Then, from behind a distant hill, the noble sun rose up, driving the mists in phantom shapes before it, and clearing the earth of their ghostly forms till darkness came again.

When it had climbed higher into the sky, and there was warmth in its cheerful beams, they laid them down to sleep, upon a bank, hard by some water.
But Nell retained her grasp upon the old man's arm, and long after he was slumbering soundly, watched him with untiring eyes.

Fatigue stole over her at last; her grasp relaxed, tightened, relaxed again, and they slept side by side.
A confused sound of voices, mingling with her dreams, awoke her.

A man of very uncouth and rough appearance was standing over them, and two of his companions were looking on, from a long heavy boat which had come close to the bank while they were sleeping.

The boat had neither oar nor sail, but was towed by a couple of horses, who, with the rope to which they were harnessed slack and dripping in the water, were resting on the path.
'Holloa!' said the man roughly.