Far in front he thought he could see lighter masses protruding in points from the forest.

They were suggestive of unnumbered thousands.
Once he saw a tiny battery go dashing along the line of the horizon.
The tiny riders were beating the tiny horses.
From a sloping hill came the sound of cheerings and clashes.

Smoke welled slowly through the leaves.
Batteries were speaking with thunderous oratorical effort.

Here and there were flags, the red in the stripes dominating.

They splashed bits of warm color upon the dark lines of troops.
The youth felt the old thrill at the sight of the emblem.