They related, amid the uproarious laughter of their comrades, the manner in which they had threatened the worthy farmer, its late possessor, into surrendering the proceeds of his day's marketing without resistance.

It was already dusk.

Jack and Hawtry had a minute before been standing near the edge of the slope.

The guard was chatting with the last comer, and keeping one ear open to the narrative told by the fire.
Suddenly he glanced round, and perceived that the figures he had, as he believed, scarcely taken his eye off were missing.
"Madre de Dios!" he exclaimed.

"Where are the prisoners ?" At his exclamation, all round the fire started into activity.