Mostly mild winds blew and the hoofs of his horse fell on green turf.
Harry was intensely alert now.

He was far from his command, and he knew that he must see and hear everything or he would soon be in the hands of the enemy.

He rode on rather slowly, and amid continued silence.

He saw on his left a white house with green shutters and a portico.

But the shutters were closed tightly and no smoke rose from the chimneys.
Although house and grounds showed no touch of harm, they seemed to bear the brand of desolation.