We don't really know much about their force, and even if we did, they may be joined by some other body before we get there--there are numerous bands of them all over the country.

And in the next place, if they knew that we were coming, they might bolt before we got there.
"Besides, some of these villages are very strong, and we might suffer a good deal before we could carry it if they had notice of our coming.

However, you were quite right to point out to me that we were not going in what seemed the right direction." The column started at four o'clock in the afternoon.

It had been intended that it should move off at daybreak on the following morning, but Frank had suggested to the Colonel that it would be advantageous to march half the distance that night.
"Of course, we could do the twenty miles tomorrow, Colonel," he said, "but the men would hardly be in the best fighting trim when they got there.

Moreover, by starting in the afternoon, the natives here would imagine that we were going to pounce upon some fugitives at a village not far away." The permission was readily granted, and accordingly, after marching until nine o'clock in the evening, the column halted in a grove of trees to which their guide led them, half a mile from the road.
Each man carried four days' cooked provisions in his haversack.
There was therefore no occasion for fires to be lighted, and after seeing that sentries were placed round the edge of the grove, Frank Mallett joined the officers who were gathered in the centre.
"What time shall we march tomorrow ?" the officer in command of the native infantry asked.
"Not until the heat of the day is over.