But I had thought for nothing except the little hill, now almost fronting us across the shallow glen.
No horses could breast that steep.

We urged them into the hollow, and then hastily dismounted, humped the packs, and began to struggle up the side of the _castrol_.

It was strewn with great boulders, which gave a kind of cover that very soon was needed.

For, snatching a glance back, I saw that our pursuers were on the road above us and were getting ready to shoot.
At normal times we would have been easy marks, but, fortunately, wisps and streamers of mist now clung about that hollow.

The rest could fend for themselves, so I stuck to Blenkiron and dragged him, wholly breathless, by the least exposed route.