about three o'clock in
the afternoon
About one o'clock in the afternoon we re-crossed the Sambre , by the bridge of Chatelet , but as the Prussians were still in pursuit we did not halt there . I was quite at ease , thinking : `` If they are still pursuing us , they will follow the bulk of the army , in order to take more prisoners and pick up the cannon , caissons , and baggage . '' This was the manner in which we were compelled to reason , we , who three days before had made the world tremble . I recollect that when we reached a small village about three o'clock in the afternoon , we stopped at a blacksmith 's shop to ask for water . The country people immediately began to gather round , and the smith , a large , dark man , asked us to go to the little inn , opposite , saying he would join us and take a glass of beer with us . Naturally enough this pleased us , for we were afraid of being arrested , and we saw that these people were on our side . I remembered that I had some money in my knapsack , and that now it would be useful .