"Six," I replied, after a careful survey.
"I can count six, too," he said. "According to our spies the marshal had no guns."
I nudged our guide, saying, "What is the number of the troops down there?"
"Fifteen thousand infantry, and six thousand horsemen, monsieur," he answered promptly.
"It may be so," I said, "but we shall be better able to judge when they are ready to march."
For two hours we lay flat on the ground, with our eyes fixed on the camp, never changing our position, and speaking hardly a word. We watched the cavalry feed and groom the animals, and saw the troops sit down to breakfast. Then a body of horsemen, about fifty or sixty in number, rode out from the camp in the direction of Arnay-le-Duc.
After a while the troops fell in, and a number of richly-dressed officers rode along the lines, as if to inspect them.
"Jacques," I said softly, for all this time he had remained with the animals, "if you can leave the horses, come here."
In two or three minutes he had crept close up to us, and was looking steadily at the camp.