They pointed out that there was at least as much hope in being able to do so as in making off singly.
Many of the soldiers, not having themselves suffered defeat, responded to the call; and several bodies, four or five hundred strong, marched out into the darkness.

The majority, however, decided to shift for themselves, and stole away in threes and fours.

Of those that remained, some broke into the village wine and beer shops and drank to stupefaction; while others, exhausted by the efforts of the day, threw themselves down and slept.
Mike was away half an hour.
"I have got an officer's cloak for you, and a helmet with feathers.

I think he must have been a staff officer, who was killed while delivering his orders.

I have got a soldier's overcoat and shako for myself." "Capital, Mike! Now I think that we can venture, and we will go the shortest way.