While this was going on the three other guns were just as busy. The guns were pointed diagonally across the river, where the hills in the distance seemed to be constantly covered with a smoke.
"I notice that they have lots of smoke over there, so it is hard to tell where to fire," said Alfred, as he stood alongside the captain.
"That is true," he answered. "Our guns use smokeless powder, and that will aid us in concealing our position. If we used the same powder they use in shelling Devil's Cut, we wouldn't last a day."
Alfred understood why so much care had been taken to cover up the guns, for the Germans had guns which would reach as far as the 75's, but the question was how to locate the batteries. In this particular the French were superior, as well as in the ability to handle the guns rapidly and accurately, for it must be admitted that the French had easily taken the lead in the use of heavy ordnance.
It did not take long to fire forty shots. There was only a short cessation after the prescribed number had been let loose. The Farman machine came up close. It signaled.
"That battery has been put out of commission," said Alfred. The lieutenant nodded approvingly and with a great show of pleasure.
"Two degrees to the left," shouted the lieutenant.
Peculiarities of Trajectories
Crack! crack! bang! spoke out the pieces as before. And now it seemed as though the whole hillside shook with the resounding roar. Alfred and Ralph, as well as the officers, were on a slight elevation, which enabled them to look across the valleys, but the gunners who were firing could not see, because they were too far down behind the crest.