Hastings and Tony led two of the horses out of the spinney; at the roadside they mounted, and then the little lad for whose sake so much heroism, such selfless devotion had been expended, was hoisted up, still half asleep, on the pillion in front of my Lord Hastings.
"Keep your arm round him," admonished Blakeney; "your horse looks quiet enough.

But put on speed as far as Mantes, and may Heaven guard you both!" The two men pressed their heels to their horses' flanks, the beasts snorted and pawed the ground anxious to start.

There were a few whispered farewells, two loyal hands were stretched out at the last, eager to grasp the leader's hand.
Then horses and riders disappeared in the utter darkness which comes before the dawn.
Blakeney and Ffoulkes stood side by side in silence for as long as the pawing of hoofs in the mud could reach their ears, then Ffoulkes asked abruptly: "What do you want me to do, Blakeney ?" "Well, for the present, my dear fellow, I want you to take one of the three horses we have left in the spinney, and put him into the shafts of our old friend the coal-cart; then I am afraid that you must go back the way we came." "Yes ?" "Continue to heave coal on the canal wharf by La Villette; it is the best way to avoid attention.

After your day's work keep your cart and horse in readiness against my arrival, at the same spot where you were last night.

If after having waited for me like this for three consecutive nights you neither see nor hear anything from me, go back to England and tell Marguerite that in giving my life for her brother I gave it for her!" "Blakeney--!" "I spoke differently to what I usually do, is that it ?" he interposed, placing his firm hand on his friend's shoulder.