Ah, well, such is life!" He seemed to John a strange compound of age and youth, a mixture of the philosopher and the soldier.

That he was a real leader John could no longer doubt.

He saw the little red eyes watching everything, and he noticed that the regiments of Vaugirard had no superiors in trimness and spirit.
They marched until sundown and stopped in some woods clear of undergrowth, like most of those in Europe.

The camp kitchens went to work at once, and they received good food and coffee.

As far as John could see men were at rest, but he could not tell whether the whole army was doing likewise.