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knocked about a ton of masonry off the parapet。 Then taking advantage of this； he served two of his guns with grape； and swept the enemy off the top of the bastion； and kept it clear。 He made it so hot they could not work the upper guns。 Then they turned the other two tiers all upon him； and at it both sides went ding； dong； till the guns were too hot to be worked。 So then Sergeant La Croix popped his head up from the battery； and showed the enemy a great white plate。 This was meant to convey to them an invitation to dine with the French army： the other side of the table of course。
To the credit of Prussian intelligence be it recorded； that this pantomimic hint was at once taken and both sides went to dinner。
The fighting colonel； however； remained in the battery； and kept a detachment of his gunners employed cooling the guns and repairing the touch…holes。 He ordered his two cutlets and his glass of water into the battery。
Meantime； the enemy fired a single gun at long intervals； as much as to say； 〃We had the last word。〃
Let trenches be cut ever so artfully； there will be a little space exposed here and there at the angles。 These spaces the men are ordered to avoid； or whip quickly across them into cover。
Now the enemy had just got the range of one of these places with their solitary gun； and had already dropped a couple of shot right on to it。 A camp follower with a tray； two cutlets； and a glass of water； came to this open space just as a puff of white smoke burst from the bastion。 Instead of instantly seeking shelter till the shot had struck； he； in his inexperience； thought the shot must have struck； and all danger be over。 He stayed there mooning instead of pelting under cover： the shot （eighteen…pound） struck him right on the breast； knocked him into spilikins； and sent the mutton cutlets flying。
The human fragments lay quiet； ten yards off。 But a soldier that was eating his dinner kicked it over； and jumped up at the side of 〃Death's Alley〃 （as it was christened next minute）； and danced and yelled with pain。
〃Haw！ haw！ haw！〃 roared a soldier from the other side of the alley。
〃What is that？〃 cried Sergeant La Croix。 〃What do you laugh at； Private Cadel？〃 said he sternly； for； though he was too far in the trench to see； he had heard that horrible sound a soldier knows from every other； the 〃thud〃 of a round shot striking man or horse。
〃Sergeant；〃 said Cadel； respectfully； 〃I laugh to see Private Dard； that got the wind of the shot； dance and sing； when the man that got the shot itself does not say a word。〃
〃The wind of the shot； you rascal！〃 roared Private Dard： 〃look here！〃 and he showed the blood running down his face。
The shot had actually driven a splinter of bone out of the sutler into Dard's temple。
〃I am the unluckiest fellow in the army；〃 remonstrated Dard： and he stamped in a circle。
〃Seems to me you are only the second unluckiest this time；〃 said a young soldier with his mouth full； and； with a certain dry humor； he pointed vaguely over his shoulder with the fork towards the corpse。
The trenches laughed and assented。
This want of sympathy and justice irritated Dard。 〃You cursed fools！〃 cried he。 〃He is gone where we must all gowithout any trouble。 But look at me。 I am always getting barked。 Dogs of Prussians！ they pick me out among a thousand。 I shall have a headache all the afternoon； you see else。〃
Some of our heads would never have ached again： but Dard had a good thick skull。
Dard pulled out his spilikin savagely。
〃I'll wrap it up in paper for Jacintha；〃 said he。 〃Then that will learn her what a poor soldier has to go through。〃
Even this consolation was denied Private Dard。
Corporal Coriolanus Gand； a bit of an infidel from Lyons； who sometimes amused himself with the Breton's superstition； told him with a grave face； that the splinter belonged not to him； but to the sutler； and； though so small； was doubtless a necessary part of his frame。
〃If you keep that； it will be a bone of contention between you two；〃
said he； 〃especially at midnight。 HE WILL BE ALWAYS COMING BACK TO YOU FOR IT。〃
〃There； take it away！〃 said the Breton hastily； 〃and bury it with the poor fellow。〃
Sergeant La Croix presented himself before the colonel with a rueful face and saluted him and said； 〃Colonel； I beg a thousand pardons； your dinner has been spilta shot from the bastion。〃
〃No matter；〃 said the colonel。 〃Give me a piece of bread instead。〃
La Croix went for it himself； and on his return found Cadel sitting on one side of Death's Alley； and Dard with his head bound up on the other。 They had got a bottle which each put up in turn wherever he fancied the next round shot would strike； and they were betting their afternoon rations which would get the Prussians to hit the bottle first。
La Croix pulled both their ears playfully。
〃Time is up for playing marbles；〃 said he。 〃Be off； and play at duty；〃 and he bundled them into the battery。
It was an hour past midnight： a cloudy night。 The moon was up； but seen only by fitful gleams。 A calm； peaceful silence reigned。
Dard was sentinel in the battery。
An officer going his rounds found the said sentinel flat instead of vertical。 He stirred him with his scabbard； and up jumped Dard。
〃It's all right； sergeant。 O Lord！ it's the colonel。 I wasn't asleep； colonel。〃
〃I have not accused you。 But you will explain what you were doing。〃
〃Colonel；〃 said Dard； all in a flutter； 〃I was taking a squint at them； because I saw something。 The beggars are building a wall； now。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Between us and the bastion。〃
〃Show me。〃
〃I can't； colonel； the moon has gone in； but I did see it。〃
〃How long was it？〃
〃About a hundred yards。〃
〃How high？〃
〃Colonel； it was ten feet high if it was an inch。〃
〃Have you good sight？〃
〃La！ colonel； wasn't I a bit of a poacher before I took to the bayonet？〃
〃Good！ Now reflect。 If you persist in this statement； I turn out the brigade on your information。〃
〃I'll stand the fire of a corporal's guard at break of day if I make a mistake now；〃 said Dard。
The colonel glided away； called his captain and first lieutenants； and said two words in each ear； that made them spring off their backs。
Dard； marching to an fro； musket on shoulder； found himself suddenly surrounded by grim； silent； but deadly eager soldiers； that came pouring like bees into the open space behind the battery。 The officers came round the colonel。
〃Attend to two things；〃 said he to the captains。 〃Don't fire till they are within ten yards： and don't follow them unless I lead you。〃
The men were then told off by companies； some to the battery； some to the trenches； some were kept on each side Death's Alley； ready for a rush。
They were not all of them in position； when those behind the parapet saw； as it were； something deepen the gloom of night； some fourscore yards to the front： it was like a line of black ink suddenly drawn upon a sheet covered with Indian ink。
It seems quite stationary。 The novices wondered what it was。 The veterans muttered〃Three deep。〃
Though it looked stationary； it got blacker and blacker。 The soldiers of the