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One horseman was ahead and three rode behind。 The one ahead was following the horse tracks。 He looked down as he rode。 The other three came behind him； fanned out through the timber。 They were all watching carefully。 Robert Jordan felt his heart beating against the snowy ground as he lay； his elbows spread wide and watched them over the sights of the automatic rifle。
The man who was leading rode along the trail to where Pablo had circled and stopped。 The others rode up to him and they all stopped。
Robert Jordan saw them clearly over the blued steel barrel of the automatic rifle。 He saw the faces of the men； the sabers hanging； the sweat…darkened flanks of the horses； and the cone…like slope of the khaki capes； and the Navarrese slant of the khaki berets。 The leader turned his horse directly toward the opening in the rocks where the gun was placed and Robert Jordan saw his young； sunand wind…darkened face； his close…set eyes； hawk nose and the overlong wedge…shaped chin。
Sitting his horse there； the horse's chest toward Robert Jordan； the horse's head high； the butt of the light automatic rifle projecting forward from the scabbard at the right of the saddle； the leader pointed toward the opening where the gun was。
Robert Jordan sunk his elbows into the ground and looked along the barrel at the four riders stopped there in the snow。 Three of them had their automatic rifles out。 Two carried them across the pommels of their saddles。 The other sat his horse with the rifle swung out to the right； the butt resting against his hip。
You hardly ever see them at such range； he thought。 Not along the barrel of one of these do you see them like this。 Usually the rear sight is raised and they seem miniatures of men and you have hell to make it carry up there； or they come running； flopping； running； and you beat a slope with fire or bar a certain street； or keep it on the windows； or far away you see them marching on a road。 Only at the trains do you see them like this。 Only then are they like now； and with four of these you can make them scatter。 Over the gun sights； at this range； it makes them twice the size of men。
Thou； he thought； looking at the wedge of the front sight placed now firm in the slot of the rear sight； the top of the wedge against the center of the leader's chest； a little to the right of the scarlet device that showed bright in the morning sun against the khaki cape。 Though； he thought； thinking in Spanish now and pressing his fingers forward against the trigger guard to keep it away from where it would bring the quick； shocking； hurtling rush from the automatic rifle。 Thou； he thought again； thou art dead now in thy youth。 And thou； he thought； and thou； and thou。 But let it not happen。 Do not let it happen。
He felt Agust韓 beside him start to cough； felt him hold it； choke and swallow。 Then as he looked along the oiled blue of the barrel out through the opening between the branches； his finger still pressed forward against the trigger guard； he saw the leader turn his horse and point into the timber where Pablo's trail led。 The four of them trotted into the timber and Agust韓 said softly； 〃_Cabrones！_〃
Robert Jordan looked behind him at the rocks where Anselmo had dropped the tree。
The gypsy； Rafael； was coming toward them through the rocks； carrying a pair of cloth saddlebags； his rifle slung on his back。 Robert Jordan waved him down and the gypsy ducked out of sight。
〃We could have killed all four；〃 Agust韓 said quietly。 He was still wet with sweat。
〃Yes；〃 Robert Jordan whispered。 〃But with the firing who knows what might have come？〃
Just then he heard the noise of another rock falling and he looked around quickly。 But both the gypsy and Anselmo were out of sight。 He looked at his wrist watch and then up to where Primitivo was raising and lowering his rifle in what seemed an infinity of short jerks。 Pablo has forty…five minutes' start； Robert Jordan thought； and then he heard the noise of a body of cavalry coming。
〃_No te apures_；〃 he whispered to Agust韓。 〃Do not worry。 They will pass as the others。〃
They came into sight trotting along the edge of the timber in column of twos； twenty mounted men； armed and uniformed as the others had been； their sabers swinging； their carbines in their holsters； and then they went down into the timber as the others had。
〃_Tu ves？_〃 Robert Jordan said to Agust韓。 〃Thou seest？〃
〃There were many；〃 Agust韓 said。
〃These would we have had to deal with if we had destroyed the others；〃 Robert Jordan said very softly。 His heart had quieted now and his shirt felt wet on his chest from the melting snow。 There was a hollow feeling in his chest。
The sun was bright on the snow and it was melting fast。 He could see it hollowing away from the tree trunks and just ahead of the gun； before his eyes； the snow surface was damp and lacily fragile as the heat of the sun melted the top and the warmth of the earth breathed warmly up at the snow that lay upon it。
Robert Jordan looked up at Primitivo's post and saw him signal； 〃Nothing；〃 crossing his two hands； palms down。
Anselmo's head showed above a rock and Robert Jordan motioned him up。 The old man slipped from rock to rock until he crept up and lay down flat beside the gun。
〃Many；〃 he said。 〃Many！〃
〃I do not need the trees；〃 Robert Jordan said to him。 〃There is no need for further forestal improvement。〃
Both Anselmo and Agust韓 grinned。
〃This has stood scrutiny well and it would be dangerous to plant trees now because those people will return and perhaps they are not stupid。〃
He felt the need to talk that； with him； was the sign that there had just been much danger。 He could always tell how bad it had been by the strength of the desire to talk that came after。
〃It was a good blind； eh？〃 he said。
〃Good；〃 said Agust韓。 〃To obscenity with all fascism good。 We could have killed the four of them。 Didst thou see？〃 he said to Anselmo。
〃I saw。〃
〃Thou；〃 Robert Jordan said to Anselmo。 〃Thou must go to the post of yesterday or another good post of thy selection to watch the road and report on all movement as of yesterday。 Already we are late in that。 Stay until dark。 Then come in and we will send another。〃
〃But the tracks that I will make？〃
〃Go from below as soon as the snow is gone。 The road will be muddied by the snow。 Note if there has been much traffic of trucks or if there are tank tracks in the softness on the road。 That is all we can tell until you are there to observe。〃
〃With your permission？〃 the old man asked。
〃Surely。〃
〃With your permission； would it not be better for me to go into La Granja and inquire there what passed last night and arrange for one to observe today thus in the manner you have taught me？ Such a one could report tonight or； better； I could go again to La Granja for the report。〃
〃Have you no fear of encountering cavalry？〃
〃Not when the snow is gone。〃
〃Is there some one in La Granja capable of this？〃
〃Yes。 Of this； yes。 It would be a woman。 There are various women of trust in La Granja。〃
〃I believe it；〃 Agust韓 said。 〃More； I know it； and several who serve for other purposes。 You do not wish me to go？〃
〃Let the old man go。 You understand this gun and the day i