"I have it," Roye answered, and he threw it across his shoulder and stood waiting to be gone.
Going out of the mill by a back door, they saw the mere showing plainly in the moonlight. The sedges and reeds almost touched the wall, and Otto Engel hesitated, for he knew the danger. Even for him or his father, who knew the paths in the marsh, it was perilous; but by going cautiously he knew they could pass safely if the others would do exactly as he said. Otherwise it was death, and he told them so.
"If the soldiers should see us they could not overtake us, so be calm, and take your time. Look well to your footing, and we shall be safe."
He spoke with more confidence than he felt, for it was a long time since he had gone into the heart of the mere.
They moved on slowly, the forester telling them what to do from time to time, and they traversed the mere for fully fifty yards in safety, but hearing the sounds of galloping hoofs and jingling steel.
"We're safe now, unless they fire after us," said Engel, speaking thus to reassure them, and pausing for a moment to look behind. "Even if they see us you need have no fear, for they could not follow."
He was turning to move on again, when a cry escaped him involuntarily.
"They have seen us! But what of that?" he added. "They cannot follow."
"They are going to try!" exclaimed Herman, pointing to the horsemen who had come round to the back of the mill.
"We'll put as much distance between ourselves and them as possible," cried Engel, catching at Tyndale's hand. "Mark every word I say, and each one repeat it as he does it to the one behind, so that there will be no mistake."