"For heaven's sake, let us come to some conclusion, for every minute is of importance." But the other was not to be hurried out of his cool, methodical fashion of speech and of thought.
"They could not have thought to stop us," said he.
"What did they mean, then?
They could only have meant to delay us.
And why should they wish to delay us?
What could it matter to them if we gave our message an hour or two sooner or an hour or two later?
It could not matter." "For heaven's sake--" broke in De Catinat impetuously.
But Amos Green went on hammering the matter slowly out.
"Why should they wish to delay us, then?
There's only one reason that I can see.

In order to give other folk time to get in front of us and stop us.

That is it, captain.

I'd lay you a beaver-skin to a rabbit-pelt that I'm on the track.

There's been a party of a dozen horsemen along this ground since the dew began to fall.