SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 385 
Several threw themselves at our feet and implored our par- 
don, which was instantly granted. Thinking that order was 
re-established, we returned to our station on the centre of the 
raft, only taking the precaution of keeping our arms. We, 
however, had soon to prove the impossibility of counting on 
the permanence of any honest sentiment in the hearts of these 
beings. 
It was nearly midnight ; and, after an hour of apparent tran- 
quillity, the soldiers rose afresh. Their mind was entirely 
gone ; they ran upon us in despair, with knives and sabres in 
their hands. As they yet had all their physical strength, and 
beside were armed, we were obliged again to stand on our 
defence. Their revolt became still more dangerous, as, in 
their delirium, they were entirely deaf to the voice of reason. 
They attacked us, we charged them in our turn, and immedi- 
ately the raft was strewed with their dead bodies. Those of 
our adversaries who had no weapons, endeavored to tear us 
with their sharp teeth. Many of us were cruelly bitten. M. 
Savigny was torn on the legs and shoulder; he also received 
a wound on the right arm, which deprived him of the use of 
his fourth and little finger for a long while. Many others 
were wounded ; and many cuts were found in our clothes, 
from knives and sabres. 
One of our Vv'orkmen was also seized by four of the rebels, 
who wished to throw him into the sea. One of them had laid 
hold of his right leg, and had bit most unmercifully the ten- 
don above the heel ; others were striking him with great 
slashes of their sabres, and with the but end of their guns, 
when his cries made us hasten to his assistance. In this af- 
fair the brave Lavilette, ex-serjeant of the foot artillery of the 
Old Guard, behaved with a courage worthy of the greatest 
praise. He rushed upon the infuriated beings in the manner 
of M. Correard, and soon snatched the workman from the 
danger which menaced him. Some short while after, in a 
fresh attack of the rebels, Sub-lieutenant Lozach fell into their 
hands. In their delirium they had taken him for Lieute- 
nant Danglas, of whom we have formely spoken, and who 
had abandoned the raft at the moment when we were quitting 
the frigate. The troop, to a man, eagerly sought this officer, 
who had seen Uttle service, and whom they reproached for 
having used them ill during the time they garrisoned the Isle 
of Rhe. We believed this officer lost, but hearing his voice, 
we soon found it still possible to save him. Immediately MM. 
Clairet, Savigny, L'Heureux, Lavilette, Coudin, Correard, 
33 
