He fancied his eyes had been closed but for a few seconds, when some noise close at hand caused him to raise his head with a start.

But the dusk had deepened in the great wood, and he saw that he must have been asleep for quite half an hour.
He started and listened intently.

Yes, there was no mistaking the sounds.

A party of mounted horsemen were approaching him along the narrow track which wandered through the wood.

Paul would have started to his feet and fled to the thicket, but his benumbed limbs refused their office.