shipwrecked on the coast near Toulon a few days after, were rescued from the hands of the ferocious Republicans, solely by his interference and address.  Putting himself at the head of some of his gunners, he obtained possession of the unhappy prisoners; quieted the mob by assuring them that they should all be publicly executed the next morning; and meanwhile sent them off during the night in artillery waggons supposed to be conveying stores.

The recovery of Toulon was a service of the first importance to the government.  It suppressed all insurrectionary spirit in the south of France; and placed a whole army at their disposal elsewhere.  But he, to whose genius the success was due, did not at first obtain the credit of his important achievement at Paris.  The Representatives of the People never made their appearance on the eventful morning at Little Gibraltar, until three hours after the troops were in possession of the best part of the fortifications.  Then, indeed, they were seen sword in hand in the trenches, blustering and swaggering in safety.  Yet these men did not blush to represent themselves as having headed the assault, while, in their account of the conflict, even the name of Buonaparte did not find a place.  The truth could not, however, be concealed effectually; and he was appointed to survey and arrange the whole line of fortifications on the Mediterranean coast of France.

It was during the siege of Toulon that Napoleon, while constructing a battery under the enemy’s fire, had occasion to prepare a despatch, and called out for some one who could use a pen.  A young sergeant, named Junot, leapt out, and, leaning on the breastwork, wrote as he dictated.  As he finished, a shot struck the ground by his side, scattering dust in abundance over him and everything near him.  “Good,” said the soldier, laughing, “this time we shall spare our sand.”  The cool gaiety of this pleased Buonaparte; he kept his eye on the man; and Junot came in the sequel to be Marshal of France and Duke of Abrantes.

CHAPTER III

Buonaparte Chief of Battalion at Nice—­Fall of Robespierre—­He is superseded—­Buonaparte at Paris in 1795—­The day of the Sections—­Commands the Army of the Interior—­Marries Josephine de Beauharnois—­Appointed to the command of the Army of Italy.

From this time Napoleon advanced by rapid strides to greatness.  His admirable skill was still further displayed in his survey of the fortifications above mentioned; and having completed this service, he was appointed to join the army of Italy, then stationed at Nice, with the rank of Chief of Battalion.

Here his advice suggested a plan by which the Sardinians were driven from the Col di Tende on the 7th March, 1794; Saorgio, with all its stores, surrendered; and the French obtained possession of the maritime Alps, so that the difficulties of advancing into Italy were greatly diminished.  Of these movements, however, his superior officers reaped as yet the honour.  He was even superseded (Aug. 6, 1794) very shortly after their success.  But this, which at the moment seemed a heavy misfortune, was, in truth, one of the luckiest circumstances that ever befell him.