The Germans
had found them especially useful; for the German field uniform, which
has the merit of merging into the natural background at a short
distance, becomes, through that very protective coloration, a
disadvantage when its wearer drops wounded and unconscious on the open
field. In a poor light the litter bearers might search within a few
rods of him and never see him; but where the faulty eyesight fails the
nose of the dog sniffs the human taint in the air, and the dog makes the
work of rescue thorough and complete. At least we were told so.
Presently our automobile rounded a bend in the road, and the observation
balloon, which until that moment we had been unable to glimpse, by
reason of an intervening formation of ridges, revealed itself before us.
The suddenness of its appearance was startling. We did not see it until
we were within a hundred yards of it. At once we realized how perfect
an abiding place this was for a thing which offered so fine and looming
a target.
Moreover, the balloon was most effectively guarded against attack at
close range.
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