"Master," Morano muttered, feeling that there was enough noise already for a small wood, but he went and did as he was ordered. And Rodriguez was justified of his humane decision, for the pent thoughts of all three found expression together and, all four now talking at once, mitigated any bitterness there may have been in those solitary curses. And now Rodriguez could talk undisturbed. "Whither?" said the stranger. "To the wars," said Rodriguez, "if wars there be." "Aye," said the stranger, "there be always wars somewhere. By which road go you?" "North," said Rodriguez, and he pointed. The stranger turned his eyes to the way Rodriguez pointed. "That brings you to the forest," he said, "unless you go far around, as many do." "What forest?" said Rodriguez. "The great forest named Shadow Valley," said the stranger. "How far?" said Rodriguez. "Forty miles," said the stranger. Rodriguez looked at la Garda and then at their horses, and thought. He must be far from la Garda by nightfall. "It is not easy to pass through Shadow Valley," said the stranger. "Is it not?" said Rodriguez. "Have you a gold great piece?" the stranger said. Rodriguez held out one of his remaining four: the stranger took it. And then he began to rub it on a stone, and continued to rub while Rodriguez watched in silence, until the image of the lord the King was gone and the face of the coin was scratchy and shiny and flat. And then he produced from a pocket or pouch in his jacket a graving tool with a round wooden handle, which he took in the palm of his hand, and the edge of the steel came out between his forefinger and thumb: and with this he cut at the coin. And Morano rejoined them from his merciful mission and stood and wondered at the cutting. And while he cut they talked. They did not ask him how he came to be chosen for hanging, because in every country there are about a hundred individualists, varying to perhaps half a hundred in poor ages. They go their hundred ways, or their half-dozen ways; and there is a hundred and first way, or a seventh way, which is the way that is cut for the rest: and if some of the rest catch one of the hundred, or one of the six, they naturally hang him, if they have a rope, and if hanging is the custom of the country, for different countries use different methods. And you saw by this man's eyes that he was one of the hundred. Rodriguez therefore only sought to know how he came to be caught. "La Garda found you, senor?" he said. "As you see," said the stranger. "I came too far from my home." "You were travelling?" said Rodriguez. "Shopping," he said. At this word Morano's interest awakened wide. "Senor," he said, "what is the right price for a bottle of this wine that la Garda drink?" "I know not," said the man in the brown jacket; "they give me these things." "Where is your home, senor?" Rodriguez asked. "It is Shadow Valley," he said.