What was to be done with us? We were not left long in doubt.... With our packs on our backs, we set off.
Henriot was very much depressed. A cavalry sergeant whom he had just met had spoken to him of a general falling-back of the troops supporting us on our right. We immediately formed a salient, likely to be cut off.
But Guillaumin joined us.
"Tommyrot! Why we're just about to surround them on the left."
He had got the tip from our friend Dagomert, the motor-cyclist.
The column moved off. We marched all night.
Nobody was very clear as to what direction we were taking. We were not moving towards Étain. There was no question of a defeat. We were going of our own free will. There were regular halts, and comparatively good order was kept. Everyone was fully convinced that we were carrying out a wily manœuvre. We were tickled, in advance, by the idea of the Bosches' surprise when they saw us appear just where they least expected us!
The long halt took place at daybreak, when coffee was distributed. According to the lieutenant we were in the neighbourhood of Pillon and Billy, where we had fought the other week. A considerable recoil, no doubt, but we had left the enemy a long way behind.
The fact that the division was assembled on this tableland was once more the signal for troublesome attention from a Taube, which dropped some bombs, and two star shells without doing any damage.
De Valpic told me that he feared we might be obliged to fall back on the Meuse.