Nevertheless, his heart beat heavily.

Despite all that Obed had said it was a dangerous task, requiring both skill and luck.
The faint shadow reached the black blur of the horses and disappeared.
Ned waited five minutes, ten, fifteen minutes, while the little pulses beat hard in his temples.

Then he saw a shadow detach itself from the black blur.

It was the figure of a man and he was on horseback.

Obed had succeeded.
Ned remained kneeling, rifle in hand, to guard against any mistake.