He waited, eyes wide, controlling breathe and movement.
"I tell you, I saw the boy. He was young, scampered up the slopes like a mountain goat. And he carried a pouch. There could be gold. At least he should have food, and our larder is nearly empty."
The speaker and his comrade came into sight at the mouth of a dark ravine.
"Maybe a kid out on a hunt. Or maybe a trick. He could be here looking for us, with a band ready to follow. They were peaceful enough in the village when we took only a few coins and needed food. It's when you killed that tradesman all changed. Now they are afraid, and they are hunting desperately for us."
"True. Anyway, it was dispatch him or be taken prisoner. And I say we do the same with this one. I say we find this lad, open his gullet, take his pouch and toss him off yonder crag. This is our territory, and we want no trespassers!" He grinned, pleased at the thought.
The speaker was medium height, burly, and his face wore an angry scowl. His companion was taller. The shorter man was plainly the leader, and the tall one listened more than talked.
"He had a bow."
"We come up behind him, end it quickly. His bow is of no consequence."
"Say, look here. Something's happened here. Look at the stones, and the footprints."
They knelt where Demo had nearly taken a fall, examined the disturbed stones, and the surrounding ground.