Now they had overtaken the captain, and now even on that narrow way they had swept past him.

Not an inch was there to spare between them and the abyss, and the man, brave as he was, expecting to be thrust to death, clung to his horse's mane with terror in his eyes.

On the city side the brethren pulled up laughing among the astonished fedais who had waited for them there.
"By the Signet," cried the officer, thinking that the knights could not understand, "these are not men; they are devils, and their horses are goats of the mountains.

I thought to frighten them, but it is I who was frightened, for they swept past me like eagles of the air." "Gallant riders and swift, well-trained steeds," answered one of the fedais, with admiration in his voice.

"The fight at the full moon will be worth our seeing." Then once more they took the sand-strewn road and galloped on.
Thrice they passed round the city thus, the last time by themselves, for the captain and the fedais were far outstripped.
Indeed it was not until they had unsaddled Flame and Smoke in their stalls that these appeared, spurring their foaming horses.
Taking no heed of them, the brethren thrust aside the grooms, dressed their steeds down, fed and watered them.
Then having seen them eat, there being no more to do, they walked back to the guest-house, hoping to find Rosamund.