The great thing is for you to let me know, as soon as their main body is in motion.

Whichever way they come, we must meet and attack them.

It is in the woods and lanes that we must defend ourselves." "I will endeavour to carry out your orders, sir; and shall start tomorrow morning, as soon as we get our pistols." As soon as the little band was well away from the town, the pistols were loaded; and each of the lads, in turn, fired three shots at the trunk of a tree, at a distance of ten yards, under Leigh's directions.

The shooting was quite as good as he had expected, and the boys themselves were well satisfied.
Then, the pistols being reloaded and placed in their belts, they resumed their march.

They halted at a tiny hamlet, consisting of half a dozen houses, four miles from Thouars.