There was the sound of a footstep advancing towards them along the lonely tangled path.

Philip instinctively felt for the pistol he always carried in his belt, for there were often doubtful and sometimes desperate men in hiding in woods and lonely places; but before he had time to do more than feel if the weapon were safe, Kate had darted suddenly from his side, and was speeding down the path.
"Marry but it is Cuthbert!" she called back to him as he bid her stop, and Philip himself started forward to meet and greet the newcomer.
"We have been talking of you and wondering how it fared with you," he said, as they reached the side of the youth "I am right glad to see you here tonight." Cuthbert did not answer for a moment.

He seemed to pant for breath.
A ray of moonlight striking down upon his face showed it to be deadly white.

His attitude bespoke the extreme of fatigue and weakness.
"Why, there is something amiss with you!" cried Philip, taking his cousin by the arm.

"Some evil hap has befallen you." "His father has half killed him, I trow!" cried Kate, with sudden energy.