They climbed up the ridge and reached the top, when by a common impulse they stopped. Borne upward faintly on the misty, wet-laden air, was a rumbling, grinding noise, accompanied by a kind of sullen hum like the buzzing of millions of bees. ‘Do you hear that, Will?’ cried Jack, clutching his companion’s arm. ‘Guns,’ said Will. ‘Men,’ said Jack, ‘in thousands too.’ ‘Let’s make sure,’ said Will. They descended the side of the ridge and presently through the mist could make out the ghostly forms of men marching in files closely packed, passing, passing, apparently without end. Then came the grinding of wheels on the gritty ground, accompanied by the jangling of chains and harness, as gun after gun went by. Jack and Will reascended the ridge, and then far away on their left similar sounds of marching thousands and numberless guns could be heard. ‘The enemy is marching in overwhelming numbers,’ said Jack. ‘Our camp is asleep. In this fog it will be surprised. Will, come on; on our efforts perhaps depend the lives of hundreds of our countrymen.’ ‘We must give them warning,’ said Will; and at top speed the intrepid Lancers started off. On and on they went, directed by the sounds of the advancing Russians. These, to some extent, they were presently enabled to leave behind; but on the right and left ominous rumblings could still be heard. Blundering, falling, running, Jack and Will tore on, their one idea being to put their countrymen on their guard. Sometimes they were so close to the Russians that they could almost have touched them, but Providence always protected them. Presently they struck a road, and this they raced along till, emerging suddenly from the fog, a quick challenge fell upon their ears. ‘Halt! Who goes there?’ ‘Friends,’ panted the lads; ‘two of the 17th Lancers.’ ‘Stay where you are,’ returned a stern voice, and in an instant several men belonging to a picket of the 41st Regiment advanced and seized them. In a few breathless, impassioned words Jack told of the danger. ‘Give the alarm,’ he panted, ‘the Russians in thousands are advancing upon you.’ The curious humming buzz of the advancing hordes could be distinctly heard by all. The sergeant sent for the officer of the picket, which had just been newly posted. He heard what Jack and Will had to say, and asked them how they came to be outside the British lines. Being answered, he said calmly, ‘Return at once, sergeant, and tell the officer in command of the relieved picket what you’ve heard. Then go and alarm the camp.’ He then went up to the brow of the hill in front, Jack and Will with him. Soon, very soon, just as day was breaking, he saw close upon him the leading columns of two Russian battalions. He fell back and gave his men the order to deliver their fire. Three crashing volleys rang out, and the advancing columns, taken by surprise and thus suddenly greeted, fell back.