Their German captors did not treat them badly, but John, watching both officers and men, did not see any elation.

He had no doubt that the officers were stunned by the terrible surprise of the day before, and as for the men, they would know nothing.

He had seen early that the Germans were splendid troops, disciplined, brave and ingenious, but the habit of blind obedience would blind them also to the fact that fortune had turned her face away from them.
He wished that his friend von Arnheim--friend he regarded him--would appear and tell him something about the battle, but his wish did not come true for an hour and meanwhile the whole heavens resounded with the roar of the battle, while distant flashes from the guns could be seen on either flank.
The young German, glasses in hand, evidently seeking a good view, walked to the crest of the hillock behind which Weber had disappeared.

John presumed enough on their brief friendship to call to him.
"Do you see anything of interest ?" he asked.
Von Arnheim nodded quickly.
"I see the distant fringe of a battle," he replied amiably, "but it's too early in the morning for me to pass my judgment upon it." "Nevertheless you can look for a day of most desperate struggle!" Von Arnheim nodded very gravely.
"Men by tens of thousands will fall before night," he said.
As if to confirm his words, the roar of the battle took a sudden and mighty increase, like a convulsion..