"You can see the steeple of the cathedral shining through the clouds." John's eyes followed the pointing finger, and he caught a high gleam, although all beneath was a mass of floating gray mist.

But he knew it was a few beams of the sun piercing through the clouds and striking upon some solid object.

He put the glasses to his eyes and then he was able to discern an old, old town, standing on a cliff above a stream that he would have called a creek at home.

Some of the houses were of stone, and others were of timber and concrete, but it was evident that war had passed already over Chastel.

As he rode nearer he beheld buildings ruined by shells or fire.