He rode till nightfall, and only then came to his objective, finding needed rest in the village of Shap.

Here he sought Lord George Murray, gave information and was given it in turn, ate, drank, and then turned back through the December night to the Prince.
He rode and the huge winter stars seemed to watch him with at once a glittering intentness and a disdain of his pygmy being.

Once he looked up to them with a gesture of his head.

"Are we so far apart and so different ?" he asked of Orion.
He was several miles upon his way to Penrith.

Before him appeared a crossroad, noted by him in the afternoon.