The moon gave enough light for Orgoru to steal from hut to but with an eye out for the Watch.  Admittedly, in so small a village as this, the Watch was only one man, but he was almost as old and sour as the magistrate he served; both plainly resenting having been sent to so small a village toward the ends of their careers, and were therefore all the more likely to vent their spleens on young folk they might catch trying to slip away to a greater chance of happiness.

On the other hand, being as old as he was, the Watch wasn't likely to be able to catch them, either.

Orgoru tripped and stumbled twice on his way to Ciletha's cottage, but fortunately didn't make too much noise either time.  He walked past her kitchen window slowly, and that was signal enough; she was waiting and watching, and slipped out the door only moments after she saw him pass, her pack over her shoulder.  He gave her hand a squeeze, then turned his face toward the forest.

Moonbeams managed to pierce the canopy here and there, so the gloom wasn't quite complete.  They felt safe enough to talk and Orgoru said, "We have to make sure we don't leave them a trail to follow."

"How shall we do that?" Ciletha quavered.

"Why, as folk of high station should do - by taking the high road, and leaving the low road to the lowly!"  Orgoru reached up to a tree with low branches and clambered up, ungraceful and panting, but up.  "You now!"  He reached down and took Ciletha's hand.

"I'll fall," she objected.

"We aren't going high enough for it to hurt you much," Orgoru explained, "and we'll go very carefully.  Come now - or would you rather marry Bork?"

Ciletha shuddered and reached up.

They went very carefully indeed, edging out along the lowest limb until they were able to climb into another tree, then inching along its lowest branch to a third.

"We'll never get very far," Ciletha protested.

"True, but they'll never find us, either," Orgoru pointed out.  "Their hounds won't be able to catch our scent, up here."

Finally they came to a tree that overhung a brook, and Ogoru passed his pack to Ciletha while he dropped down into the water.  Since it didn't come above his shins, he reached up and called, "First drop our packs, then drop down yourself!"

Ciletha seemed glad enough to do that, surprisingly.  They lashed off together, making much faster progress than they had before - until Ciletha caught Orgoru' s arm and pulled back, pointing with a trembling finger.  Looking where she indicated, he saw the glowing coals of a campfire, and near it, a figure wrapped in a blanket.

Ciletha put her lips next to his ear.  "We must slip far from him!"

"No," Orgoru breathed back.  "I see no dogs - and he's left his clothing in a pile!"

"What of it?" Ciletha asked, frowning.

"It has his scent!  If we wear clothing like that, the dogs won't know who to chase!  Come now, stay quiet while I steal away!"