How far he was impelled by the half-contemptuous passiveness of his companions it would be difficult to say.
"What is to prevent the pursuit of them at once ?" he asked suddenly.

"We are a few miles from the station, where horses can be procured." "Who's to do it ?" replied the other lazily.

"The stage company will lodge the complaint with the authorities, but it will take two days to get the county officers out, and it's nobody else's funeral." "I will go for one," said Hale quietly.

"I have a horse waiting for me at the station, and can start at once." There was an instant of silence.

The stage-coach had left the obscurity of the forest, and by the stronger light Hale could perceive that his companion was examining him with two colorless, lazy eyes.