“_Qui va là?_” a sentry demanded. “_La deuxième division_,” cried a hoarse voice. “_Halte là! la consigne?_” “_Wagram!_” repeated the same voice as before, while his party resumed their march; and the next moment the patrol was again upon his post, silent and motionless as before. “_En avant, Messieurs!_” said I, aloud, as soon as the infantry had proceeded some distance,--“_en avant!_” “_Qui va là?_” demanded the sentry, as we came along at a sharp trot. “_L’état-major, Wagram!_” responded I, pressing on without drawing rein; and in a moment we had regained our former position behind the infantry. We had scarcely time to congratulate ourselves upon the success of our scheme, when a tremendous clattering noise in front, mingled with the galloping of horses and the cracking of whips, announced the approach of the artillery as they came along by a narrow road which bisected our path; and as they passed between us and the column, we could hear the muttered sentences of the drivers, cursing the unseasonable time for an attack, and swearing at their cattle in no measured tones. “Did you hear that?” whispered Hampden; “the battery is about to be directed against the San Benito, which must be far away to the left. I heard one of the troop saying that they were to open their fire at daybreak.” “All right, now,” said I; “look there!” From the hill we now stood upon a range of lanterns was distinctly visible, stretching away for nearly half a mile. “There are the trenches; they must be at work, too. See how the lights are moving from place to place! Straight now. Forward!” So saying, I pressed my horse boldly on. We had not proceeded many minutes when the sounds of galloping were heard coming along behind us. “To the right, in the hollow,” cried I. “Be still.” Scarcely had we moved off when several horsemen galloped up, and drawing their reins to breathe their horses up the hill, we could hear their voices as they conversed together. In the few broken words we could catch, we guessed that the attack upon San Benito was only a feint to induce Crawfurd to hold his position, while the French, marching upon his flank and front, were to attack him with overwhelming masses and crush him. “You hear what’s in store for us, O’Malley?” whispered Hampden. “I think we could not possibly do better than hasten back with the intelligence.” “We must not forget what we came for, first,” said I; and the next moment we were following the horsemen, who from their helmets seemed to be horse-artillery officers. The pace our guides rode at showed us that they knew their ground. We passed several sentries, muttering something at each time, and seeming as if only anxious to keep up with our party. “They’ve halted,” said I. “Now to the left there; gently here, for we must be in the midst of their lines. Ha! I knew we were right. See there!”