The four Chasseurs serving the gun stopped and turned him over, but saw at once that he no longer lived.
A few seconds later Edmond heard sharp words of command from his lieutenant, who had crawled along to him, and in obedience he ceased firing his Mauser, took the dead man’s place and assumed charge of the machine-gun, which, within another half-minute, was continuing its work, while the body of the onder-officier was dragged aside.
“Curse the grey devils! They shall pay for that!” cried one of the men fiercely.
Just then, however, there came a lull in the firing. The shells had ceased, and the enemy was slackening in his attack all along the line.
Was the fight subsiding?
A dull, distant roar was heard from Boncelles, where the steel cupolas were rising, and the big guns hurling death at the grey hordes of the Kaiser, and then disappearing. Then silence.
Suddenly another loud crackling of rifles, and again Edmond’s pom-pom recommenced its rapid rhythmic rattle.
More Mausers crackling, the shrill yell of a shell passing over them, and then a blood-red explosion some distance behind them.
Another shouted word of command, and the whole line of rifles were again discharged. It seemed almost as a signal for the fight to recommence, for next moment the attack was renewed with redoubled vigour.
The short, sharp reports of the enemy’s artillery reverberated along the valley, and shells were now exploding unpleasantly near the trenches.