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spite of his gasps and puffs of fatigue。 He also was wearing high boots and a soft hat； but he had kept to his solemn frock…coat in order not to abandon entirely his parliamentary uniform。 Before them marched two captains as guides。
They were on a mountain occupied by the French artillery； and were climbing to the top where were hidden cannons and cannons； forming a line some miles in length。 The German artillery had caused the woodland ruin around the visitors； in their return of the French fire。 The circular pools were the hollows dug by the German shells in the limy； non…porous soil which preserved all the runnels of rain。
The visiting party had left their automobile at the foot of the mountain。 One of the officers； a former artilleryman； explained this precaution to them。 It was necessary to climb this roadway very cautiously。 They were within reach of the enemy； and an automobile might attract the attention of their gunners。
〃A little fatiguing； this climb；〃 he continued。 〃Courage； Senator Lacour！ 。 。 。 We are almost there。〃
They began to meet artillerymen； many of them not in uniform but wearing the military kepis。 They looked like workmen from a metal factory； foundrymen with jackets and pantaloons of corduroy。 Their arms were bare； and some had put on wooden shoes in order to get over the mud with greater security。 They were former iron laborers； mobilized into the artillery reserves。 Their sergeants had been factory overseers； and many of them officials； engineers and proprietors of big workshops。
Suddenly the excursionists stumbled upon the iron inmates of the woods。 When these spoke； the earth trembled； the air shuddered； and the native inhabitants of the forest； the crows； rabbits； butterflies and ants； fled in terrified flight； trying to hide themselves from the fearful convulsion which seemed to be bringing the world to an end。 Just at present； the bellowing monsters were silent； so that they came upon them unexpectedly。 Something was sticking up out of the greenery like a gray beam； at other times； this apparition would emerge from a conglomeration of dry trunks。 Around this obstacle was cleared ground occupied by men who lived； slept and worked about this huge manufactory on wheels。
The senator； who had written verse in his youth and composed oratorical poetry when dedicating various monuments in his district； saw in these solitary men on the mountain side； blackened by the sun and smoke； with naked breasts and bare arms； a species of priests dedicated to the service of a fatal divinity that was receiving from their hands offerings of enormous explosive capsules； hurling them forth in thunderclaps。
Hidden under the branches； in order to escape the observation of the enemy's birdmen； the French cannon were scattered among the hills and hollows of the highland range。 In this herd of steel； there were enormous pieces with wheels reinforced by metal plates； somewhat like the farming engines which Desnoyers had used on his ranch for plowing。 Like smaller beasts； more agile and playful in their incessant yelping； the groups of '75 were mingled with the terrific monsters。
The two captains had received from the general of their division orders to show Senator Lacour minutely the workings of the artillery； and Lacour was accepting their observations with corresponding gravity while his eyes roved from side to side in the hope of recognizing his son。 The interesting thing for him was to see Rene 。 。 。 but recollecting the official pretext of his journey； he followed submissively from cannon to cannon； listening patiently to all explanations。
The operators next showed him the servants of these pieces； great oval cylinders extracted from subterranean storehouses called shelters。 These storage places were deep burrows； oblique wells reinforced with sacks of stones and wood。 They served as a refuge to those off duty； and kept the munitions away from the enemy's shell。 An artilleryman exhibited two pouches of white cloth； joined together and very full。 They looked like a double sausage and were the charge for one of the large cannons。 The open packet showed some rose…colored leaves； and the senator greatly admired this dainty paste which looked like an article for the dressing table instead of one of the most terrible explosives of modern warfare。
〃I am sure；〃 said Lacour； 〃that if I had found one of these delicate packets on the street； I should have thought that it had been dropped from some lady's vanity bag； or by some careless clerk from a perfumery shop 。 。 。 anything but an explosive！ And with this trifle that looks as if it were made for the lips； it is possible to blow up an edifice！〃 。 。 。
As they continued their visit of investigation； they came upon a partially destroyed round tower in the highest part of the mountain。 This was the most dangerous post。 From it； an officer was examining the enemy's line in order to gauge the correctness of the aim of the gunners。 While his comrades were under the ground or hidden by the branches； he was fulfilling his mission from this visible point。
A short distance from the tower a subterranean passageway opened before their eyes。 They descended through its murky recesses until they found the various rooms excavated in the ground。 One side of the mountain cut in points formed its exterior facade。 Narrow little windows； cut in the stone； gave light and air to these quarters。
An old commandant in charge of the section came out to meet them。 Desnoyers thought that he must be the floorwalker of some big department store in Paris。 His manners were so exquisite and his voice so suave that he seemed to be imploring pardon at every word； or addressing a group of ladies； offering them goods of the latest novelty。 But this impression only lasted a moment。 This soldier with gray hair and near…sighted glasses who； in the midst of war； was retaining his customary manner of a building director receiving his clients； showed on moving his arms； some bandages and surgical dressings within his sleeves； He was wounded in both wrists by the explosion of a shell； but he was； nevertheless； sticking to his post。
〃A devil of a honey…tongued； syrupy gentleman！〃 mused Don Marcelo。 〃Yet he is undoubtedly an exceptional person！〃
By this time； they had entered into the main office； a vast room which received its light through a horizontal window about ten feet wide and only a palm and a half high； reminding one of the open space between the slats of a Venetian blind。 Below it was a pine table filled with papers and surrounded by stools。 When occupying one of these seats； one's eyes could sweep the entire plain。 On the walls were electric apparatus； acoustic tubes and telephonesmany telephones。
The Commandant sorted and piled up the papers； offering the stools with drawing…room punctilio。
〃Here； Senator Lacour。〃
Desnoyers； humble attendant； took a seat at his side。 The Commandant now appeared to be the manager of a theatre； preparing to exhibit an extraordinary show。 He spread upon the table an enormous paper which reproduced all the features of the plain extended before themroads； towns； fields； heights and valleys。 Upon this map was a triangular group of red lines in the form of an open fan； the vertex represented the place where they were； and the broad part of the triangle was the limit of the horizon which they were sweeping with their eyes。
〃We are going to fire at that grove；〃 said the artilleryman； pointing to one end of the map。 〃There it is；〃 he continued； designating a little dark line。 〃Take your glasses。〃
But before they could adjust the binoculars； the Commandant placed a new paper on top of the map。 It was an enormous and somewhat hazy photograph upon whose plan appeared a fan of red lines like the other one。
〃Our aviators；〃 explained the gunner courteously； 〃have taken this morning some views of the enemy's positions。 This is an enlargement from our photographic laboratory。 。 。 。 According to this information； there are two German regiments encamped in that wood。〃
Don Marcelo saw on the print the spot of woods； and within it white lines which represented roads； and groups of little squares which were blocks of houses in a village。 He believed he must be in an aeroplane contemplating the earth from a height of three thousand feet。 Then he raised the glasses to his eyes； following the direction of one of the red lines； and saw enlarged in the circle of the glass a black bar； somewhat like a heavy line of inkthe grove； the refuge of the foe。
〃Whenever you say； Senator Lacour； we will begin；〃 said the Commandant； reaching the topmost notch of his courtesy。 〃Are you ready？〃
Desnoyers smiled slightly。 For what was his illustrious friend to make himself ready？ What difference could it possibly make to a mere spectator； much interested in the novelty of the show？ 。 。 。
There sounded behind them numberless bells； gongs that called and gongs that answered。 The acoustic tubes seemed to swell out with the gallop of words。 The electric wire filled the silence of the room with the palpitations of its mysterious life。 The bland Chief was no longer occupied with his guests。 They conjectured tha