DAYS OF WAITING AND PREPARATION. 29 Major Williams, had ‘‘gippy” teamsters. Both batteries were drawn by smart Cyprus mules. The howitzers opened fire at 750 yards from the wall.

With few exceptions, the Lyddite shells hit the mark.

Range is given more by increase or diminution of the charge than elevation or depression of the howitzers. The guns kicked viciously and ran back at each discharge. Bursting violently, the shells threw out big sheets of tawny flame, followed by showers of stones and a cloud of dust and brownish smoke. It was possible to see the missiles in their flight and note where they struck. As each shell rushed through the air it made a noise not unlike an express train passing under a bridge. There were salvoes of two or three guns, and huge chunks were knocked out of the wall.

Pieces of flying débris frequently dropped at no great distance from the gunners. It was plain that the shells were bursting upon impact, and only blowing away the face of the wall to the depth of but a foot or two. Had there been thick shells with retarding fuses the structure might have been breached in two or three rounds.

After a preliminary ten rounds had been fired, the wall was closely inspected. It was seen that infantry might have clambered over the débris to the top of the structure and jumped down upon the other side. A strange feature was that wherever the “ Lyddite” explosive failed to detonate the stones and ground around had been transformed to a deep chrome colour.

The battery was moved closer, to about 350 yards from the wall, and the firing was recommenced at that