224 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



we set out, taking one of the Wallachians, 

 mounted on a shaggy little horse, as our guide. 

 Luckily for our comfort the rain ceased, and after 

 a ride of rather more than an hour we came to a 

 deserted cattle-shed, from whence we could see the 

 enemy's camp, surrounded by piquets and a chain 

 of Cossack videttes, about a mile and a half distant. 

 Here we dismounted, and giving instructions to 

 our people to remain on the qui vive, Fritz and I, 

 accompanied by my Arnaout Chaoush, crept 

 forwards to a slight eminence, from whence, with 

 the aid of my telescope, I could see all that was 

 going on. Our guide was evidently correct when 

 he stated that the Russians were in force, for the 

 camp before us was that of a brigade at least, if not 

 of a division ; and we could count twelve guns 

 drawn up in front of a number of caissons and 

 ammunition waggons, all painted green. We 

 watched the night piquets being relieved, and saw 

 the videttes extend their circle far into the plain, 

 whilst the rolling of drums and the braying of 

 trumpets seemed to betoken that either some 

 movement was intended or that a parade was about 



