noon
Having seen their armies victorious for two days they had no doubt they would win again . All that morning they listened to the sounds of combat , although they saw much less than on the day before . The prisoners were in a little wood , where they lay down at times , and then , restless and anxious , would stand on tiptoe again , seeking to see at least a corner of the battle . John and Fleury were standing near noon at the edge of the wood , when a small body of Uhlans halted close by . Being not more than fifty in number , John judged that they were scouts , and the foaming mouths of their horses showing that they had been ridden hard , confirmed him in the opinion . They were only fifty or sixty yards from him , and although they were motionless for some time , their eager faces showed that they were waiting for some movement . It was pure chance , but John happened to be looking at a rather large man who sat his horse easily , his gloved hand resting on his thigh .