ten o'clock
One of the messengers was to make a long detour to cross the road half a mile ahead of the French , and then to make his way along on the opposite hillside to the spot where Herrara was posted . The other two were to make their way as best they could through the village . The pieces of paper they carried were rolled up into little balls , and they were ordered that , if noticed and an alarm given , these were at once to be swallowed . Soon after ten o'clock the regiment formed up . Terence had given detailed orders to the captain of each company . These were instructed to call up their men twenty at a time , and to explain their orders to them , so that every man should know exactly what to do . No sound had been heard in the village , and Terence felt sure that Herrara must have received his orders , and at a quarter past ten he with one company moved slowly down towards the village ; Bull , with the main body of the force , marching westward along the hills .