a mere
rock in the stream, was so situated as to command the bridge between
Eslar and the German bank, and I could not help wondering that the
Austrians had never taken the precaution to strengthen it, or at
least place a gun there, to enfilade the bridge. Now, to my extreme
astonishment, I saw it occupied by the soldiery, who, doubtless, were
artillery, as in such a position small arms would prove of slight
efficiency. As I reflected over this, wondering within myself if any
intimation of our movements could have reached the enemy, I heard along
the ground on which I was lying the peculiar tremulous, dull sound
communicated by a large body of men marching. The measured tramp could
not be mistaken, and as I listened I could perceive that a force was
moving towards the river from different quarters. The rumbling roll
of heavy guns and the clattering noise of cavalry were also easily
distinguished, and awaking one of my comrades I called his attention to
the sounds.

'_Parbleu!_' said he, 'thou'rt right; they're going to make a dash at
the fortress, and there will be hot work ere morning. What say you now,
corporal? has Maurice hit it off this time?'

'That's as it may be,' growled the other sulkily; 'guessing is easy work
ever for such as thee! but if he be so clever, let him tell us why are
we stationed along the river's bank in small detachments. We have had no
orders to observe the enemy, nor to report upon anything that might
go forward; nor do I see with what object we were to secure the
fishing-boats; troops could never be conveyed across the Rhine in skiffs
like these!'

'I think that this order was given to prevent any of the fishermen
giving information to the enemy in case of a sudden attack,' replied I.

'Mayhap thou wert at the council of war when the plan was decided on,'
said he contemptuously. 'For a fellow that never saw the smoke of an
enemy's gun, thou hast a rare audacity in talking of war!'

'Yonder is the best answer to your taunt,' said I, as, in a little bend
of the stream beside us, two boats were seen to pull under the shelter
of the tall alders, from which the clank of arms could be plainly heard;
and now another larger launch swept past, the dark shadows of a dense
crowd of men showing above the gunwale.

'They are embarking--they are certainly embarking,' now ran from mouth
to mouth. As the troops arrived at the river's bank they were speedily
'told off' in separate divisions, of which