MARTEAU AND BAL-ARRET RIDE Of this young Marteau and old Bullet Stopper, plodding along at the best speed they could get from their horses, knew nothing.

The old grenadier was laconic by nature, and his habit of silence had become intensified by his years of subordination and service.

The young officer was wrapped in his own thoughts.

Knowing, as they did, every foot of the way, the two were able to find short cuts, take advantage of narrow paths over the hills and through the woods, which would have offered no passage to the army, even if they had been aware of it.
They reached Sezanne hours before Marmont's advance, long before the cavalry even.
Baiting their horses, and getting a welcome meal at the inn--the town itself had as yet suffered nothing from the ravages of the Cossacks, being too strong for raiding parties--and refusing to answer questions, and paying no attention to wondering looks of the inhabitants, they rode out again.

Their way through the marshes of St.Gond was dreadful.