I told Volna and we started again. The rain was much less and the darkness had lifted somewhat; but I led my horse now instead of riding.
Presently I felt the road getting suspiciously soft and grassy, and some minutes afterwards I stumbled up against a gate which blocked the way and led into a wood.
There was nothing for it but to go back to the forked road. To make matters worse, the rain started again and came pouring down even more violently than before.
Nor was that the worst. We got off the road again, and once more were brought to a standstill by a gate.
“It looks as though we were lost,” I said.
“We’ve about reached the bottom of our troubles, I should think,” replied Volna, still cheery. “But if the chance offered, I should like to put off the rest of the ride till daylight. And look, there’s a light.” She pointed to it gleefully, away to our left.
We made our way to it with trouble, and found that it came from the lower window of a small house.
I rapped at the door; and the light was instantly extinguished.
I had to knock again twice, and then a window above was opened, and a woman put her head out.
“Who are you, and what do you want? Are you the police?”