As she was rising, suddenly trumpets sounded without, and we all
listened and asked, "What is that?"
At the same time the sound of many horses' steps came up the street,
and the earth and the houses trembled under an enormous weight.
Everybody sprang up, throwing down their napkins and rushing to the
windows.
And from the French gate to the little square we saw trains of
artillerymen advancing, with their great shakos covered with oil-cloth,
and their saddles in sheepskins and driving caissons full of round
shot, shells and intrenching tools.
Imagine, Fritz, my thoughts at that moment!
"This is war, my friends!" said Burguet. "This is war! It is coming!
Our turn has come, at the end of twenty years!"