Chapter SixThey set off early the next morning as swiftly as was possible, but inevitably hampered by the packhorses, which were heavily laden.
The countryside was mountainous and wooded and the road to Batoum twisted round high-peaked hills and ran beside swift-moving streams.
It was very beautiful, but wild and at times the road, washed by the snows of winter, became little more than a track.
Lord Athelstan and Natasha were ahead of their baggage train when they saw coming towards them in a cloud of dust a rider moving at breakneck speed.
Instinctively they reined in their horses, wondering who the rider could be and aware that something must be amiss for the man to be travelling at such a pace.
He drew nearer and nearer, and now they could see that he was middle-aged, conservativel
