The forest thinned away.

The line of hills retreated, and before him lay fields, extending to both right and left.

The eye ranged over a great distance and he counted the smoke of five farm houses.

He believed that the men would not pursue him into the open country, but he urged his horse to greater speed, and did not turn in his saddle for a quarter of an hour.

When he finally looked back the mountaineers were gone.