Martial law had not yet covered all the hills with a network of iron rules.

So he rode on boldly, and he noticed with satisfaction that the forest seemed to be extensive and dense.

Night, heavy with clouds, was coming, too, and soon he would be so well hidden that only chance would enable an enemy to find him.
In a half hour he stopped and took his bearings as best he could.
It seemed to be a wild bit of country.

He judged that it was ground cropped too much in early times, and left to grow into wilderness again.
He was not likely to find anything in it save a hut or two of charcoal burners.

It was a lonely region, very desolate now, with the night birds calling.