midnight
Here again there was a ten minutes ' halt ; the men sank down upon the soft beds of leaf and mould . Their eyelids drooped ; they were in a dream at once , and in a dream heard the _ Fall in -- fall in , men ! _ The column stumbled to its feet and began the descent of the mountain . Clouds came up ; at midnight when they reached the lower slope , it was raining . Later they came to the outskirts of the village of Paris , to a grove of mighty oaks , and here the brigade was halted for the night . The men fell upon the ground and slept . No food was taken , and no sentries were posted .