Lannes having vainly attempted to force the place by a _coup de main_, a panic arose, and this spreading to the rear, orders were given for stopping the descent of the artillery.

The Consul had come as far as the town of Aosta when this intelligence reached him.

He immediately hastened to St.Bard, where he found the troops in much confusion.
On occasions like this Napoleon rarely failed to vindicate the _prestige_ of his reputation.

After hastily surveying the localities, he climbed the height of the Albaredo, which rises on the one side above the fort, and satisfied himself that, though the path had hitherto been trodden only by solitary huntsmen, the army who had crossed the St.
Bernard might, by similar efforts, find or make their way here also.

A single cannon being, with the last difficulty, hoisted to the summit, he planted it so as to play full on the chief bastion of St.Bard.