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At ten o'clock the rest of the men from Halloville came down, with the news that the Uhlans about two hundred strong had just left Blamont, and were coming down the valley.
The news which hurried them forwards had been to the effect that a body of two hundred Uhlans had left Sarrebourg, and were advancing towards Blamont. They were going quietly, stopping to levy contributions at the villages on the way. It was probable that they would enter Blamont on the same evening that the franc tireurs reached Halloville.
It was supposed that they would proceed, with the sheep and cattle that they had swept up, by the valley of the Vexouse to Luneville. To within four miles of Halloville, the road had been a fair one; but it was here necessary to turn off, by a track that was little better than a goat path.
Tim was dreadfully disgusted at being thus cut off from the chance of seeing, and joining in, any fighting; and only consoled himself with the hope that a vacancy would be likely to occur the next day, and that he would then be able to exchange his whip for a rifle. The rest of the corps plodded on until, long after dusk, they arrived at the half-dozen houses which form the village of Halloville.
A small party had been left upon the high ground near Halloville, and one of them had brought down news every half hour. Soon after daybreak, a party of Uhlans had been seen to leave Blamont, and to visit Barbas and Harboise two villages in the flat of Blamont and then to retire, driving some cattle and sheep before them.
A portion of the troop, therefore, went round to Halloville, to fetch the accouterments, blankets, etc. which had been left there; while the rest marched, by the road, to the place where the cart had been left the night before. Two peasants were engaged as guides and, in the afternoon, the corps started for their destination. It was a terrible march.
The waterproofs, blankets, and all other impediments had been left behind at Halloville, so that the men had the free use of their arms. The rifles were loaded, the pouches shifted round so as to be ready at hand and orders having been given that not a word should be spoken, even in a whisper a perfect silence reigned over the spot. Ralph and Percy were near to each other.
The news which the commandant of the franc tireurs heard, at Baccarat, determined him to change his intentions; and to push on without delay to Halloville a tiny hamlet on the lower spurs of the Vosges, some four miles from Blamont; and overlooking the valley of the Vexouse, in which the latter town was situated.
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