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rocks. However, the man eastward cried that there was a slope in that direction. How far it went and whether it ended in another sheer drop they did not know, but it was a chance and they took it. And it was the devil's own work getting the horses along. The beasts did not mind climbing up and, although they liked it less, would go down steep slopes, but getting them along sideways was a nightmare. Horses' legs are not made to accommodate ground a foot higher on one side than the other. So it was necessary to lead them three paces up at an angle and then three paces down at an angle to advance one pace forward. |
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The men said things in English that made even Walter raise his brows. He did not check them, knowing that they needed some outlet for their feelings and believing that, although she spoke English, Sybelle would not understand. However, he learned otherwise when Sybelle giggled and then, when they stopped to rest, asked one to repeat a phrase. Tostig exclaimed in protest and the man turned red, so she did not insist, but she asked Walter with innocent gravity in French if what she thought she had heard were humanly possible. Resisting one impulse to reprimand her sharply for comprehending such language and another to laugh himself silly, Walter replied with what dignity he could muster that he did not know, never having thought of trying it. |
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However, a few minutes after they started out again, Walter himself said something almost as obscene when he realized that not far ahead there were no trees. The disaster was not as complete as they had feared. When they came to the edge, it was not a sheer drop they found but an area of scree. Somewhere above, the whole side of the mountain had loosened and fallen; earth and rock had roared down, taking with them trees and topsoil and leaving a narrow river of unstable, unsettled groundnot a complete disaster but a serious check. The horses would never get over that. Walter sighed. Oh, well, there were plenty of trees, and war axes could be used for more than one purpose. |
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It took hours, but they bridged the earth river at lastalthough not without cost. Two men went down and were retrieved much bruised and battered, one with a broken leg. Sybelle set it and splinted it, but of course the man would have to be carried in a litter fashioned of branches and a blanket until they reached sufficiently level ground for him to |
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