But I took no heed of it
then. The wound could not be serious, else I had already been out
of the saddle, and it would be time enough to look to it when I had
outdistanced my pursuers. I say my pursuers, for already there
were hoofbeats behind me, and I knew that those gentlemen had taken
to their horses. But, as you may recall, I had on their arrival
noted the jaded condition of their cattle, whilst I bestrode a
horse that was comparatively fresh, so that pursuit had but small
terrors for me. Nevertheless, they held out longer, and gave me
more to do than I had imagined would be the case. For nigh upon a
half-hour I rode, before I could be said to have got clear of them,
and then for aught I knew they were still following, resolved to
hound me down by the aid of such information as they might cull
upon their way.
I was come by then to the Garonne. I drew rein beside the swiftly
flowing stream, winding itself like a flood of glittering silver
between the black shadows of its banks. A little while I sat there
listening, and surveying the stately, turreted chateau that loomed,
a grey, noble pile, beyond the water. I speculated what demesne
this might be, and I realized that it was probably Lavedan.
I pondered what I had best do, and in the end I took the resolve to
swim the river and knock at the gates. If it were indeed Lavedan,
I had but to announce myself, and to one of my name surely its
hospitalities would be spread.
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