“I think, master, that it would be well for you to leave your armour behind you.  It will be of small avail if you fall into the midst of a band of Spanish spearmen, while it would be a sore hindrance in passing through these woods, and the lighter you are accoutred the better.”

“That is so, and I will take your advice.  I will give it into the charge of the horse guard.  I will, of course, take my sword and pistols, and you may as well take yours.”

“I like a knife better than a sword, master, but I will take the both.  I think it would be as well for you to lay aside your helmet also, for the light from one of these watchfires might glint upon it and catch the eye of a Spaniard.”

“You are right, Paolo; have you got the hat?”

“Yes, sir, it is here with your valises.”

“That is certainly more comfortable,” Hector said as he put it on.  “Now, you had better carry the things across to that fire where the prince’s staff are sitting.  There is no fear of anyone interfering with them there.”

As soon as this had been done they started, picking their way carefully through numbers of sleeping men, and stopping once or twice to exchange a word with the groups still gathered round the fires.  First they passed along the whole line of outposts, answering the challenges by the words, “Officer of the prince’s staff on duty.”  They found the sentries fairly vigilant, for with so powerful an enemy within striking distance every soldier felt that the occasion was one for unusual watchfulness.  At each post Hector questioned the sentinels closely as to whether they had heard any sounds indicating the movement of troops in the interval between the two armies, and in only one case was there an affirmative answer.

“I heard a sound such as might be made by the clash of armour against a tree or by an armed man falling.  I have listened attentively since, but have heard nothing more.”

“From which direction did the noise seem to come?”

“From across there, sir.  It seemed to me to come from that copse in the hollow.”

“That is just what I thought might be likely, Paolo,” Hector said as he walked on.  “That hollow ground between the armies, with its wood and low brushwood, is just the place where an ambush might be posted with advantage.  Turenne would have taken possession of it as soon as darkness closed in, for it would not only prevent the possibility of the army being taken by surprise during the night, but it might be invaluable during the fight tomorrow, for a force ambushed there might take an advancing enemy in the rear.  We will go farther on till we get to a point where the brushwood extends nearly up to our line.  We will enter it there, and make our way along until we see whether de Malo has taken advantage of our failure to utilize the wood.”

As soon as they reached the point he indicated they moved forward, crouching low until they reached the bushes; then they crawled along, keeping outside but close to them.  In this way they would be invisible to any sentries posted near the edge of the wood, and would also avoid the risk of drawing the enemy’s attention by accidentally breaking a dried branch or even snapping a twig.  In ten minutes they entered the wood that extended along the greater portion of the hollow.