An interval of silence and suspense, during which the sledge moved rapidly down the street.
“Now the officer has gone back,” continued Vera in a tone of relief, “and the Cossacks are moving away too. Only a few peasants are in sight.”
A moment later the sledge passed into a hollow that concealed the town from view, and when it reached the crest of the next ridge a single Cossack could be seen standing before the military post. As the village receded in the distance the fugitives began to feel more easy.
“I was greatly alarmed for a few seconds,” admitted Sandoff. “The officer evidently expected us to stop, though I have no idea why. It is possible that trouble will come out of this affair yet. If I thought so I would suggest that we abandon the sledge and take to the forest with the horses.”
“Try him,” suggested Shamarin with a backward jerk of his arm. “He’ll know all about it.”
Sandoff was favorably impressed with this idea. Handing the lines to his companion, he dropped into the sledge, hauled Zamosc out of the rugs, and took the gag from his mouth.
“You heard our conversation at Riga a few moments ago,” he said sternly. “Don’t try to deny it,” for Zamosc had suddenly assumed an expression of guileless amazement.
“And suppose I did hear it,” he retorted defiantly, “what then?”
“Simply this,” replied Sandoff. “I wish to know, and I intend to know, what it means. It will be to your interest to answer me, for if I find hereafter that we are in danger of recapture I will shoot you without mercy, whereas if we get safely to the coast you will be liberated.”
This plain statement seemed to have an effect on Zamosc.