Les Misérables, v. 5/5: Jean Valjean
Page 12
CHAPTER XI.
THE SHOT WHICH DOES NOT MISS AND WHICH KILLS NOBODY.
The fire of the assailants continued, and the musketry and grape-shotalternated, though without producing much mischief. The upper part ofCorinth alone suffered, and the first-floor and garret windows, piercedby slugs and bullets, gradually lost their shape. The combatants postedthere were compelled to withdraw; but, in fact, such are the tacticsof an attack on a barricade,--to skirmish for a long time and exhaustthe ammunition of the insurgents, if they commit the error of returningthe fire. When it is discovered by the slackening of their fire thatthey have no powder or ball left, the assault is made. Enjolras had notfallen into this trap, and the barricade did not reply. At each platoonfire Gavroche thrust his tongue into his cheek, a sign of supremedisdain.
"That's good," he said; "tear up the linen, for we require lint."
Courfeyrac addressed the grape-shot on its want of effect, and said tothe cannon,--
"You are becoming diffuse, my good fellow."
In battle, intrigues take place as at a ball; and it is probable thatthe silence of the redoubt was beginning to render the assailantsanxious, and make them fear lest some unexpected incident had occurred.They felt a need of seeing clearly through this pile of paving-stones,and what was going on behind this impassive wall, which received shotswithout answering them. The insurgents suddenly perceived a helmetglistening in the sun upon an adjoining roof: a sapper was leaningagainst a tall chimney-pot and apparently a sentry there. He lookeddown into the barricade.
"That's a troublesome spy," said Enjolras.
Jean had returned Enjolras his fowling-piece, but still had his ownmusket. Without saying a word he aimed at the sapper, and a secondlater the helmet, struck by a bullet, fell noisily into the street.The soldier disappeared with all possible haste. A second watchmantook his place, and it was an officer. Jean Valjean, who had reloadedhis musket, aimed at the new-comer, and sent the officer's helmet tojoin the private's. The officer was not obstinate, but withdrew veryquickly. This time the hint was understood, and no one again appearedon the roof.
"Why did you not kill the man?" Bossuet asked Jean Valjean, who,however, made no reply.