Ten minutes or so later, before they could see them, for the snow was now falling quickly, they heard the sound of many horses galloping.

Then the two men appeared, calling out as they came-- "The Abbot and all his folk are after us.

Back to Cranwell, ere you be taken!" Christopher thought for a moment, then, remembering that with but four men and cumbered by two women it was not possible to cut his way through so great a force, and admonished by that sound of advancing hoofs, he gave a sudden order.

They turned about, and not too soon, for as they did so, scarce two hundred yards away, the first of the Abbot's horsemen appeared plunging towards them up the slope.

Then the race began, and well for them was it that their horses were good and fresh, since before ever they came in sight of Cranwell Towers the pursuers were not ninety yards behind.