aside should you meet any party who might be inclined to question
all passersby."

"Do you know the roads well about here?" Hector asked.

"I was stationed in Turin before the enemy came with too great a
force to be resisted."

"I want to strike across the country, and to come into the road
from Turin to Casale at a distance of three or four miles from
the city."

"A mile or so away a road branches off from this which keeps by
the river. It is a mere country road, and except in two or three
small villages that you will pass through, you are not likely
to meet with anyone upon it. It is about eight miles to the main
road from the point where you turn off, and you will then be five
miles from Turin. It is just possible that you may meet patrols,
but I should think it very unlikely; now that our army has gone
into winter quarters at Carignano, they are not likely to be very
vigilant."

As they rode along Hector related some of the incidents of the
late battle. No signs of the enemy were met with, and the officer
presently said, "I am sorry to say that this is the point where you
leave us, monsieur. I wish it had been a little farther, so that
I could hear more of the fight."

Hector and Paolo dismounted. Two troopers were called up and took
charge of their horses, while the cloaks and hats were given to