now!"

For a moment his burning curiosity, which he was conscious was now for
the first time beginning to be dashed with personal fear, had
sufficient to occupy it; his gaze was riveted on the rounded summit of
the _mamelon_, the only elevation that was within his range of vision,
dominating the broad expanse of plain that lay level with his eye.
Hattoy was too far distant to permit him to distinguish the gunners of
the batteries that the Prussians had posted there; he could see
nothing at all, in fact, save the smoke that at each discharge rose
above a thin belt of woods that served to mask the guns. The enemy's
occupation of the position, of which General Douay had been forced to
abandon the defense, was, as Maurice had instinctively felt, an event
of the gravest importance and destined to result in the most
disastrous consequences; its possessors would have entire command of
all the surrounding plateau. This was quickly seen to be the case, for
the batteries that opened on the second division of the 7th corps did
fearful execution. They had now perfected their range, and the French
battery, near which Beaudoin's company was stationed, had two men
killed in quick succession. A quartermaster's man in the company had
his left heel carried away by a splinter and began to howl most
dismally, as if visited by a sudden attack of madness.

"Shut up, you great calf!" said Rochas. "What do you mean by yelling
like that for a little scratch!"

The man suddenly ceased his outcries and subsided into a stupid
silence, nursing his foot in his hand.

And still the tremendous artillery duel raged, and the death-dealing