n the French right. In America most
forests would have been impracticable for cavalry, but it was not likely
to be so here, where there was little or no undergrowth.

John turned the glasses back to the point in the woods where the French
field guns were posted. There he saw rapid flashes and the steady
rolling crash continued. Evidently the seventy-five millimeter French
cannon were all that was claimed for them. But he knew that the German
cavalry must now be protected largely by the forest, and his heart beat
heavily with apprehension for the French guns and their gunners.

"There goes 'Busy Bertha' again!" exclaimed Wharton.

John remembered nothing clearly for the next minute or two. There was a
vast rushing sound, a crash of thunder, and, although he was not
touched, he was thrown from his feet. He sprang up, dazed, cleared his
eyes and looked around. The monstrous shell, weighing more than a ton,
had burst almost in the heart of the French army, killing or wounding at
least three hundred men, and spreading awe among the others. Nothing so
capable of destruction and made by man had ever before been seen in the
history of the world. And the shot had come from a point at least ten
miles away, where the giant lay invisible.

The glasses had not been hurt in the fall and he handed them back to
Carstairs. No harm had been done among the Strangers, although he was
not the only one who had been thrown to the ground. But they were bold
hearts and they jested among themselves.

"I hope they won't aim that pop-gun so well again," said Wharton.

"After all, Scott," said Carstairs, "you were perhaps safer with Lannes
a half mile up in the air. The forty-two centimeter couldn't reach you
there."

"Maybe not," said John, "but I'm one of the Strangers now, and I'll take
my chances with them. I'm most alarmed about the Uhlans who have gone
into the woods on our right."

"To cut off our field guns, of course. And look! Here comes the German
army in our front to support their flanking movement!"

The fire in the wood increased in intensity, and John saw a great body
of French troops advancing to the support of their artillery. Evidently
the French leader meant to maintain his fire there and also to protect
his field guns against capture.

"I told you, Wharton," said Carstairs, "that the Germans would give us
no rest, that they would advance at once to a new battle."

"You didn't have to tell it to me. I knew it as well