"There is an instruction above all other instructions," continued Schoelcher, "obligatory upon the Soldier as upon the Citizen—the Law."
He turned again towards the soldiers to harangue them, but the captain cried out to him,—
"Not another word! You shall not go on! If you add one word, I shall give the order to fire."
"What does that matter to us?" said Schoelcher.
At this moment an officer arrived on horseback. It was the major of the regiment. He whispered for a moment to the captain.
"Gentlemen! Representatives!" continued the captain, waving his sword, "withdraw, or I shall fire."
"Fire!" shouted De Flotte.
The Representatives—strange and heroic copy of Fontenoy—took off their hats, and faced the muskets.
Schoelcher alone kept his hat on his head, and waited with his arms crossed.
"Fix bayonets," said the captain. And turning towards the squads, "Charge!"