“Move away,” said the captain.  “You are within range of the balls.”

At that moment a sharp little thud was heard in the old elm, and a fragment of a branch came whirling down.  But the two young folks did not stir; they were nailed to the spot by anxiety to see what was going on.  On the edge of the wood a Prussian had suddenly come out from behind a tree as from a theater stage entrance, beating the air with his hands and falling backward.  Nothing further moved; the two corpses seemed asleep in the broad sunlight; not a living soul was seen in the scorching country.  Even the crack of the fusillade had ceased.  The Morelle alone whispered in its clear tones.

Pere Merlier looked at the captain with an air of surprise, as if to ask him if the struggle was over.

“They are getting ready for something worse,” muttered the officer.  “Don’t trust appearances.  Move away from there.”

He had not finished speaking when there was a terrible discharge of musketry.  The great elm was riddled, and a host of leaves shot into the air.  The Prussians had happily fired too high.  Dominique dragged, almost carried, Francoise away, while Pere Merlier followed them, shouting: 

“Go down into the cellar; the walls are solid!”

But they did not heed him; they entered the huge hall where ten soldiers were waiting in silence, watching through the chinks in the closed window shutters.  The captain was alone in the courtyard, crouching behind the little wall, while the furious discharges continued.  Without, the soldiers he had posted gave ground only foot by foot.  However, they re-entered one by one, crawling, when the enemy had dislodged them from their hiding places.  Their orders were to gain time and not show themselves, that the Prussians might remain in ignorance as to what force was before them.  Another hour went by.  As a sergeant arrived, saying that but two or three more men remained without, the captain glanced at his watch, muttering: 

“Half-past two o’clock.  We must hold the position four hours longer.”

He caused the great gate of the courtyard to be closed, and every preparation was made for an energetic resistance.  As the Prussians were on the opposite side of the Morelle, an immediate assault was not to be feared.  There was a bridge two kilometers away, but they evidently were not aware of its existence, and it was hardly likely that they would attempt to ford the river.  The officer, therefore, simply ordered the highway to be watched.  Every effort would be made in the direction of the country.

Again the fusillade had ceased.  The mill seemed dead beneath the glowing sun.  Not a shutter was open; no sound came from the interior.  At length, little by little, the Prussians showed themselves at the edge of the forest of Gagny.  They stretched their necks and grew bold.  In the mill several soldiers had already raised their guns to their shoulders, but the captain cried: