ten
o'clock
All worked hard and , by eight o'clock in the morning , everything was in readiness . A small party had been left upon the high ground near Halloville , and one of them had brought down news every half hour . Soon after daybreak , a party of Uhlans had been seen to leave Blamont , and to visit Barbas and Harboise -- two villages in the flat of Blamont -- and then to retire , driving some cattle and sheep before them . At ten o'clock the rest of the men from Halloville came down , with the news that the Uhlans -- about two hundred strong -- had just left Blamont , and were coming down the valley . Each man now took the station allotted to him : thirty men behind the trees , next to the road ; the main body being stationed behind the abattis , each man having previously settled upon a spot where he could fire through the leaves , which entirely concealed them from view from the road . Number one company was placed to the right and , consequently , near to Blamont . Ralph and Percy were both in the front line , behind the trees .