It's no use groping about
in the dark. For anything we know we may be going exactly in the wrong
direction. The men can of course sit down if they like; and they may
as well eat a piece of bread and try their water-bottles. But tell
them not to eat more than half their ration. We may be longer before
we get out of this than we expect."
The order was given, the men piled their arms and seated themselves on
the short turf. Presently Ralph heard a sudden exclamation of surprise
and satisfaction as one of the men tasted the contents of his
water-bottle, and in a minute there was a buzz of talk. Before scarce
a word had been spoken; the men had been marching in a sort of sulky
silence, disgusted at being taken from their beds for work they
disliked, and at their long march through the damp night air; but
their satisfaction at this unexpected comfort loosened their tongues.
Pipes were produced and lighted, and the discomfort of the situation
altogether forgotten. Desmond had handed to Ralph the flask and packet
of sandwiches he had prepared for himself, and he, too, felt less
strongly the chilling effects of the damp and darkness after partaking
of them. The excise officer had also made his preparations.
"We should be more certain as to our whereabouts if we had stopped at
that heap of stones as I proposed, Mr.
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