"Nor do I at this moment," he answered, "they are most probably down in a valley: one is just now making his appearance, and now another. Come, come, poor Bel," cried he, drawing the mare after him, "you are accustomed at other times to carry an arched neck, and to lift your feet high enough; now you drag them along the ground, and stretch out your neck like a fish when it is being hauled out of the water." After a pause, the Froeken asked, "Can they see us?" "They ride point blank after us," answered the Cornet, "and gain more and more upon us." "Heavens! if they overtake us, I fear my father will kill you, dearest Holger! but I will shield you with my weak body, for I cannot outlive you." During these painful, interrupted conversations, they had travelled about two miles from the rivulet, across the western heath. Their pursuers were already close to the east bank, and might be both distinguished and counted. The apprehension of the fugitives was rapidly passing into despair; there seemed not a gleam of hope. The Cornet vied with the mare in panting, the Froeken wept. At this moment, a tall man clad in brown, with a gun in one hand, and a low-crowned hat in the other, started up before them out of the high heather. The fugitives made a stand. "Who is there? Where are you from?" cried the Cornet, in a military tone. "From there," answered the man, "where the houses stand out of doors, and the geese go barefoot. And where are you from? and where are you going? But stop, have not we two seen each other before? Are you not the person who lately begged for me, when Niels keeper would have laid me sprawling?" "Black Mads!" exclaimed the Cornet. "So they call me," answered the poacher; "but how happens it that I meet you here so early with such a pretty companion? You have also apparently been out poaching. If I can help you in any way, let me know." "In time of need," said the Cornet, "the first friend is the best. I am the Major's son at Vestervig, and have been fetching a bride from Ansbjerg. Her father and a whole troop of horse are after us. If you can save or conceal us, I will be grateful while I live; but it must be instantly, for they are on the other side of the rivulet." Holding his hat before his eyes on account of the sun, Mads exclaimed, "Faith! here we have him sure enough, with all his people. Kinsmen are hardest towards kinsmen, as the fox said, when the red dogs were after him. If you will promise never to make known the place to which I take you, I will try to hit upon some plan." The Froeken promised, and the Cornet swore.