For the French, whom Zastrow had to imitate in that respect, kept bringing up more cannon, ever more, as if they would bring up all the cannon of their Army: and there rose between Zastrow and them such a cannonade, for length and loudness together, as had not been heard in this War.

Most furious cannonading, musketading; and seemingly no end to it.

Ferdinand himself came over to ascertain; found it a hot thing indeed.

Zastrow had to relieve his 200 every hour: 'Don't go down in rank, you new ones,' ordered he--'slide, leap, descend the hill-face in scattered form: rank at the bottom!'-- and generally about half of the old 200 were left dead or lamed by their hour's work.

'They intend to have this Bridge from us at any cost,' thinks Ferdinand; 'and at any cost they shall not!' And, in the end, orders Granby forward in room of Zastrow, who has had some eight hours of it now; and rides home to look after his main quarters.
"It was about 4 in the afternoon when Granby and his English came into the fire; and I rather think the French onslaught was, if anything, more furious than ever:--Despair striding visibly forward on it, or something too like Despair.