Amid the general rumble, the groans and voices of the wounded were more distinctly heard than any other sound in the darkness of the night.

The gloom that enveloped the army was filled with their groans, which seemed to melt into one with the darkness of the night.

After a while the moving mass became agitated, someone rode past on a white horse followed by his suite, and said something in passing: "What did he say? Where to, now? Halt, is it? Did he thank us?" came eager questions from all sides.

The whole moving mass began pressing closer together and a report spread that they were ordered to halt: evidently those in front had halted.

All remained where they were in the middle of the muddy road.