He was so intent with the thought that he hummed reveille, and was about
to rebuke himself for unsoldierly behavior on duty when Armitage whistled
for him to advance.
"It's all right; they haven't passed yet. I met a railroad track-walker
down there and he said he had seen no one between here and Lamar. Now
they're handicapped by the big country horse they had to take for that
Servian devil, and we can push them as hard as we like. We must get them
beyond Lamar before we crowd them; and don't forget that we want to drive
them into my land for the round-up. I'm afraid we're going to have a wet
morning."
They rode abreast beside the railroad through the narrow gap. A long
freight-train rumbled and rattled by, and a little later they passed a
coal shaft, where a begrimed night shift loaded cars under flaring
torches.
"Their message to Winkelried is still on this side of the Atlantic," said
Armitage; "but Winkelried is in a strong room by this time, if the
existing powers at Vienna are what they ought to be. I've done my best
to get him there. The message would only help the case against him if
they sent it.
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