He believed that the Germans would hold fast, and might even resume the offensive toward Paris again, but Fleury shook his head.
"Today is like yesterday," he said.
"How can you tell ?" asked Weber.
"Because the fire on both flanks is slowly moving eastward, that is, the Germans there are yielding ground.

My ears, trained to note such things, tell me so.

My friend, I am not mistaken." He spoke gravely, without exultation, but John took fresh hope from his words.

Toward night the fire in their front died somewhat, and after sunset it sank lower, but they still heard a prodigious volume of firing on both flanks.

John remembered then that they had eaten nothing since morning, but when some of the prisoners who spoke German requested food it was served to them.
Night came over what seemed to be a drawn battle at this point, and after eating his brief supper John saw the automobiles and stretchers bringing in the wounded.