By changing mounts from time to time they were enabled to spare their beasts and make the greater speed.

The Emperor had impressed upon his young aide the necessity for getting the information to him at the earliest possible moment.

Haste was everything.

So they pressed on.
Without waiting for their report, and presuming on his general knowledge of Bluecher's character and shrewdly deducing the exact state of affairs Napoleon was already acting as if he possessed absolute and accurate information.

The drums were beating the long roll as they rode through the still dark streets of the little town of Nogent.
Horses were being harnessed to guns, baggage wagons were being loaded, ammunition caissons were being got ready.