The night was clear starlight and she had no difficulty in following the way.
She was mounted on the same horse she had ridden in coming to Dalton and it was barely two hours ride to her home.
A part of her journey lay on the road to Buzzard’s Gap.
Anxious to reach home Mara was riding at a smart canter when she fancied she heard the sound of hoof-strokes behind her.
Thinking nothing strange of this she kept on her way at her former rate of speed.
The sounds continued and even grew plainer, until she was aware that not one rider but several horsemen were following her.
“It must be a skirmishing party,” she thought, “or it may be troops going to Buzzard’s Gap.”
Whichever case it might be she had no desire to be seen so she urged her horse on a faster gait—faster and faster until she fairly flew along the way.
Still to her surprise the horsemen seemed to come nearer.
Surprise soon gave place to alarm for she felt now that she was pursued.