It was a fine night, and presently the moon appeared.

We talked little on the way, and chiefly about the progress we were making.
"I wonder what the duke's despatches told him," said I, once.
"Ay, I wonder!" responded Sapt.
We stopped for a draught of wine and to bait our horses, losing half an hour thus.

I dared not go into the inn, and stayed with the horses in the stable.

Then we went ahead again, and had covered some five-and-twenty miles, when Sapt abruptly stopped.
"Hark!" he cried.
I listened.

Away, far behind us, in the still of the evening--it was just half-past nine--we heard the beat of horses' hoofs.