"Wo-ah! Christ be with thee! Fear not!" his hollow voice resounded through the gully.
"Wo-ah! Stand still! Well—go of your own accord—go along, then—there you are!"
Jig-Leg watched his comrade pottering about the horse and unwinding the clout from its mouth, and the moustaches of the surly thief twitched with excitement.
"Let's be off," said he, moving forwards.
"I'm coming," said Hopeful.
And forcing their way through the scrub, they went silently along the gully in the midst of the night darkness, which filled it to the very brim.
The horse, too, came after them.
Presently behind them they heard the splashing of water, which drowned the melody of the stream.
"Ah, thou fool! thou hast fallen into the water," said Hopeful.
Jig-Leg snorted angrily, but remained silent.