They had surely been more fleet and more wild than was absolutely necessary.
They were weak mortals.

As for himself, he had fled with discretion and dignity.
He was aroused from this reverie by his friend, who, having hitched about nervously and blinked at the trees for a time, suddenly coughed in an introductory way, and spoke.
"Fleming!" "What ?" The friend put his hand up to his mouth and coughed again.

He fidgeted in his jacket.
"Well," he gulped at last, "I guess yeh might as well give me back them letters." Dark, prickling blood had flushed into his cheeks and brow.
"All right, Wilson," said the youth.

He loosened two buttons of his coat, thrust in his hand, and brought forth the packet.

As he extended it to his friend the latter's face was turned from him.
He had been slow in the act of producing the packet because during it he had been trying to invent a remarkable comment on the affair.