"I observed they were trying distances." "Must not happen again, colonel.

You must drive them from the gun." "How ?" "Why, where is the difficulty ?" "If you will do me the honor to step into the battery, I will show you," said the colonel.
"If you please," said the aide-de-camp stiffly.
Colonel Dujardin took him to the parapet, and began, in a calm, painstaking way, to show him how and why none of his guns could be brought to bear upon Long Tom.
In the middle of the explanation a melodious sound was heard in the air above them, like a swarm of Brobdingnag bees.
"What is that ?" inquired the aide-de-camp.
"What?
I see nothing." "That humming noise." "Oh, that?
Prussian bullets.

Ah, by-the-by, it is a compliment to your uniform, monsieur; they take you for some one of importance.

Well, as I was observing"-- "Your explanation is sufficient, colonel; let us get out of this.

Ha, ha! you are a cool hand, colonel, I must say.