elds were swept by such a tornado of shot and shell, that it was
not long before the panic broke out afresh, sweeping the men adown the
slopes, rolling them up as straws are whirled before the wind. And the
general, unwilling to abandon his project, ordered up other regiments.

A staff officer galloped by, shouting to Colonel de Vineuil as he passed
an order that was lost in the universal uproar. Hearing, the colonel was
erect in his stirrups in an instant, his face aglow with the gladness of
battle, and pointing to the Calvary with a grand movement of his sword:

"Our turn has come at last, boys!" he shouted. "Forward!"

A thrill of enthusiasm ran through the ranks at the brief address, and
the regiment put itself in motion. Beaudoin's company was among the
first to get on its feet, which it did to the accompaniment of much
good-natured chaff, the men declaring they were so rusty they could not
move; the gravel must have penetrated their joints. The fire was so hot,
however, that by the time they had advanced a few feet they were glad to
avail themselves of the protection of a shelter trench that lay in their
path, along which they crept in an undignified posture, bent almost
double.

"Now, young fellow, look out for yourself!" Jean said to Maurice; "we're
in for it. Don't let 'em see so much as the end of your nose, for if you
do they will surely snip it off, and keep a sharp lookout for your legs
and arms unless you have more than you care to keep. Those who come out
of this with a whole skin will be lucky."

Maurice did not hear him very distinctly; the words were lost in the
all-pervading clamor that buzzed and hummed in the young man's ears. He
could not have told now whether he was afraid or not; he went forward
because the others did, borne along with them in their headlong rush,
without distinct volition of his own; his sole desire was to have the
affair ended as soon as possible. So true was it that he was a mere drop
in the on-pouring torrent that when the leading files came to the end
of the trench and began to waver at the prospect of climbing the exposed
slope that lay before them, he immediately felt himself seized by a
sensation of panic, and was ready to turn and fly. It was simply an
uncontrollable instinct, a revolt of the muscles, obedient to every
passing breath.

Some of the men had already faced about when the colonel came hurrying
up.

"Steady there, my children. You won't cause me this gr