He rode down to the commander and told him.

The swart Frenchman grinned.
"My children are biting," he said, glancing affectionately at his guns.
"They're brave lads, and their teeth are long and sharp." He looked at his signal man, and the guns let loose again with a force that sent the air rushing away in violent waves.

Batteries farther on were firing also with great rapidity.

In most of these the gunners were directed by field telephones strung hastily, but the one near John still depended upon signal men.

It was composed of eight five-inch guns, and John believed that its fire was most accurate and deadly.
Using his glasses again, he saw that the disturbance among those manikins was increasing.