But all of Picard's attention was concentrated now on what lay before him.
He heard soon the distant beat of hoofs and he drew a little to the side of the road, down which he could see a long distance, as it stretched straight before him, narrow and steep.

He made out clearly a half dozen figures, hussars struggling forward on tired horses, and he chuckled a little to himself.

It was a splendid weapon that he held in his hand, and he was a great marksman.

Armed as he was, he felt that he had little to fear on that lone mountain road from six or seven horsemen.
He pushed the rifle forward a little and waited in the shadow of the pines.

The hoofbeats rang louder, and the shadows became the distinct figures of horses and men.