“Let him get up behind you, Landaff.”
With what assistance the other could lend, the scout climbed up on the horse’s back behind the rider.
“Don’t go fast,” he muttered, “or you’ll throw me off. Keep straight ahead till I tell you to stop.”
Mara was an anxious spectator of this scene, and as she saw the little cavalcade ride away bearing in its midst the scout she was at a loss to account for his singular course.
She could not think that it was to work her harm. What then could be his object?
The road followed by the horsemen led toward the mountains.
They rode on for a mile or more before any one spoke, when the leader reined up.
“How much further, old man, must we go?”
“I see’d her jess about thet turn. But she were going up the valler.”
“Then we shall soon overtake her; that is, if she was on foot.”