. They could but just see
them on the horizon of the last ridge, coming onwards at an even
jog trot, which seemed the swiftest pace they aspired to.

Before lay the long waste of forest--trees and heather intermixed
in long stretches alternating one with the other. A good seven
miles lay between them and their destination, and the sun was
already nearing the horizon, and would soon dip behind it.

"We must push on something faster," said Culverhouse impatiently,
"if we are to reach Cross Way House before dark."

"We have already far outridden our men," said Sir Richard, frowning
slightly as he turned his head to look over his shoulder; "and this
is the worst part of the road before us."

"But we are well mounted and well armed," urged Culverhouse, "and
if we wait for the men we shall lose the rest of the daylight.
Surely if there be any footpads about, the fact that we are
followed by so goodly a train will serve to scare them away. And we
have no valuables upon our persons. They will get cold steel and
hot lead for their pains, an they venture to molest us, instead of
silver or gold."

"Very true," said Philip, who was as eager as his cousin and endued
with full share of Trevlyn courage and impetuosity; "we can never
wait till those sluggards have come up. The fault is not theirs:
they are not so well mounted as ourselves. We shall never keep our
horses to their pace, try we never so hard."

"Forward then, and let us ride as fast as our steeds can carry us!"
said Sir Richard with a smile; "for if we wait not for our men, the
daylight is our best friend. We are all familiar with the road, and
our horses likewise. Forward! and all eyes keep a sharp lookout to
left and right. At least we will not be set upon unawares."

Putting spurs to their horses very gladly, the younger men placed
themselves one on each side of Sir Richard, and the good horses
settled themselves to a steady hand gallop, which was the best and
surest pace for getting over those rough muddy roads.

Three miles had been safely traversed. Absolute solitude and
silence seemed to reign throughout the woodland tracks. But the
darkest of the forest still lay ahead of them, and the red ball of
the sun had just dipped behind the ridge in front.

"It will be dark beneath the trees," said Sir Richard; "have a
care, lads, how you ride.

"Philip, thine eyes are better than mine. Dost thou see aught there
to the right of the road, just beneath that grea