Meantime an unexpected rain had begun to fall, which increased in violence as night approached.

The road grew heavier as the journey progressed, and the wheezy horses required rest so frequently that Roger began to fear for the safety of his gold and his fair passenger.
Supper time approached, but Roger was so anxious to reach London before dark that he asserted his right as master and refused to stop at an inn where Noah had drawn up the horses, insisting that they be fed.
Considerable time was lost in argument with Noah, but at last they took the road once more, which by that time had become very heavy.

Night fell without twilight, because of the storm, and the travellers were overtaken by darkness just as they reached the most dangerous part of the road within less than a league of London.
The road grew heavier with every turn of the wheels, the horses wheezed dismally, and Roger groaned inwardly.

He kept his head out of the coach door most of the time, looking for trouble, and found it before his journey's end.

Noah lighted the great lanthorn and hung it in front of the dashboard, his only cause of anxiety being the horses, until a greater arose..