I had to go on alone and reconnoitre.

I was right out in the open then and more alone than one could believe.

Cannon were blazing away and one battery seemed just behind me--and yet I couldn't see it.

I could see nothing--only great ridges of hills with the Forest like gigantic torrents of green water under the mist, and just at my feet cornfields _thick_ with cornflowers.

Then I saw rather a wonderful thing.