He circled around, paying little heed to the shrapnel bursting on all sides.

The firing ceased, and the human bird soared into unapproachable heights.

The artillery fire a long way off sounded like distant thunder.
"The French lines are not more than a couple of hundred metres distant from the camp.

A shot fell here and there and a shell was heard to whistle; otherwise all was quiet.

It was still early.