How'd you like the old man?
Smart bug, ain't he?
Say, he'll throw the hooks into them guys down in Edelweiss so hard one of these days that they won't come out till they rot out." Still gagged and somewhat dizzy, King was hurried off into the narrow mountain path, closely surrounded by the five men.
"They tell me your friend, the Cook guy, got plugged down in the Gap when he tried to duck this afternoon," volunteered the Yankee unconcernedly.
Hobbs shot?
King's eyes suddenly filled with tears, a great wave of pity and shame rushing to his heart.

Poor Hobbs! He had led him into this; to gratify a vain-glorious whim, he had done the little Englishman to death.
The silent, cautious march down the valley, through the Gap and along the ridge carried them far into the night.

King knew that they were skirting the main roads, keeping to the almost hidden trails of the mountaineers.

They carried no light, nor did they speak to each other, except in hoarse whispers.

In single file they made their way, the prisoner between them, weary, footsore and now desperate in the full realisation of his position.