ready the light showed where the sun would presently
rise.

Food was hastily eaten, and they then started on their way again. There
could be no mistake, now, as to the general direction; and, keeping the
sun on their right hand, they made their way north. From the top of a
hill, somewhat higher than the others, they caught a view of
Plinlimmon.

"If we make straight for it," Oswald said, "we ought to come down on
the road near the camp. We can go on fearlessly for some time, for the
Welsh were hardly likely to be moving about, yesterday or the day
before; and I have no doubt they sheltered themselves, as best they
could, in arbours like ours."

After walking for another two hours, they heard the distant sound of a
trumpet.

"That cannot be more than two or three miles away, Roger. Now, we shall
have to be careful."

They had walked a mile when, as they descended into a glen, they came
suddenly on a party of twenty Welshmen, sitting round a fire. These had
been concealed from them by the thick undergrowth, and were not twenty
yards away, when they first saw them. The Welsh had evidently heard
them coming, by the rustle of leaves and the breaking of twigs; and two
or three were standing up, looking in their direction, when they caught
sight of them. These gave a loud yell, which brought the rest to their
feet.

"Run, Roger, run. It is a question of legs, now;" and, turning, they
darted up the hill they had just descended.

Looking back for a moment as, after running for about a mile, they
reached the crest of a swell; Oswald saw that five of their pursuers
had distanced their comrades, but were no nearer than when they
started.

"I think we can hold them, Roger. Take it a little more easily now. We
are all right as far as speed goes. It is simply a question of bottom."

Their pursuers, however, still stuck to them and, after running for
another half-mile, the five men were still but some thirty yards
behind; while their comrades' shouts could be heard through the forests
and, from time to time, the men close behind them joined in a loud
quavering cry.

"We must stand and rid ourselves of these fellows, Roger; or we shall
have half the Welsh nation down on us."

"So I have been thinking, for some time."

"Don't stop suddenly. We will slacken our pace, and they will think
that our strength is failing, and will redouble their efforts. Then,
when they are close to us, we will turn suddenly."

They heard a y