Suddenly he noticed that the grove was vomiting forth something noisy and penetrating--a bubble of vapor accompanied by a deafening report.

Something was hurtling through the air with a strident curve.

Then a roof in the village opened like a crater, vomiting forth flying wood, fragments of plaster and broken furniture.

All the interior of the house seemed to be escaping in a stream of smoke, dirt and splinters.
The invaders were bombarding Villeblanche before attempting attack, as though fearing to encounter persistent resistance in its streets.

More projectiles fell.