A few minutes later an even heavier and more continuous roar of cannon broke out away to the left.

Napoleon was attacking the Prussians.

The talking and laughing ceased now.

Even the oldest soldiers were awed by that roar of lire, and the younger ones glanced in each others, faces to see whether others felt the same vague feeling of discomfort they themselves experienced; and yet terrible as was evidently the conflict raging in front, each man longed to take his part in it.
The officers' orders to the men to step out briskly were given in cheerful and confident voices, and the men themselves--with their fingers tightening on their muskets, and their eyes looking intently forward as if they could pierce the distance and realize the scene enacting there--pressed on doggedly and determinedly.

Messenger after messenger rode up to General Picton, who was marching at the head of the column, begging him to hurry on, for that the Prince of Orange was step by step being driven back.