Steep as they may be, there are few places where active men cannot climb, and numbers would avail nothing if we once got up among those heights." They were now mounting rapidly towards the pass.

The country was still thickly wooded, but Bathalda said that in the narrowest part of the pass there were no trees, and it was here that the danger would be greatest.
As they neared the mouth of the gorge they moved with the greatest care, keeping their eyes in every direction.

Presently Bathalda stopped, and held up his hand.

Roger listened.
"They are coming behind us," Bathalda said.

"They must have made us out in the distance, and have sent a party down the road to enter the wood behind us, and so prevent us from retreating." "Then we had better bear away to the left, Bathalda.