John, his automatic in his hand, charged with them, keeping close to Bougainville.
A scattering fire of bullets carried away many, but John knew that he was not touched.

Neither was Bougainville, who, like Bonaparte at Lodi or Arcola, was now leading his men in person, waving aloft a small sword, and continually shouting to his children to follow him.

The French fell fast, but they reached the first line of the houses, and then they sent a deadly hail of their own bullets upon the defenders.
Every street and alley in Chastel was swept by the fire of the French.
John heard above the crash of the rifles the incessant rattling of the machine guns, and then, as they opened out, the roar of the seventy-five-millimeters added to the terrible tumult.

The Germans, withdrawing to the far edge and taking what shelter they could, replied, also with cannon, machine guns and rifles.
John saw Chastel already in ruins fairly melting away.

Caught as it must have been in the former action it came tumbling, stone and brick walls and all to the ground.