"I repeat"-- "No.

I mean wot's that noise?
Listen." They listened so breathlessly that the soft murmur of the river seemed to flow in upon them.

But above it quite distinctly came the regular muffled beat of horse-hoofs in the thick dust and the occasional rattle of wheels over rocky irregularities.

But still very far and faint, and fading like the noises in a dream.

Brace drew a long breath; Parks smiled and softly closed his eyes.