Its upper window burned red
like a spot of blood in the last rays of the setting sun. Close by the
door stood a cart full of grain sacks, with the shafts pointing
downwards and the horse grazing at some distance. As we gazed, a woman
appeared upon the downs and stared round, with her hand over her eyes.
'See that!' said Savary eagerly. 'He is there sure enough, or why
should they be on their guard? Let us take this road which winds round
the hill, and they will not see us until we are at the very door.'
'Should we not gallop forward?' I suggested.
'The ground is too cut up. The longer way is the safer. As long as we
are upon the road they cannot tell us from any other travellers.'
We walked our horses along the path, therefore, with as unconcerned an
air as we could assume; but a sharp exclamation made us glance suddenly
round, and there was the woman standing on a hillock by the roadside and
gazing down at us with a face that was rigid with suspicion. The sight
of the military bearing of my companions changed all her fear into
certainties.
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