ng this
number were some subaltern officers and many passengers. The rebels drew
their sabres, and those who had none armed themselves with knives. They
advanced in a determined manner upon us; we stood on our defence; the
attack commenced. Animated by despair, one of them aimed a stroke at an
officer; the rebel instantly fell, pierced with wounds. This firmness
awed them for an instant, but diminished nothing of their rage. They
ceased to advance, and withdrew, presenting to us a front bristling with
sabres and bayonets, to the back part of the raft to execute their plan.
One of them feigned to rest himself on the small railings on the sides
of the raft, and with a knife began cutting the cords. Being told by a
servant, one of us sprung upon him. A soldier, wishing to defend him,
struck at the officer with his knife, which only pierced his coat; the
officer wheeled round, seized his adversary, and threw both him and his
comrade into the sea.

There had been as yet but partial affairs: the combat became general.
Some one cried to lower the sail; a crowd of infuriated mortals threw
themselves in an instant upon the haulyards, the shrouds, and cut them.
The fall of the mast almost broke the thigh of a captain of infantry,
who fell insensible. He was seized by the soldiers, who threw him into
the sea. We saved him, and placed him on a barrel, whence he was taken
by the rebels, who wished to put out his eyes with a penknife.
Exasperated by so much brutality, we no longer restrained ourselves, but
rushed in upon them, and charged them with fury. Sword in hand we
traversed the line which the soldiers formed, and many paid with their
lives the errors of their revolt. Various passengers, during these cruel
moments, evinced the greatest courage and coolness.

M. Correard fell into a sort of swoon; but hearing at every instant the
cries, _To arms! with us, comrades; we are lost!_ joined with the groans
and imprecations of the wounded and dying, was soon roused from his
lethargy. All this horrible tumult speedily made him comprehend how
necessary it was to be upon his guard. Armed with his sabre, he gathered
together some of his workmen on the front of the raft, and there charged
them to hurt no one, unless they were attacked. He almost always
remained with them; and several times they had to defend themselves
against the rebels, who, swimming round to the point of the raft,
placed M. Correard and his little troop between two dan