"About a quarter of a mile."
"Once across the river we shall be in no danger at all."
"None at all, monsieur."
"A plague on you, Jacques!" I cried, "can't you make some sensible remark?"
"I was but agreeing with monsieur."
We had gone about four hundred yards when the track began to descend in winding fashion toward the water. My companion was still in front, and I noticed he had loosened his sword. I had done the same, and in addition had seen that my pistols were in order. Somehow, a strange sense of approaching peril, for which I could not account, hung about me.
"There is the ford," said Jacques, drawing rein, and pointing straight ahead of him. "That is where we must cross."
"Yes," I said.
"But I cannot see the horsemen, and they should be visible from here. It is very absurd, of course, but still, I would advise monsieur to look to his pistols."
"I am ready, Jacques."