Smoke drifted low across the hills west of Algiers.
Marshal Davout stood beside a field table where a telegraph set had been mounted under canvas. The bombardment had already torn gaps through outer defenses, but Bordj Moulay Hassan still stood.
Through his field glass, he watched the fortress.
The French 75mm batteries continued to strike it in rapid intervals. Shells burst along the parapets. Stone chipped away. Gun crews inside the fortress tried to answer, but their fire was irregular now. Slower.
One Algerian cannon fired toward the ridge.
The shot fell short.
Davout lowered the glass.
"The field guns will not finish it," he said to Colonel Valence beside him. "They can wound it. They cannot crush it."
Valence nodded. "The walls are thick."
Davout stepped toward the telegraph operator.
"Signal Admiral Duperré. Priority order."
The operator adjusted the key.
Davout spoke clearly.
