Then another man's voice, very soft and soothing like, trying to comfort another.
'My head's a-fire, and these cursed ribs are grinding against one another every step of this infernal ladder.

Is it far now ?' How he groaned then! 'Just got the bottom; hold on a bit longer and you'll be all right.' Just then the leading horse came out into the open before the cave.

We had a good look at him and his rider.

I never forgot them.

It was a bad day I ever saw either, and many a man had cause to say the same.
The horse held up his head and snorted as he came abreast of us, and we showed out.