was hid from sight at times
in clouds of sulphurous vapor. When the cataclysm was at its height
the horses stood with drooping heads, trembling, dazed with terror. The
captain's tall form was everywhere upon the eminence; suddenly he was
seen no more; a shell had cut him clean in two, and he sank, as a ship's
mast that is snapped off at the base.

But it was about Honore's gun, even more than the others, that the
conflict raged, with cool efficiency and obstinate determination. The
non-commissioned officer found it necessary to forget his chevrons for
the time being and lend a hand in working the piece, for he had now but
three cannoneers left; he pointed the gun and pulled the lanyard, while
the others brought ammunition from the caisson, loaded, and handled the
rammer and the sponge. He had sent for men and horses from the battery
reserves that were kept to supply the places of those removed by
casualties, but they were slow in coming, and in the meantime the
survivors must do the work of the dead. It was a great discouragement
to all that their projectiles ranged short and burst almost without
exception in the air, inflicting no injury on the powerful batteries
of the foe, the fire of which was so efficient. And suddenly Honore let
slip an oath that was heard above the thunder of the battle; ill-luck,
ill-luck, nothing but ill-luck! the right wheel of his piece was
smashed! _Tonnerre de Dieu!_ what a state she was in, the poor darling!
stretched on her side with a broken paw, her nose buried in the ground,
crippled and good for nothing! The sight brought big tears to his eyes,
he laid his trembling hand upon the breech, as if the ardor of his love
might avail to warm his dear mistress back to life. And the best gun of
them all, the only one that had been able to drop a few shells among the
enemy! Then suddenly he conceived a daring project, nothing less than to
repair the injury there and then, under that terrible fire. Assisted by
one of his men he ran back to the caisson and secured the spare
wheel that was attached to the rear axle, and then commenced the most
dangerous operation that can be executed on a battlefield. Fortunately
the extra men and horses that he had sent for came up just then, and he
had two cannoneers to lend him a hand.

For the third time, however, the strength of the battery was so reduced
as practically to disable it. To push their heroic daring further would
be madness; the order was given