But just then the attendant in front turned his horse suddenly, and, rushing to the carriage, spoke hurriedly to the driver and to others, who answered abruptly, as men do when there is no time for loitering.
"What is it?" asked Pan Gideon.
"Some noise in the field."
"Is it wolves?"
"Some outcry. God knows what!"
Pan Gideon was on the point of commanding the horseman with the torch to spring forward and see what was happening, when he remembered that in cases like this it was better not to be without fire and to keep all his people together, and, further, that defence in the open is easier than in a forest, so he commanded to move on with the equipage.
But after a while the horseman reappeared at the window.
"Wild boars," said he.
"Wild boars!"
"A terrible grunting is heard on the right of the road."