It was now like one of those moving monsters wending with many feet.

The air was heavy, and cold with dew.

A mass of wet grass, marched upon, rustled like silk.
There was an occasional flash and glimmer of steel from the backs of all these huge crawling reptiles.

From the road came creakings and grumblings as some surly guns were dragged away.
The men stumbled along still muttering speculations.

There was a subdued debate.