The entire battalion of the advance guard then began to pour over the bridge on their way to the plateau.  Our brigade was quickly got together, and our Chasseurs hastened to water their horses.  Out came the nosebags from the saddlebags.  A few minutes later no one would have suspected that fighting had taken place at this spot.  The men hurriedly got their snack, for we knew the halt would not last long, and that the pursuit had to be pushed till daylight failed.  Our troop was in good heart and thankful that the squadron’s losses had been so small.  F. had just seen Laurent, the one wounded Chasseur of his troop, and said the doctors hoped to save his eye; so we had no reason to grumble.

Saddlebags were now being buckled and horses rebridled.  I was to go forward to replace the troop that had led the advance guard.  The Colonel sent for me and ordered me to proceed at once along the road to Fismes, search the outskirts of the village carefully, and take up a position on the heights overlooking the valley.

My troop got away quickly, and I rejoiced again at the sight of my fellows, radiant at the thought of having a dash at the enemy.  We had to hasten and get ahead of the foremost parties of infantry, which also halted now for a meal.  I detached my advance scouts.  Their eager little horses set off at a gallop along the white road, and I was delighted to see the ease and decision with which my Chasseurs flashed out their swords.  They seemed to say, “Come along, come along ...; we are ready.”  As for me, I rode on in quiet confidence, knowing that I had in front of me eyes keen enough to prevent any surprise.

One squad climbed nimbly up the ridge to the left.  The horses scrambled up the steep ground, dislodging stones and clods of earth.  They struggled with straining hocks hard to get up, and seemed to challenge each other for a race to the top.  Their riders, in extended order, showed as patches of red and blue against the grey stubble.  Up they went, further and further, and then disappeared over the crest.  Only one was still visible, but this one was my guarantee that I had good eyes, keen and alert, on my left.  Should any danger threaten from that quarter I knew well that he would pass on to me the signal received from his corporal, and I should only have to gallop to the top to judge of the situation myself.  I could see the man against the blue sky, the whole outline of his body and that of his horse; the equipment and harness, the curved sword, the graceful neck, the sinewy legs, the heavy pack.  I recognised the rider and knew the name of his horse.  They were both of the right sort.  Yes, I felt quite easy about my left.

On the right the ground dropped sheer to a narrow valley, at the bottom of which flowed a stream of clear water.  Among the green trees were glittering patches here and there, on which the sun threw metallic reflections.  And on the other side rose heights covered by the forest of Riz.  On the edge of this forest I could see the stately ruins of a splendid country mansion.  I questioned a boy who was standing on the side of the road, looking at us half timidly, half gladly.