Quick, now's the time! The top of the hill is cover for us." So saying, he put his horse to the bank, cleared it, and galloped over the field to the trees which loomed grey and indefinite before them.
The others followed.

In two minutes they were under the boughs.

Not daring to breathe, they heard the troopers thunder along the highroad, all unconscious for the moment of the trick that had been played them.
"Now," said the stranger briefly, "we must divide.

I shall proceed to Portallan alone very warily." The faces of the boys fell at these words.

Relinquish their duty before a blow had been struck?
It was humiliating--impossible.