It spread everywhere across the plains about Elkhead, broken here and there by the projecting boulders which flashed in the sun.

So a great battlefield might appear, pockmarked with shell-holes, and all the scars of war freshly cut upon its face.

And in truth the mountain desert was like an arena ready to stage a conflict--a titanic arena with space for earth-giants to struggle--and there in the distance were the spectator mountains.

High, lean-flanked mountains they were, not clad in forests, but rather bristling with a stubby growth of the few trees which might endure in precarious soil and bitter weather, but now they gathered the dignity of distance about them.

The grass of the foothills was a faint green mist about their feet, cloaks of exquisite blue hung around the upper masses, but their heads were naked to the pale skies.