Delaunois had considered it not a reckless quest, but high adventure with a noble impulse, and John's heart and spirit had responded quickly.

Great deeds come from exaltation, and that mood was his.
He followed what seemed to be a little path under the snow, leading along the side of the mountain toward the eastward, the way he would go.
Here portions of the earth were exposed, where the snow had already melted much under the heat of the high sun.

Three or four hundred feet below a brook ran noisily over stones, but that was the only sound in the mountains.

He felt though that the Germans must be somewhere near.
Men with glasses might be watching him already.
He decided at once upon his role.

In Europe peasants were often heavy and loutish.