Seats had been prepared on the neighbouring trees, for riflemen; and the undergrowth was left untouched, so that there should be nothing to excite suspicion.
The stockade did not run across the road, but parallel to it, the distance varying from twenty to thirty yards.

Thus, anybody coming along the path would notice nothing unusual, though he himself would be easily seen by the defenders.

A road had been cut, at the back of the entrenchments, so as to give a line of retreat to the defenders.

On the northern side of the village, a similar stockade had been constructed.
Captain Roupell--who commanded the advance--became aware, from the numerous tracks and footprints, that the enemy must be in force in the neighbourhood, and advanced cautiously.

He did not observe the stockade, however, so well was it hidden among the bushes.