Delaunois had come at a most timely moment, and he was doing him a great service.

It was very cold above the earth, as Delaunois had predicted, and he wrapped the blankets closely about himself, drawing one over his head and face, until he was completely covered except the eyes.
To the westward several other planes were hovering and to the eastward was another group which John knew to be German.

But the flying machines did not seem disposed to enter into hostilities that morning, although John saw the double line of trenches blazing now and then with fire, and, at intervals, the heavy batteries on either side sent a stated number of shells at the enemy.
Seen from a height the opposing trenches appeared to be almost together, and the fire of the hostile marksmen blended into the same line of light.

But John did not look at them long.

He had seen so much of foul trenches for weary months that it was a pleasure to let the eye fill with something else.
He looked instead at the high hills which were fast coming near, and although covered with snow, with trees bare of leaves, they were a glorious sight, an intense relief to him after all that monotony of narrow mud walls.