nearly midnight
Although the sound of rifle-fire grew more clear , the noise of the guns came from behind them , but to the right and the left . For an hour they ran rapidly forward , and it seemed that the tide of battle had swept to the north , leaving this area denuded of troops . They saw neither guns nor infantry , although a renewed burst of machine-gun fire told them they were nearing their unknown destination . They had not started from their hiding-place until nearly midnight , and as they reached a slight rise of the ground they could see that the darkness was slowly lifting with day 's approach . ` See , sir , ' said the groom , pointing ahead , ` yonder side o ' the river to the right . ' ` I ca n't see anything , ' ` Look ` ee , Mas ' r Dick . Follow the river .