The  outwork  was  abandoned  almost  without  a  struggle,  its
defenders  retiring  to  the  main  fortification,  and  our  infantry
again  lying  down  for  rest  and  protection  and  to  wait  for  us,
while  our  guns  galloped  forward  to  the  captured  work,  some
occupying  and  firing  from  it,  and  others  passing  to  the  right
and  front  to  a  level  field  hard  by,  from  which  we  had  the
main  work  beautifully  in  range.
But  this  work  had  us  in  range  not  less  beautifully,  indeed
even  more  perfectly,  and  played  havoc  with  us  for  a  short
time.  My  recollection  is  that  I  was  acting  as  No.  6  at  one
of  the  limbers,  and  that  I  several  times  instinctively  clapped
down  the  lid  of  the  ammunition  chest  as  the  shell  seemed  to
burst  immediately  over  it  We  were  at  a  loss  to  account
for  the  preternaturally  accurate  aim  of  the  guns  and  cutting
of  the  fuses,  until  someone  chanced  to  observe  the  practice

13


1 94         FOUR  YEARS  UNDER  MARSE  ROBERT

target  of  the  fort  standing  between  the  gun  at  which  I  was
serving  and  the  one  next  to  it,  when,  of  course,  we  shifted
our  position  in  a  twinkling,  dashing  up  still  closer  to  the
fort  and  finding,  to  our  relief,  that  here  the  shells  passed
for  the  most  part  over  our  heads.
