Ralph now spread his men out in a line and directed them to feel on the ground to see if they could discover the track.
They failed to do so, and Ralph then ordered them together again.
"We will halt here, sergeant, till daylight.

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.