"It's odd that we don't hear the guns to-day."
"They don't seem to have taken advantage of their victory yesterday in order to advance."
"Well," said our gun-layer, "in my opinion we've fallen into an ambuscade. They were waiting for us there, and they had got all the ridges nicely registered. That's how they had us! But all that will change!"
"I hope so! Oh, Lord, how tired I am! And you?"
"So am I!"
We each ate without much relish four mouthfuls of bully-beef and shut the box again. Besides, the column was already beginning to move.
Striking across country we reached Lamorteau, a large village on the banks of the Chiers, where we encamped near the river and waited for orders.
The scene was soon brightened by smoke rising straight up in the still air of the morning, which was already hot. The men made their soup and the drivers went off to draw water for the horses, which were not unharnessed.
Suddenly, on the bridge spanning the Chiers, Lieutenant Couturier appeared at the head of his column, accompanied by Lucas. The latter ran up to me.
"There you are!"