my churlish tone, and I was strangely thankful that she could not see the
motley worn by the muffled stranger who confronted her. No doubt she
accounted me a clown, whose nature inclined to surliness, and so she
turned away, telling Giacopo that as soon as the horses were breathed they
might push on.

"We must rest them yet awhile, Madonna," answered he, "if they are to
carry us as far as Cagli. Heaven send that we may obtain fresh cattle
there, else is all lost."

Her frown proclaimed how much his words displeased her.

"You forget that if there are no horses for us, neither are there any for
those others." And she waved her hand towards the valley below and the
road by which we had come. From this and from what was said I gathered
that they were a party of fugitives with pursuers at their heels.

"They have a warrant which we have not," was Giacopo's answer, gloomily
delivered, "and they will seize cattle where they can find it."

With a little gesture of impatience, more at his fears than at the peril
that aroused them, she moved away towards her litter.

"Your horse would be better for the loan of your cloak, sir stranger,"
said Giacopo to me.

I knew him to be right, but shrugged my shoulders.

"Better the horse should die of cold than I," I answered gruffly, and
turning from him I set myself to pace the snow and stir the blood that was