canvas to relieve their cramped feeling and taken cold in them.

Jean said as soon as he set eyes on him:

"If we are to do any marching to-day, my lad, you had better see the
surgeon and get him to give you a place in one of the wagons."

But no one seemed to know what were the plans for the day, and the
most conflicting reports prevailed. It appeared for a moment as if
they were about to resume their march; the tents were struck and the
entire corps took the road and passed through Vouziers, leaving on the
right bank of the Aisne only one brigade of the second division,
apparently to continue the observation of the Monthois road; but all
at once, as soon as they had put the town behind them and were on the
left bank of the stream, they halted and stacked muskets in the fields
and meadows that skirt the Grand-Pre road on either hand, and the
departure of the 4th hussars, who just then moved off on that road at
a sharp trot, afforded fresh food for conjecture.

"If we are to remain here I shall stay with you," declared Maurice,
who was not attracted by the prospect of riding in an ambulance.

It soon became known that they were to occupy their present camp until
General Douay could obtain definite information as to the movements of
the enemy. The general had been harassed by an intense and constantly
increasing anxiety since the day before, when he had seen
Margueritte's division moving toward Chene, for he knew that his flank
was uncovered, that there was not a man to watch the passes of the
Argonne, and that he was liable to be attacked at any moment.
Therefore he had sent out the 4th hussars to reconnoiter the country