The plover, scared from its nest, uttered its peculiar and plaintive cry; the bittern shrieked; other night-fowl poured forth their doleful notes; and the bull-frog added its deep croak to the ominous concert.

Behind them came the thundering tramp and loud shouts of their pursuers.

Guy Fawkes had judged correctly.

Before they reached Baysnape the moon had withdrawn behind a rack of clouds, and it had become profoundly dark.
Arrived at this point, Humphrey Chetham called to them to turn off to the right.
"Follow singly," he said, "and do not swerve a hair's breadth from the path.

The slightest deviation will be fatal.