This will be an invaluable service to us." Late at night they reached their halting-place.

The guns had been hidden in a thicket, every man having marched with his leader to the attack of the column.

The next morning thirty-six men were chosen, eighteen to each gun, in order that the places of those who might be killed could be filled at once, or, should some more pieces be taken, men would be available already trained to the work.
For four days drill went on without intermission.

The lads found the Polish peasants very intelligent, although it was difficult for them to understand why each movement should be performed with mechanical regularity.

At first, too, the boys' ignorance of Polish caused them great difficulty; but Stanislas wrote down for them the translation of the words of command, and the movements were taught by the boys themselves performing them, and insisting upon their motions being accurately imitated.