He looked ahead, often expecting to hear from the advance the rattle of firing.
But the long serpents crawled slowly from hill to hill without bluster of smoke.

A dun-colored cloud of dust floated away to the right.

The sky overhead was of a fairy blue.
The youth studied the faces of his companions, ever on the watch to detect kindred emotions.

He suffered disappointment.

Some ardor of the air which was causing the veteran commands to move with glee--almost with song--had infected the new regiment.