“Go back yourself.”
Samson took a step forward, and the man blew the match of his heavy piece, and presented it.
“Back, or I fire!” he cried.
“Yes; you dare, that’s all!” cried Samson. “Such nonsense!”
But the man was in earnest, that was plain enough; and, seeing this, Samson went growling back, made a long détour, and started again.
This time he thought he had got through the chain of sentinels, and, congratulating himself on his success, he made for a little grove of birch-trees.
“Only wanted a little trying,” he said.
“Stand!”
He started back in amazement, for he had walked right up to the muzzle of a firelock, the man who bore it proving more stern and severe than the one he had before encountered.
Samson went back, growling savagely; and this was the first line of sentinels! A second would have to be passed, and beyond that there were patrols of cavalry guarding the camp in every direction.