We have an opportunity now of carrying our own ideas into effect." At three o'clock Jacob visited the outposts.

All was still, and nothing had occurred to give rise to any suspicion of the vicinity of an enemy.
Half an hour later one of the advanced pickets galloped in.

They heard, he said, a noise as of a large body of horse, away to the right, and it seemed as if it was proceeding toward Chalcombe, the village where Sir Ralph Willoughby's troop was quartered.

Two minutes later, thanks to Harry's arrangements, the troop were mounted and in readiness for action.
The first faint dawn of day had begun.

Suddenly the stillness was broken by the sound of pistol shots and shouts from the direction of Chalcombe, which lay a mile away.
"It is likely," Harry said, "that Sir Ralph has been caught napping.