Take the left, Duval; Major, come with me." We drew aside under the protection of a boulder, from where we could see clearly to the top of the ridge.

Only for a moment was there silence, the men all about us lying low in their coverts, breathless and intent.

There was a faint ripple of water to our rear where the stream ran, and a rustle of leaves overhead in the slight breeze.

A rabbit, or some stray animal of the field, darted through the underbrush.

Then we heard horses' hoofs and the murmur of approaching voices..