So Harry asked, and permission was granted readily enough, for the mules could then go on faster, and there was no danger of these two escaping from twenty armed men. Accordingly, Harry got out and assisted Katie in the usual way, namely, by lifting her down. They then fell behind the wagon, walking along at a slow pace, having this advantage, that, although they were not making any greater progress than before, they were left more to themselves, and were under less restraint.
"Do you like this?" asked Harry, as they trudged along.
"Oh, very much indeed."
"It's better than the wagon, isn't it?"
"I'm so awfully tired of the wagon!" said Katie.
"And we can talk without being overheard," said Harry. "Of course I don't mean to say that we say anything that everybody mightn't hear; but then, you know, Miss Westlotorn, one can talk much more freely when one isn't surrounded by a coldly critical audience."
At this Katie laughed, and stole a shy, sidelong glance at him, as though she suspected some deeper meaning in his words than that which appeared on the surface.
"Do you feel very much frightened at this adventure?" continued Harry.
"Me frightened?" said Katie. "Not at all. What an idea!"
"Really not?"