"Echelon at fifteen. First gun, a hundred and fifty; second gun, a hundred and sixty-five.... Third...."
The fuse-setters repeated the corrector and the range.
"Sixteen.... Three thousand five hundred...."
"In threes, traverse! By the right, each battery!..."
"First gun ... fire!... Second...."
The rapid movements of serving the guns electrified us. In the deafening din made by the battery in full action orders had to be shouted. We no longer heard the enemy's guns; they were silenced by the roar of our own. We forgot the shrapnel, which nevertheless continued to fall.
Suddenly the howitzer fire slackened, and then ceased.
"They're getting hit!" said Hutin, bending over the sighting gear.
"Fire!" answered the No. 1.