The corporal with four men conducted the captives to the water, while the sergeant, with the remainder of his force, having made them ground their arms near the road, brought up the rear.

The prisoners threw themselves upon the earth--the woman and her child, near its father.

Little did any of them dream that deliverance was at hand.

The child fell asleep in the mother's lap.

Two of the armed men kept guard, but we may suppose with little caution.