How to prevent the villainy was more to the purpose.

At daybreak the captain would depart, and a day after, unless we could hinder it, the dove would be in the hawk's clutches.

Yet for five hours that night had I to lie still and do nothing! If I showed myself and was caught, all might be lost.

Yet if I missed my chance of warning Ludar betimes of the peril impending, it might be too late.

So I sat there chafing, through the brief summer night, and at dawn was on the watch.
True to his plan, an hour after daybreak, Captain Merriman mounted his horse and sped briskly away from the Hall.