Terrified and bellowing oxen twisted and tugged at their yokes; horses broke from their fastenings in the waggons and dashed hither and thither, and weakling donkeys strove in vain to free themselves from waggons set on fire by the shells.

Explosion followed explosion, and with every one the mass became more entangled.

Dead horses fell upon living oxen; wheels and axles were thrown on the backs of donkeys, and plunging mules dragged heavy waggons over great piles of _debris_.
The cannon on the southern hills became more active and their shells caused the landscape surrounding the waterworks to be filled with geysers of dust.

Troops which were stationed near the white smoke-stack suddenly spurred their horses forward and dashed northward to seek safety behind a long undulation in the ground.

The artillerymen in the hills followed their movements with shells, and the dust-fountains sprang up at the very heels of the troops.