about nine o'clock
In another half hour they were sure that they were well beyond the French lines ; whose position , indeed , could be made out by the light of their bivouac fires . For three hours they continued their march , at a rapid pace , without a check . Then they halted for half an hour , and then held on their way till daybreak , when they entered a large village . They had left the redoubts at about nine o'clock , and it was now five ; so that they had marched at least twenty-five miles , and were within some ten miles of the Aqueda . Sentries were posted at the edge of the wood , and the troops then lay down to sleep . Several times during the day parties of French cavalry were seen moving about ; but they were going at a leisurely pace , and there was no appearance of their being engaged in any search . At nightfall the troops got under arms again , and made their way to the Aqueda .