We took up position in a field. The ground under my gun was extremely soft, and it seemed a foregone conclusion that the carriage would continue to recoil with the result that a perpetual error in laying would retard our rapidity of fire. The second gun was no better placed than ours, but the other section, in position on a stubble-field, was on much firmer ground. The battery would thus lose all cohesion, but there was no help for it. It was impossible to use the position assigned to us to better advantage. In front of us, some 77 mm. guns were sweeping the fields, but these did not cause us much anxiety. In relation to the position which, judging from their fire, they were occupying somewhere to the north-east, we were well covered. But, beyond Lassigny, standing out amid the verdure, rose a line of lofty, wooded hills which commanded the whole of the plain and from the summit of which our battery was certainly visible. We could not take our eyes off their threatening crests. What lay hid in their gloomy forests? We were well within range of heavy artillery should the enemy install a battery at that point. "Come on," said Bréjard, "we must make a hole and get to work quickly." In feverish haste we dug a trench behind the ammunition wagon. Another group of ·75's, occupying a position parallel to ours, opened fire on Lassigny. The ·77's now increased their range, and every round became more threatening. "To your guns ... by the right, each battery!" commanded the Captain. "What range? We haven't heard the range," shouted Millon. "Eleven hundred!" "How much?" "Eleven hundred!" "Oh, they're not far off!" "Sounds bad, that," growled Hutin. The gun reared, and immediately recoiled more than two yards. We had to man it forward into position, but the spade and wheels had sunk so deep in the soil that try as we would the six of us could not move it. Our shoulders to the wheels, struggling and sweating, we began to get nervous and angry. Finally we had to call to the detachment of the second gun to come and help us. Some infantry had taken up position in front of the battery. We signalled to them to move to the left. "They'll get cut in two, the idiots!" "To the left!" "What fools!" "To the left!" The Lieutenant, his lungs exhausted, waved his long arms. "Lord! aren't they stupid, those fellows!" We shouted in chorus: "To the left ... _to the left_!" At last they moved off, and we could fire. "Eight hundred!" We thought we had not heard aright. "Eight hundred!" So the enemy was there, behind the crests, and was advancing.... What was the French command waiting for? Why did they not throw forward the troops which, over towards Fresnières, were swarming on the mangel-wurzel fields? Moratin, who was standing on the refilling wagon, cried out: "Go on, let 'em have it full! That shell from the first gun mowed down a heap of them. There! you can see them, the brutes!... You can see them!..."