hand clasped
to his side.

"No hurry," I answered. "Let us go at an easier pace."

He soon recovered, and professed himself ready to push on again; but
half a mile at the old pace brought him once more to a standstill. I
gave him a little brandy from a flask with which I had been careful
to supply myself, and once more he managed to ride on. From this time
forward, however, he had to be watched with the utmost carefulness, and
his feebleness so delayed us that we were a good three hours later in
Teaching the end of the pass than we had expected. I had ascertained
that the downs, which showed the frontier line, might be skirted by
taking a lonely and difficult road to the right within a mile or so of
our exit from Austrian territory. I had ascertained also that a sentry
was on duty on this pathway night and day, his main duty being to
prevent the passage of contraband goods. That we should have to deal
with this fellow was an absolute certainty, and had been from the first,
but it was easier to reckon with one man than with the dozen posted at
the barrier.

We had come at so easy a pace that our horses showed no signs of
distress or travel, and by this time the daylight was shining broadly.
The dawn was two hours old, and there was on the face of things
suspicion in our being on the road at such a time. Already the land of
promise lay in sight, when the last obstacle to be encountered on our
journey presented itself. The sentry sat as if dozing, with his rifle
between his knees, but at the noise of our approach he sprang to his
feet and hailed us sharply. We had passed a quick bend in the road, and
had come upon him rather suddenly. We had already decided to ride up to
him without reply, but he cocked his piece and called on us to halt. I
waved my hand to him and we all rode on quickly. He seemed puzzled and
irresolute for a moment, but he ended by clapping the butt of his rifle
to his shoulder, and sang out "Halt!" once more.

"Good! good! my friend," I answered. "We are Englishmen, and travellers.
There is no need to fire."

My foreign accent was proof enough that we were strangers, and he
hesitated again. I was almost abreast of him by this time, and wishing
him a good-day I was in some hope of being able to push by without
further parley, but he set himself in the way with his rifle across his
breast.

"What brings you travelling this way?" I made him out to ask. "You have
no right to pass by here. Take the