Troopers were grooming their horses.

Snatches of song, and loud laughter, rose in the air.
After wandering about for an hour, Walter rejoined his father.

Captain Davenant was sitting with the two officers of his troop, Lieutenant O'Driscoll and Cornet Heron, by a fire, the materials for which the three troopers who acted as their servants had collected.

There was no cooking to be done, for sufficient cold provisions had been brought with the troop.
"You are just in time, Walter," his father said.

"We are going to fall to, at once, at our meal.
"Hand over that cold chicken, Larry; and do you, Tim Donelly, broach that keg of claret.