A hasty look through the glasses showed little tongues of fire licking up on the horizon before them and he knew that they came from the monster cannon of the Germans who were surely advancing, while the French were advancing also to meet them.
General Vaugirard sprang into his automobile, taking only two of his senior officers with him, while the rest followed on their motor cycles.
As far as John could see on either side the vast rows of French swept across hills and fields.

There was little shouting now and no sound of bands, but presently a shout arose behind them: "Way for the artillery!" Then he heard cries, the rumble of wheels and the rapid beat of hoofs.
With an instinctive shudder, lest he be ground to pieces, he pulled from the road, and saw the motor of General Vaugirard turn out also.

Then the great French batteries thundered past to seek positions soon in the fields behind low hills.

He saw them a little later unlimbering and making ready.
The French advance changed from a walk to a trot.

John saw the Parisian regiment, not far away, but at the very front and he knew that among all those ardent souls there was none more ardent than that of the little Apache, Bougainville.