"To fifty paces—extend."
Henriot bellowed, repeating the order. There was no panic. I think no one had fully realised yet that those slight puffs which had appeared were a direct menace to us.
We had taken up the extended order and went on marching, but with rather broken ranks.
"Close up! Close up!" shouted Henriot.
He was running. I noticed that he had drawn his sword. It was very funny. Did he think that he was about to charge? He tried to put it back into the sheath. He stumbled. The men nudged each other with their elbows. A pint of good blood!
Our "connecting file" rushed up.
"Blob formation!"
Henriot, who was still struggling with his scabbard, hesitated. Then he shouted:
"Left incline! No. Right incline! No. As you were!"
"He's all at sea!" said Guillaumin.