The rattle of their rifles was heard distinctly.
The officer then could be seen taking observations through a short telescope which he carried suspended by a strap to his side.
He glanced all about the place and fixed for some little time upon the fissures and rocky passes, resting longer below the very one at which the sentry was posted than elsewhere.
But although it would seem to have aroused his suspicions, it was evident that he could see nothing, for, after a few minutes, he lowered his glass and shut it up.
The reason of this was, that where the sentry stood was completely shadowed by the overhanging rocks, so that he was invisible to them, although they could be distinctly seen by the sentry.
The scrutiny appeared to satisfy the officer.
"Shoulder arms! Left wheel! March!"
The measured tramp of the soldiers was distinctly heard.
Fainter and fainter it grew until it died away.
The sentry watched them in silence for several minutes before he spoke.