146 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



avoid ducking their heads to the first few shot or shell 

 that pass over them. There is nothing that unsteadies 

 young troops more than artillery fire. 



We waited the first gun-shot in dead silence. 



The modus operandi of loading and discharging was 

 as follows : 



The enemy had blankets hung before the embrasures, 

 thereby concealing the muzzles of the guns. When the 

 guns were loaded, elevated and aimed correctly, they let 

 fall the blankets, and applying a hot poker to the touch- 

 holes discharged them. We peeped through the loop- 

 holes and kept a sharp look-out. The instant we saw a 

 puff of smoke, we all turned vice versa and threw our- 

 selves down. 



But to revert. We were awaiting the first round. I did 

 not want to run away, but if the reader had volunteered 

 and had earnestly begged to take my place in the work 

 I might have consented under pressure, provided the 

 major had given me a certificate in his own handwriting 

 and signed by himself to the effect that I was not afraid, 

 which, by the way, I certainly was. 



I happened not to be peeping through a loophole just 

 at the instant that a loud boom struck upon my expec- 

 tant ear, accompanied by a cry of " Look out! " from our 

 men, who were on the alert. With an agility unsurpassed 

 by any acrobat who tumbles for the public edification 

 at a guinea a night, I made myself horizontal. 



There was a rushing sound, accompanied by a crash 

 and a cloud of dust, as a shot flew through the work, and, 

 striking the wall on the farther side, fell back spent on 

 the floor. 



They had led off with a good shot. " All right/' "All 

 right," " I am all right," came from numerous voices ; but 



