Four men then climbed up into it and the horse was started.
They drove at a quick pace, and Reuben wondered why they were taking him away with them.

His head ached terribly, and he suffered much from the tightness of the cords which bound his arms.

The men seemed in high good humour, and talked and laughed in low tones; but the noise of the vehicle prevented Reuben hearing what was said.
It was, as far as he could judge, full two hours before the vehicle stopped.

He was roughly taken out of the cart, his arms were unbound; and the men, leaping up, drove away at full speed.

The spot where he had been left was very dark, for trees overshadowed it on both sides.