The lieutenant remained quiet, but Peter broke his sphinx-like silence.
"Tain't him, is it ?" "No; he must have taken the other road after all," with a slight laugh.
"We've been on a wild-goose chase.

However, it's too late now to catch the fellow on this trip." Peter rubbed his bald pate, his eyes on me.
"An' what'll we do with this lad ?" he answered drawlingly.

"Turn him loose ?" "Bring him along.

We'll find out to-morrow who he is, and what his business may be.

Men are not riding these roads at midnight without some purpose." He wheeled his horse, and, with a touch of the spur, disappeared in the darkness ahead.