None of them had left the fort for the last three weeks, and they seemed to have no particular desire to go "on shore," as they called Paris.

Their fire, they said, had, they believed, done considerable damage to the works which the Prussians had tried to erect, within their range.

The Commandant now came out with some of his officers, and we tried to search with telescopes the distant woods which were supposed to conceal the enemy.

I confess that I saw absolutely nothing except trees and some houses, which were in ruins, "Throw a shell into those houses," cried the Commandant, and off went one of the great guns.

It fell wide.