Something dark, artillery possibly, was moving yonder at the foot of some wooded hills more than five thousand yards off. We opened fire. On the right, on the left, and even in front of us ·75 batteries came into action one by one. When our own guns were silent for a few seconds we heard their volleys echoing in fours.
In the distance in front of us all had become still. The Captain gave the word to cease fire. But the smoke from the powder and the dust raised from the parched field by the concussion of the rounds had hardly cleared away when some heavy shells hurtled through the hedge masking us, leaving three gaping breaches in their wake and obliterating with their smoke the whole of the eastern horizon.
"They must have seen the fire of our guns," said Bréjard.
"And they've got theirs trained to a T," added Hutin. "Six-inchers, too!"
As ill-luck would have it, just at that moment a refilling wagon from the first line, conducted by a corporal riding a big white mare, came up at a trot.
While they were still some way off we shouted:
"Dismount!"
"Dismount! You'll get us killed!"
The drivers seemed not to hear.
"Dismount, you—! Walk!... Walk!..."