“Please do as I say and at once,” I interposed; and I put my horse on to the grass under another tree.
She did as I asked without further protest and I waited for the newcomers. They caught sight of me while still at some distance and checked their horses first to a trot, and then to a walk.
“You are well come; I have lost my way,” I said as they reached me.
“Who are you?” asked one; and as the question was put the other man laughed, and backed his horse to a safe distance as he said:
“It is Burgwan. We are all right;” and I recognised the voice.
“That is Petrov?”
“Yes. You are wanted at the camp, Burgwan, to explain things there. Where is the witch? May the curse of God blight her!”
“If you are the man, Burgwan, you must come back with us,” put in the other man, who spoke with an air of authority.
“Must?”
“Yes, must. There are some badly injured men there; and the injured make strange charges against you which must be explained.”