They can
hardly have noticed them. There, hold my horse; loosen the
saddle-girths of yours too, and let them breathe freely. Take the
bridles out of their mouths. It seemed to me, by the glimpse I got
of our enemies, that they were just stopping. I am going on to make
sure of it."
So saying Mr. Hardy again went forward a short distance, going on
his hands and knees as he came on to the crest of the rise, in
order that his head might not show above the long grass. When he
reached it he saw at once that his first impression had been
correct. At a distance of a little over a mile a mass of animals
were collected, and round them were scattered a number of horses,
while figures of men were moving among them.
"It is as I thought, boys," he said when he rejoined his sons.
"They have stopped for awhile. The animals must all be completely
done up; they cannot have come less than thirty miles, and will
require three or four hours' rest, at the least, before they are
fit to travel again. One hour will do for our horses. Rinse their
mouths out with a little water, and let them graze if they are
disposed: in half an hour we will give them each a double handful
of Indian corn."
Having attended to their horses, which they hobbled to prevent
their straying, Mr.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186