Of all things, one was out of the question.

Upon no account must this obtrusive fellow see the cart.
Until I had killed or shook him off, I was quite divorced from my companions--alone, in the midst of England, on a frosty by-way leading whither I knew not, with a sleuth-hound at my heels, and never a friend but the holly-stick! We came at the same time to a crossing of lanes.

The branch to the left was overhung with trees, deeply sunken and dark.

Not a ray of moonlight penetrated its recesses; and I took it at a venture.

The wretch followed my example in silence; and for some time we crunched together over frozen pools without a word.