"He curses you in a most intimate manner," quoth Trenchard.

Wilding reined in and turned in the saddle. "His voice has a familiar
sound," said he. He shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked down
the slope at the pursuer, who came on crouching low upon the withers
of his goaded beast.

"Wait!" the fellow shouted. "I have news - news for you!"

"It's Vallancey!" cried Wilding suddenly.
Trenchard too had drawn rein and was looking behind him. Instead of
expresing relief at the discovery that this was not an enemy, he
swore at the trouble to which they had so needlessly put themselves,
and he was still at his vituperations when Vallancey came up with them,
red in the face and very angry, cursing them roundly for the folly of
their mad career, and for not having stopped when he bade them.

"It was no doubt discourteous," said Mr. Wilding "but we took you for
some friend of the Lord-Lieutenant's."

"Are they after you?" quoth Vallancey, his face of a sudden very
startled.

"Like enough," said Trenchard, "if they have found their horses yet."

"Forward, then," Vallancey urged them in excitement, and he picked
up his reins again. "You shall hear my news as we ride."

"Not so," said Trenchard. "We have business here down yonder at the
ford."