In the country through which he was now tramping the nights are cool in summer, but the days are very hot.

So Fred had made up his mind, as soon as he understood that he had a good deal of walking before him, to do as much of his traveling as was possible by night, and to sleep during the day.
In East Prussia, as in some parts of Canada, the summer is short and hot; the winter long and cold.
There was nothing about the silent countryside, as he tramped along an excellent road, to make him think of war.

The fields about him seemed to be planted less with grain; they were very largely used for pasture, and he saw a good many horses.

He remembered now that this was the great horse breeding district of Germany.

Here there were great estates with many acres of rolling land on which great numbers of horses were bred.
It was here, he knew, that the German army, needing great numbers of horses every year, found its mounts.
"They'll need more than ever now," he thought to himself.