บทที่ บทที่ 291 · GAVROCHE WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO ACCEPT ENJOLRAS’ CARBINE

They threw a long black shawl of Widow Hucheloup’s over Father Mabeuf.

Six men made a litter of their guns; on this they laid the body, and

bore it, with bared heads, with solemn slowness, to the large table in

the tap-room.

These men, wholly absorbed in the grave and sacred task in which they

were engaged, thought no more of the perilous situation in which they

stood.

When the corpse passed near Javert, who was still impassive, Enjolras

said to the spy:—

“It will be your turn presently!”

During all this time, Little Gavroche, who alone had not quitted his

post, but had remained on guard, thought he espied some men stealthily

approaching the barricade. All at once he shouted:—

“Look out!”

Courfeyrac, Enjolras, Jean Prouvaire, Combeferre, Joly, Bahorel,

Bossuet, and all the rest ran tumultuously from the wine-shop. It was

almost too late. They saw a glistening density of bayonets undulating

above the barricade. Municipal guards of lofty stature were making

their way in, some striding over the omnibus, others through the cut,

thrusting before them the urchin, who retreated, but did not flee.

The moment was critical. It was that first, redoubtable moment of

inundation, when the stream rises to the level of the levee and when

the water begins to filter through the fissures of dike. A second more

and the barricade would have been taken.

Bahorel dashed upon the first municipal guard who was entering, and

killed him on the spot with a blow from his gun; the second killed

Bahorel with a blow from his bayonet. Another had already overthrown

Courfeyrac, who was shouting: “Follow me!” The largest of all, a sort

of colossus, marched on Gavroche with his bayonet fixed. The urchin

took in his arms Javert’s immense gun, levelled it resolutely at the

giant, and fired. No discharge followed. Javert’s gun was not loaded.

The municipal guard burst into a laugh and raised his bayonet at the

child.

Before the bayonet had touched Gavroche, the gun slipped from the

soldier’s grasp, a bullet had struck the municipal guardsman in the

centre of the forehead, and he fell over on his back. A second bullet

struck the other guard, who had assaulted Courfeyrac in the breast, and

laid him low on the pavement.

This was the work of Marius, who had just entered the barricade.