You see,
they are all little bodies and tribes and bits of tribes, each under its
own leader, and everyone thinks himself a general and acts just as he
likes, and that's where they often get in a muddle, good fighters as
they are. Look at them now. There's another lot yonder going slowly
down from that hill into the hollow and coming creeping towards us."

"Yes, and right away from that opposite hill there's another tribe
coming down," cried Marcus, whose voice was husky with excitement.

"That's right," growled Serge, "and don't you see, not one lot has moved
towards the upper pass. Why have they left that way open?"

"I don't know," said Marcus. "Perhaps some of the enemy will move
towards it soon."

"Not they," growled Serge, with a deep, low chuckle. "Our general's
laid a trap for them, and they are walking in. They know that we must
be running short of provisions, and they think that we are going to
retreat. It looks like it, don't it? There goes an advance guard of
the foot, marching to the front of the horse. Well done, brave boys!
There are some fine men amongst them to step together like that! Yes,
there they go, about a third of them straight for the upper pass, and
the whole of our little army will soon be under weigh as if in full
retreat."

"And then the enemy will attack," cried Marcus.

"Perhaps not yet. They know what it's like up yonder amongst the snows,
and they think that, tired and half starved, our poor fellows will be
marching to their death, leaving their enemies very little work to do
beside cutting down the stragglers. Ah, depend upon it, all these
little petty generals think they have a great victory within their hands
without any cost to themselves, and that none of our poor fellows will
get across the pass alive."

"Oh, don't talk, Serge," cried Marcus, excitedly. "Look at the enemy!
There's more and more of them getting into motion. They are beginning
to come from all round."

"Yes, as I said before, like a nest of stingers stirred up with a stick;
but we are getting all in motion too," continued Serge. "Every captain
has had his orders, and he's beginning to head his men as it comes to
his turn. Look how the infantry are tramping along to lead the way!
Now the horse are getting ready to start! Take it coolly, my lads. You
ought to be leading those horses over that stony ground; but I suppose
the general wants to make a show and let it seem as if we were in full