But Roland was weak from the loss of blood, and from hunger which
the scant supply of beech-nuts, and the bitter rowanberries, only in
small measure allayed; so it was very plain that his capture was only
a question of time. But the labyrinth of forest-aisles now began to
grow dimmer, and a throb of hope came into his heart as he thought of
the coming darkness. Yet in this wilderness the dogs would know their
game; and there was no escape by clambering a tree! Meanwhile he
redoubled his exertions, now slightly altering his course. When it
was fairly dark he emerged from the wood upon the road by which he
had made his flight in the morning.
'Thank God. Here the dogs, among so many other scents, must miss
mine.' He perceived to his great joy that there was not a star in the
heavens; nor was there to be seen any of the dusky yellow in the
south-east which marks the rising of the harvest moon.
The wind was blowing from the south-west, and the fugitive's eyes
could see that large masses of dark cloud were rolling before the
wind, and gathering to leeward like a mighty army, which halts its
forces to prepare for battle.
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