To the rear there was a glimpse of a distant roadway as it curved over a slope.

It was crowded with retreating infantry.

From all the interwoven forest arose the smoke and bluster of the battle.
The air was always occupied by a blaring.
Near where they stood shells were flip-flapping and hooting.

Occasional bullets buzzed in the air and spanged into tree trunks.

Wounded men and other stragglers were slinking through the woods.
Looking down an aisle of the grove, the youth and his companion saw a jangling general and his staff almost ride upon a wounded man, who was crawling on his hands and knees.