Self-satisfaction would not have helped.
"Soon," he said, looking into my eyes beside the fire, "we shall meet opportunities for looting.

Yet we have food enough for men and mules and horses for many a day to come; and as the corn grows less more men can ride in the carts, so that we shall move the swifter.
But now this map of mine grows vague and our road leads more and more into the unknown.

We need eyes ahead of us.

I can control the men if I stay with them, but in that case who shall ride on and procure intelligence ?" In a flash I saw his meaning.

There was none but he wise enough to ride ahead.