As the woman returned toward the back doorstep, the two men rode at a walk down into the hollow.

When they reappeared it was on the road by which they had come.

And the girl knew the pursuit in that direction--the right direction--was over.

Trembling and with a fluttering in her breast like the flapping of a bird's wings, she sank to the ground.

Presently she burst into a passion of tears.