RalphMeetethWithAnotherAdventureintheWoodUndertheMountainSoonthewoodgrewverythickofpine-trees，thoughtherewasnoundergrowth，sothatwhenthesunsankitgrewdarkveryspeedily；buthestillrodeoninthedusk，andtherewerebutfewwildthings，andthosemostlyvoiceless，inthewood，anditwaswithoutwindandverystill。
Nowhethoughtheheardthesoundofahorsegoingbehindhimorononeside，andhewonderedwhetherthechacewereup，andhastenedwhathemight，tillatlastitgrewblacknight，andhewasconstrainedtoabide。Sohegotoffhishorse，andleanedhisbackagainstatree，andhadthebeast’sreinsoverhisarm；andnowhelistenedagaincarefully，andwasquitesurethathecouldhearthefootstepsofsomehard-footedbeastgoingnowisefarfromhim。Helaughedinwardly，andsaidtohimself：
“Ifthechacerweretopassbutthreefeetfrommynoseheshouldbenonethewiserbutifhehearmeormyhorse。”
Andtherewithhecastalapofhiscloakoverthehorse’shead，lestheshouldwhinnyifhebecameawareoftheotherbeast；
andsotherehestoodabiding，andthenoisegrewgreatertillbecouldhearclearlythehorse-hoofsdrawingnigh，tilltheycameverynigh，andthenstopped。