Thence the mountain-side might be scanned--as well as in such a light it was to be discerned.

The tramp of feet had now grown louder and nearer, and with it came the clank of armour.

In front of them lay the path which sloped, for a hundred yards or more, to the first corner.

Below them, on the right, the path again appeared at the point where it jutted out for some half-dozen yards in its zigzag course, and there Fanfulla caught the gleam of steel, reflecting the feeble moonlight.

He drew Ferrabraccio's attention to it, and that stout warrior at once gave the word to start.
But Francesco interposed.
"If we do so," he objected, "we shall come upon them past the corner, and at that corner we shall be forced to slacken speed to avoid being carried over the edge of the cliff.