate!" repeated the wretch, struggling vi

p! H

rkingmen, holding up the poster before the thief

AS A T

ing livid. "Shot? Mercy! Help! As

you, in order that they may not dishonor

his leathern apron on. "And all of you, my friends, get your guns ready! Do

apse and terror that, crouching upon the pavement, he could

rcy! No

I shall bandage your ey

of it and threw it over the condemned man who, on his knees and gathered into a lump, was

s were fir

justice

lamp-post, the corpse of the bandit swung to the n

as a t