ten o'clock
Shots were exchanged at intervals throughout the day between French batteries on the right and left and a redoubt the Germans had thrown up on a rise four or five hundred yards behind their village ; the gunners on both sides occasionally directing their fire upon the houses ; the outposts were for the most part silent , as it was seldom indeed that even a momentary glimpse was obtained of helmet or kepi , and the orders were that there was to be no useless firing . During the day the companies took turn at outpost duty , but when night fell the line was strengthened , half the men being under rifles , while the rest lay down with their arms by their side , ready to fall in at a moment 's notice . A dropping fire was kept up on both sides , but this was rather for the purpose of showing that they were on the alert than with any idea of harming the invisible foe . At ten o'clock Cuthbert went out with the half-company to which he belonged , to relieve their comrades who had been for the last three hours in the front line . They had been some little time on duty when Pierre Leroux , who was in charge of the half-company , said to Des Valles , who commanded the whole of the outposts -- `` It seems to me that I can hear a deep sound ; it comes in pulsations , and I think it is a considerable body of men marching . '' The captain listened with bent head for a short time . `` You are right , Pierre , there is certainly a movement of some sort going on in front , but I fancy it is some distance away ; if they were marching on the village in front we should hear it more plainly .