The fords were not guarded.

The advance parties had failed.

Presage of disaster! The Marquis congratulated himself that he was in time to repair the disobedience of orders, which he promised himself to punish at the first opportunity.

Instantly he directed Major Lestoype to deploy the men from column into line, so that they filled the road, which was here very broad and spacious.

On a sloping hillside he placed flanking companies.