I remembered then my shot at random just as I was struck.
“Is he dead?”
“No, but badly wounded; and we got him and the man you took last night to the hut.”
“Well, it serves them all right; and the folk from Lalwor will look after them. They meant killing me. But it may make things uglier for us, and is all the stronger reason for us to hurry on while the light lasts;” and we pressed forward again.
Just when the gloom was deepening fast, my policy of haste was justified.
I had halted at a point where the road forked and, in considerable doubt which way to ride, was anxiously consulting my map when Chris put his nose to the ground and whimpered.
“Steady, Chris, good dog, steady,” I whispered; and he knew he was to make no noise. “Someone is about,” I said to Mademoiselle. We sat silent and listened, and presently heard the throbbing of hoofs from the direction we had been riding.
“Two horses,” said Karasch, whose hearing was very acute.
“It may be nothing. Ride into the shadow of those trees and let Karasch and Chris go with you,” I said to Mademoiselle.
“But you....” she began to object.