There he found a party of twelve or fourteen peasants, surrounded by cavalry.

The whole village was in flames.

Several of the inhabitants had been cut down, as the cavalry entered.

The rest, with the exception of those in the hands of the troops, had fled in the darkness.

As soon as the detachment with Walter arrived, the whole body got into motion, and reached Ginckle's camp shortly before midnight.
As the general had retired to sleep, they were placed in a tent, and four sentries posted round it, with orders to shoot anyone who showed his head outside.