198 TEE LIFE OF

were detached, they fed; as soon as the scouts re
reappeared. The French army inspired only terror.
 A third attack was to be made. The stronghold wva
larly invested. Fresh troops had come up. All that
experience, labor, and prowess could contribute was set '.
orous action.
 While the operations for the blockade were proceed
French soldiers heard from the strongholds the words
very 5ongs to whi.h they had themsel%,i marched agail
enemies of liberty in Europe. The eti-l.. t was singular
deep. What thnio bla.-k men the injured, and we the'
ers! thoqe black men the oppr'.-:eed, and we the opp
Are we, then, no longer the servants and patrons of li
The Republic gi\-ve freedom; we are fighting Ibr servi
Such impressions were little likely to in,.rease the efficiencq.
republican soldiers. Their duty they continue to do, but
vices higher than a mere sen-t .i'duty can iomunand, were
required.
 By degr'eep, trh work- were completed and brought into
against the red.,ul.t. Partial su.ceites were obtained. En
aged by th,:-e. Iho.hamb'-au thou.hlt him-_llr able to c
battery, whii. hli h:. hhiad Itr a moment tiltn-r'.ed, by one blow.
lost thr-l.- hundred men in their n-elcs' attempt. Then a
stant cannonaI, l. vai nmmence.d. From the 22.1 to the
of March, it w,la .arrieri on with Lrreat a,.tiiity. The
was ;n the gre'r,-t p.. ril.
 At th;i time a Il.,.k man and a blar-k woman were eaptn
Suaprvctd to Ib,. ;pie;, they were, s-ul.jie.'ted to the severest
ishment. The man said h- was blind; nothing bur the w
of his eves were to be seen. Only in leaning on the aged
gress, his companion, did he appear able to walk. She af
to he dea'. Scarcely anything but groans and sobs could
cruellest treatment extort erom them. At length, com
prevailed. They were bid go about their business. They
dreadfully suffered, and seemed unable to move. Not
they were threatened to be shot did they attempt to w