noon
The gags had been taken out of the mouths of the men . If they did give the alarm there would be none to hear them , save perhaps a French peasant passing that way , and at his hands they would meet short shrift . Having stuffed their haversacks full of roast pig , they retraced their steps and reached the edge of the clearing . It was noon by this time , so much of the day had been spent in the various undertakings that have been described , but the Russians were still there . Evidently they intended to encamp for the day and rest . Probably it was part of the program . These would move on , presumably on the morrow , and another division of the army would come up and take their places .