Good walkers they were, as could be told by the way they stepped along the Forest road; for they were on one. It was that which ran from Ruardean to Drybrook, and their faces were set in the direction of the latter. Between the two towns a high ridge is interposed, and this they were ascending from the Ruardean side. Before they had reached its summit, Vaga, coming abruptly to a stop, said:-- "Don't you think we've walked far enough?" "Why? Are you tired?" "No--not that. But it occurs to me we may be wandering too far from home." That Sabrina was not wandering might have been told by her step, straightforward, as also her earnest glances, interrogating the road ahead at every turning. As these had been somewhat surreptitiously, though not timidly, given, the other had hitherto failed to notice them. Indeed, Vaga was not all the while by her side, nor keeping step with her. A huge dog of the Old English mastiff breed more occupied her attention; the animal every now and then making a rush at the browsing sheep, and sending them helter-skelter among the trees, his young mistress--for the dog was hers--clapping her hands with delight, and crying him on regardless of the mischief. It was only when no more of the little Welsh muttons were to be seen along the road that she joined her sister, and put in that plea for turning back. "So far from home!" repeated Sabrina, with feigned surprise. "Why, we haven't come quite two miles--not much over one." "True; but--" "But what? Are you afraid?" "A little--I confess." "And the cause of your fear? Not wolves? If so, I can release you from it. It's now quite half a century since there was a wolf seen in this Forest; and he--poor, lonely creature, the last of his race--was most unmercifully slain. The Foresters, being mostly of Welsh ancestry, have an hereditary hatred of the lupine species, I suppose from that mischance which befel the infant Llewellyn." Vaga laughed, as she rejoined:--"Instead of having a fear of wolves, I'd like to see one just now. Hector, I'm sure, would show fight; ay, and conquer it, too, as did the famed Beth-Gelert his. Wouldn't you, old Hec? Ay! that you would." At which the mastiff, rearing up, set his paws against her breast to receive the caressess extended; and, after these being given him, scampered off again in search of more sheep. "Then what are you afraid of?" asked Sabrina, "Ghosts? There are none of them in the Forest either. If there were, no danger of their showing themselves by daylight, and we'll be back home long before the sun goes down. Ha, ha, ha!" It was as unusual for the older of the sisters to talk in such a light strain as it was for the younger to speak otherwise. Just then each had a reason for this reversion of their _roles_. Further questioned as to the cause of her fear, Vaga made answer, saying,--