agons had retired from Quatre
Bras to leave room for those carrying the ammunition, and were now so
far in the rear that it was impossible to get at their contents, and
distribute them among the troops. For an hour or two they chatted
round the fire, and discussed the probabilities of the struggle that
would begin in the morning.

Just as night fell there was a sharp artillery fight between two
batteries of Picton's division and the same number of the French. The
latter commenced the fight by opening fire upon the infantry position,
but were too far away to do much harm. Picton's guns got the range of
a column of infantry, and created great havoc among them. Darkness put
a stop to the fight, but until late at night skirmishes took place
between the outposts. A troop of the Seventh Hussars charged and drove
back a body of light cavalry, who kept on disturbing the videttes; and
the Second Light Dragoons of the king's German legion, posted in front
of Hougoumont, charged and drove back a column of the enemy's cavalry
that approached too close.

Gradually the fires burned low--the incessant downpour of rain so
drenching the logs that it was impossible to keep them alight--and the
troops lay down, with their knapsacks under their heads, turned the
capes of the greatcoats over their faces, and in spite of the deep
soft mud below them, and the pouring rain above, soon sank to sleep.
All night long a deep sound filled the air, telling of the heavy
trains of artillery and ammunition wagons arriving from the rear to
both armies. But nothing short of a heavy cannonade would have aroused
the weary soldiers from their deep sleep.

At twelve o'clock Ralph was called up, as his company had to relieve
that which furnished the posts in front of the position of the
regiment. The orders were not to fire unless fired upon. A third of
the men were thrown out as sentries; the others lay upon the ground,
fifty yards in rear, ready to move forward to their support if
necessary. Captain O'Connor left Ralph with the reserve, and himself
paced up and down along the line of sentries, who were relieved every
hour until morning broke, when the company rejoined the regiment.

The troops could now obtain a view of the ground upon which they were
to fight. Their line extended some two miles in length, along the brow
of a gradually sloping rise, the two extremities of which projected
somewhat beyond the center. The ground was open, without woods or