She never lost sight of his presence.

It dominated all besides, though he drove almost entirely in silence and never seemed to look her way.
At the end of what appeared an interminable stretch of time during which all her sensibilities had gradually merged into one vast discomfort, Burke spoke at her side.
"We've got a bit of tough going before us.

Hang on tight! We'll have a rest after it." She opened her eyes and saw before her a steep slant between massive stones, leading down to a wide channel of running water.
On the further side a similar steep ascent led up again.
"Ritter Spruit," said Ranger.

"It's not deep enough to be dangerous.

Hold on! We shall soon be through." He spoke to the horses and they gathered themselves as if for a race.