The quiet and the mist held me still.
Soon I sat down and began to "listen." After a while I knew that Jean and Angus were watching me, but it did not disturb me.

They often watched me when they thought I did not know they were doing it.
I had sat listening for nearly half an hour when I heard the first muffled, slow trampling of horses' hoofs.

I knew what it was even before it drew near enough for me to be conscious of the other sounds--the jingling of arms and chains and the creaking of leather one notices as troopers pass by.

Armed and mounted men were coming toward me.

That was what the sounds meant; but they seemed faint and distant, though I knew they were really quite near.