So I crawled forward believing fully that I should be in danger if they once found out that I had uncovered their lurking-place.

I carefully kept from making any thrashing or swishing of boughs, any crackling of twigs, or from walking with a heavy footfall; and I wondered more and more as I neared what I knew must be the other end of the grove, why they had not left the water and made camp.

For what other purpose had they come to this patch of woods?
At last I heard the stamping of horses, and I lay still for a while and peered all about me for signs of the animals or their possessors.

I moved slowly, then, so as to bring first this open space in line with my eyes, and then that, until, crawling like a lizard, I found my men.

They were lying on the ground, wrapped in blankets, all asleep, very near the other end of the grove.