In the meantime it had grown so late that when she turned back toward Hidvar the moon was already pretty high in the heavens.
She was alone on horseback, for it was only a two hours' journey between the two places, and she had therefore not thought it worth while to bring an escort with her.

Besides, whom had she to fear?
Since she had lived in these parts, all the bad men had disappeared, and whoever she might meet in the roads or lanes would be ready to kiss her hand.
So she turned homewards again alone.

The road wound in and out among the valleys and was therefore much longer than if it had gone in a straight direction across the mountains.

She had, however, often heard from the peasants that there was a shorter way to Hidvar from Ravacsel on which mules and ponies could go, and she thought it better to look for this road lest night should surprise her among the mountains.

But a road that is good enough for mules and ponies may not suit a thoroughbred English steed which does not care about putting its hoofs into the tracks of other beasts; and besides, a hundred paces on level ground is much shorter than twenty-five up hill.