More contented with his prospects he moved softly away.
For the first hundred feet from the embankment his shoes touched grass.

Then he came to the edge of a ploughed field.

Here he felt that he must proceed with even greater caution, for now most of the train noises had ceased and he feared to slip or stumble, and thus make a noise that might be carried on the still night air to the ears of the train guard.
However, he soon struck a smooth path leading through the ploughed ground, and now moved along a little faster.
"This is just where caution ought to pay big dividends," he told himself.

"A path is usually made to lead to where human beings live and congregate.

I'll stop every few feet and listen." The first sound that came to his ears from out of the veiled distance ahead made the young American officer almost laugh aloud.