He knew that there was
safety behind, and was unwilling that his brave fellows should throw
away their lives.
In the centre of the position the native troops, although they several
times climbed some distance up the barricade, were yet unable to make
way. But the French troops at the flanks were steadily forcing their
way up. Many had climbed up by the ruins of the wall, and from its top
were firing down on the defenders of the barricade. Inch by inch they
won their way up the barricade, already thickly covered with dead; and
then Charlie, seeing that his men were beginning to waver, gave the
signal.
The long blast of a trumpet was heard even above the tremendous din.
In an instant the barricades were deserted, and the defenders rushed
into the houses. The partition walls between these on the lower floors
had already been knocked down, and without suffering from the heavy
fire which the assailants opened, as soon as they gained the crest of
the barricade, the defenders retreated along these covered ways until
in rear of the second line of defence.
This was held by the battalion placed there, until the whole of the
defenders of the town had left it, by the gate leading up to the fort.
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