About midday
said Bracy ; and the spot indicated was reached , the short halt made , and they went on again , after noting that the enemy was slowly following on their track . That seemed a day of days to Bracy , and interminably long and wearisome . They kept along as near the edge of the snow as they could , and watched the two bodies of men to right and left till they were hidden by the inequalities of the ground ; but they came into sight again and again . About midday the two parties were seen to meet , and then come to a halt , about a mile from where Bracy and his companion crouched , as usual , in among some loose rocks , in the unenviable position of being between two fires , the enemy in the rear halting too , and making no effort to come to close quarters after the lesson they had learned about the long , thin , pencil-like bullets sent whistling from Gedge 's rifle . `` Can you make out what they are doing , sir ? '' asked Gedge . `` Sitting together , and I think eating . ''