It appeared fully under cultivation with patches of greenery that denoted gardens, palm-groves, fruit-orchards; all signs of a well-watered region here at the center of the world's most appalling desert.
This in itself was a thing of astonishment.

But it faded to insignificance as all at once a far, dazzling sheen burst on the watchers.

Up against the sky a wondrous, yellow blaze seemed to be burning.

Enormously far away as it still was, it filled the heart of every observer with a strange, quick thrill of wonder, of hope.
Something of wild exultation seemed to leap through the Legionaries' veins, at sight of that strange fire.
Leclair glanced at the Master.

The dark, taciturn man, for all his self-control, had set teeth into his lip till the blood was all but starting.
On, on swooped _Nissr._ Now the plain was widening.