He was afraid that a real search was being made; afraid that, by some stroke of misfortune, Boris's hiding-place had been revealed.

But at last he saw the solitary horseman outside the house stiffen to rigid attention.

Then the others came out, and he almost shouted in his relief when he saw that they brought no one with them.

The officer swung to his saddle and in a minute more the little command was cantering down the hill.

Fred looked at the village searchingly now.