614 LOOT OF THE IMPERIAL SUMMER PALACE AT PEKIN. 



niaiking the })usition of tlie tents of each eoiiipaiiy, and tlie order was 

 aVKHit to be given to separate and stand at ease, when all of a sudden a 

 gate opened, and a ))and of soldiers and servants discharged a volley 

 of musketry upon the arim'. 



Nothing is so impressionable as a body of troops gathered in a tumul- 

 tuous group, particularly when they find themselves facing something 

 unexpected. In the dusk, our men saw for tlu' first time a r(\gal l»uild- 

 ing of magnificent aspect, and heaid the magic word which had ah'eady 

 secured an astounding prestige among them: **The p]m])er()r!'' so 

 that the sudden panic which broke out on hearing these inoti'ensivc 

 shots was not surprising, even if it occurred in the midst of troops 

 which had been victorious at every point since arriving in C^hina. lun'er 

 recoiling a foot, and who did not consid(>r that the fact of their plung- 

 ing in such small mimbcu- into the midst of a nation of 4(>(i.(M>0.()()0 souls 

 was an act of unheard-of heroism. 



For a moment all was in disorder, confusion, and tumult: the dis- 

 banded soldiers lan in every direction, crying out. The general knew 

 that an army is a string of pearls, easy to handle so long as the thread 

 of discipline holds together the single elements, but helpless without 

 military order, for the thread l)eing broken the pearls. fall to the 

 ground, and he for a momcMit feared a disastcM-. He used his utmost 

 endeavors, giving orders, swearing, persuading, reassuring, and Hnally 

 thrust out his cane into the vacant air, as if to stop the disorganized and 

 affrighted individuals. He lost his cane, which was snatched from his 

 hands- by whom, no one ever knew. 



The panic, fortunately, ceased of its own accord, no one having been 

 injured by this first discluirge. Only a single bullet hit anything, and 

 this lodged in the head of a horse that lielonged to Conuuander de 

 Houille." 



While order was being estaltlished and the army arranged its tents, 

 the general sent one of his aids. Naval Lieutenant de Pina, at the head 

 of a company of marines, to search the entrance of the palace, where 

 several hundreds of the Tartar force which had caused us so much 

 disturbance during the night might possibh' be concealed. 



He had been gone but a few minutes when firing \vas again heard, 

 and the general sent a positive order b}' Lucy not to fire, fearing that 

 the palace might be set on fire, or that his men might kill each other, 

 and wishing that all should be taken by a bayonet charge. Lucy 

 started, the musketry tire ceased, and this is what took place. On 

 arriving at the great gate after the first discharge, M. de Pina had 

 called the watchmen of the palace to open it; as there was no response, 

 he had a ladder brought and climbed the wall, followed by M. Vive- 

 not, a midshipman. Having reached the top of the wall, M. de Pina 

 observed several Tartar soldiers in the courtyard, but he bravely 

 jumped down, hoping to have time to open to his men the large gate, 

 from the inside, before he could be attacked. 



