They're still at it already
on the flanks!"
The distant thunder of cannon came from both right and left.
"A third day of fighting is at hand," said Fleury.
"And it will be followed by a fourth."
"And a fifth."
"But we shall continue to drive the enemy away."
Both spoke with the utmost confidence. Having seen their armies
victorious for two days they had no doubt they would win again. All that
morning they listened to the sounds of combat, although they saw much
less than on the day before. The prisoners were in a little wood, where
they lay down at times, and then, restless and anxious, would stand on
tiptoe again, seeking to see at least a corner of the battle.
John and Fleury were standing near noon at the edge of the wood, when a
small body of Uhlans halted close by. Being not more than fifty in
number, John judged that they were scouts, and the foaming mouths of
their horses showing that they had been ridden hard, confirmed him in
the opinion. They were only fifty or sixty yards from him, and although
they were motionless for some time, their eager faces showed that they
were waiting for some movement.
It was pure chance, but John happened to be looking at a rather large
man who sat his horse easily, his gloved hand resting on his thigh. He
saw distinctly that his face was very ruddy and covered with beads of
perspiration. Then man and horse together fell to the ground as if
struck by a bolt of lightning.
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