Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/195

 A bend in the road concealed them from observation. The twilight approached rapidly in this latitude, and it was with some difficulty that Reynold spied a faint path leading apparently into the depths of a forest. The increasing darkness would cause this retreat to be overlooked by the soldiers, and without any hesitation both men plunged into the friendly shadows.

After following the windings of the trail for quite a distance, and hearing no indications of pursuit, they dismounted, it being too dark and the path too uneven to continue riding. The sombre shade of interlacing boughs made the darkness intense, and not a sound broke the stillness. After stumbling about in the hope that the path must end somewhere, they came at length upon a little clearing with some indications of civilization. Before them were a few fields, at some time under cultivation, but now neglected and grown up to brush and weeds. In the centre of this clearing were the blackened ruins of what had once been a farmhouse. The chimney and part of the walls remained standing, and the charred fragments of what was once the roof still clung to one corner of the ruins.

In spite of the gruesome look of the place, both men hailed its appearance with thankfulness, It would afford them a comfortable shelter for the night. The butler had taken the precaution before starting of providing himself with flint, steel