It was awful! But anyhow the devil was not to be run from! That was the easiest measure, no doubt, yet not the less the one impossible to take.

And now it was plain that the something was not away on the moor, but on the road in front of them, and coming towards them.

It came nearer and nearer, and grew vaguely visible--a huge blundering mass--animal or what, they could not tell, but on the wind came sounds that might be human--or animal human--the sounds of encouragement and incitation to horses.

And now it approached no more.

With common impulse they hastened towards it.
It was a travelling carriage--a rare sight in those parts at any time, and rarer still in winter.