The whole countryside had been abandoned.
"It reminds me of things I've read about the plague in olden times," thought Fred.

"People used to run away like that then, and leave a dead countryside behind them.

It would almost look more natural if there were signs of fighting." There were to be plenty all about here soon.

But that night there was nothing, save the inferno of noise and the dazzling points of light in the sky behind them, to suggest anything save the deepest peace.

Grain stood in some of the fields.