The gloom that enveloped the army was filled with their groans, which seemed to melt into one with the darkness of the night.

After a while the moving mass became agitated, someone rode past on a white horse followed by his suite, and said something in passing: "What did he say? Where to, now? Halt, is it? Did he thank us?" came eager questions from all sides.

The whole moving mass began pressing closer together and a report spread that they were ordered to halt: evidently those in front had halted.

All remained where they were in the middle of the muddy road.

Fires were lighted and the talk became more audible.