Their enemies had come down from the north, and this break led to their hiding-place.

Through it Joanne must have been taken by her captors.

As he made his way over the rocks, gaining a little more of his strength with each step, his mind tried to picture the situation that had now arisen between Quade and Mortimer FitzHugh.

How would Quade, who was mad for possession of Joanne, accept FitzHugh's claim of ownership?
Would he believe his partner?
Would he even believe Joanne if, to save herself from him, she told him FitzHugh was her husband?
Even if he believed them, _would he give her up ?_ Would Quade allow Mortimer FitzHugh to stand between him and the object for which he was willing to sacrifice everything?
As Aldous asked himself these questions his blood ran hot and cold by turns.

And the answer to them drew a deep breath of fear and of anguish from him as he tried again to run among the rocks.