six o'clock
There was no more talking , for every man felt that an hour 's sleep would do wonders for him ; soon absolute quiet reigned in the grove , and continued until the bugle again called them to their feet . All knew now that it was Leirya they were making for , and that another ten miles still remained to be accomplished . A small body of cavalry which accompanied them now pushed on ahead , and when half the distance had been traversed a trooper brought back the news that the enemy had not yet reached the town . It was just six o'clock when the brigade marched in amid the cheers and wild excitement of the inhabitants . The waggons were not yet up , and the troops were quartered in the town , tired , and many of them foot-sore , but proud of the march they had accomplished , and that it had enabled them to forestall the French . Laborde , indeed , arrived the same night at Batalha , eight miles distant , but on receiving the news in the morning that the British had already occupied Leirya , he advanced no farther . His position was an exceedingly difficult one ; his orders were to cover the march of Loison from Abrantes , and to form a junction with that general ; but to do so now would be to leave open the road through Alcobaca and Obidos to the commanding position at Torres Vedras .