In the three weeks that they had been lying there they had thrown up no earthworks.

Not a spade had touched the earth.

Nor was there any other defense of any kind.

The high forest circled close about them, dense now with foliage and underbrush, hiding even at a distance of a few hundred yards anything that might lie within.

The cavalry in these three weeks had made one scouting expedition, but it was slight and superficial, resulting in nothing.