way. That was
the last that was seen of them until nightfall.

The battery beside them had been strengthened by three additional guns;
the cannonade on either side went on with increased fury, and in the
hideous uproar terror--a wild, unreasoning terror--filled Maurice's
soul. It was his first experience of the sensation; he had not until now
felt that cold sweat trickling down his back, that terrible sinking at
the pit of the stomach, that unconquerable desire to get on his feet and
run, yelling and screaming, from the field. It was nothing more than
the strain from which his nervous, high-strung temperament was suffering
from reflex action; but Jean, who was observing him narrowly, detected
the incipient crisis in the wandering, vacant eyes, and seizing him with
his strong hand, held him down firmly at his side. The corporal lectured
him paternally in a whisper, not mincing his words, but employing good,
vigorous language to restore him to a sense of self-respect, for he
knew by experience that a man in panic is not to be coaxed out of his
cowardice. There were others also who were showing the white feather,
among them Pache, who was whimpering involuntarily, in the low, soft
voice of a little baby, his eyes suffused with tears. Lapoulle's stomach
betrayed him and he was very ill; and there were many others who also
found relief in vomiting, amid their comrade's loud jeers and laughter,
which helped to restore their courage to them all.

"My God!" ejaculated Maurice, ghastly pale, his teeth chattering. "My
God!"

Jean shook him roughly. "You infernal coward, are you going to be sick
like those fellows over yonder? Behave yourself, or I'll box your ears."

He was trying to put heart into his friend by gruff but friendly
speeches like the above, when they suddenly beheld a dozen dark forms
emerging from a little wood upon their front and about four hundred
yards away. Their spiked helmets announced them to be Prussians; the
first Prussians they had had within reach of their rifles since the
opening of the campaign. This first squad was succeeded by others, and
in front of their position the little dust clouds that rose where the
French shells struck were distinctly visible. It was all very vivid
and clear-cut in the transparent air of morning; the Germans, outlined
against the dark forest, presented the toy-like appearance of those
miniature soldiers of lead that are the delight of children; then, as
the enemy's she