I am ready to do whatever you think best." "We cannot hope to reach Parton, before they overtake us," Oswald said.
"Besides, the Bairds are sure to have many friends there, and the lighted beacon will warn all the countryside that something unusual has happened.

No, we cannot think of going there." "But you said that there were horses," Janet said.
"They are but a short distance on this side of the town.

We could not hope to get there before the Bairds; and, even if we did, it would be a quarter of an hour before we could mount and be off." "Could we not hide and get the horses after they have passed, master ?" Roger suggested.
"It would be useless, Roger.

The road leads up and down this valley, and there would be no possibility of riding the horses across the hills, at night; so that we should have either to ride down through Parton, or up past the Bairds' hold.

No, the horses must be given up, for the present.