202 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



'Twas night, and again we were on the hills this 

 time, guarding the working parties on the French 

 left from the chances of a sortie. The houses on the 

 slope had been set on fire, and were burning fiercely. 

 The flames sped with a rushing sound, bursting out 

 in fiery gusts, and sweeping with a windy fury through 

 the walls and amid the trees. Ever and anon there 

 would be a crash of falling rafters, and then an erup- 

 tion of sparks and fiery wood, and columns of dark 

 smoke would rise against the clear sky. The red 

 blaze and the crackling flames gave a spectral char- 

 acter to the scene below. There groups of sappers 

 were busy at work under the dark masses of rocks, 

 the movement of their figures and the action of their 

 limbs as they plied pickaxe and spade, tossed up the 

 earth and piled sand-bags, showing with wild super- 

 natural effect in the fitful glare. It seemed like an 

 illustration of Hartz Mountain stories, or the tales of 

 fire - demons. More in the shadow were the dark 

 forms and the piled arms of the chasseurs. 



Meanwhile all was still in the forts. Suddenly, 

 about midnight, a single musket-shot was fired from 

 Fort Tsee. It struck an officer of chasseurs. In an 

 instant the whole body sprang with a loud yell into 

 the wood, rushed madly towards the fort, fired a 

 volley at the walls, and then retired again within 

 their intrenchments. 'Twas a wonderful escapade 

 to us, a strange ebullition of impulsive wrath and 

 vengeance. There was scarcely a pause after this 



