"'Why have you upset our pump?' "'To prevent your pumping.' "'And why do you prevent our pumping?' "'Because those who lighted the fire shall not put it out. It pleased you to see yonder wooden columns burn, it pleases me to see the poplar blaze.' "'Raise the pump,' said the captain to his men, with an imperious air. 'We will see who dares upset it again.' "'And we will see who dares raise it, when I forbid!' retorted the baron, calmly folding his muscular arms across his vast chest. "A murmur was heard; but nobody stirred. "'Cowards!' cried Toussaint Gilles, with a furious glance at his friends; 'are you all afraid of one man?' "'In the first place, there are two of them,' said the prudent Laverdun to his neighbour, 'and two who are worth ten; to say nothing of their monster of a dog, who demolishes a wolf with a single bite.' "'M. Toussaint Gilles,' said the baron, smiling ironically, 'when an officer gives an order, and is not obeyed, do you know what he should do?' "'I want none of your advice,' cried the captain of firemen, in a brutal tone. "'He should execute his order himself,' said M. de Vaudrey with immovable calmness. "'So I will,' said Toussaint Gilles, advancing roughly. But at the very moment that he stooped to raise the engine, the baron grasped his collar, and compelled him to stand upright. "'M. Toussaint Gilles,' he said, 'listen to me. You are a bad fellow, needing correction, and I undertake to correct you.' "'To correct me!' cried the captain, struggling, as ineffectually as a hare in the clutches of an eagle, in the powerful grasp that restrained him. "'He is strangling the captain! Help the captain!' exclaimed several of the spectators. "But words were all the help they offered to their chief, so greatly were the boldest awed by the colossal figure and well-known strength and courage of the old officer. Gautherot the butcher, constitutionally brave and pugnacious, was the only one who went to his friend's assistance. He rushed upon M. de Vaudrey, when Rabusson barred his passage. "'One to one,' said the sergeant; 'if you want a thrashing, here am I.' "'You've a dog, and a cudgel,' replied the butcher; 'I have only my fists.' "'True.' "With a generosity bordering on imprudence, Rabusson placed his heavy stick in the dog's mouth. "'Keep that, Sultan,' said he imperatively, 'and don't stir.' Then turning to the butcher with an air of defiance-- "'Now,' he said, 'are you ready?' "'Ready,' replied Gautherot, putting himself on guard, with the steadiness of an experienced boxer. "The circle which had formed round the baron and the captain, enlarged itself to leave space for the new antagonists. After a few preliminary evolutions, Gautherot assumed the offensive.