noon
Prince Askurry must know that Humâyon or his friends were close at hand , or he would not be in such a desperate hurry to send away the Heir-to-Empire . And this , indeed , was the truth . The fear of a rescue was so real and immediate that Prince Askurry had had to make his decision in a minute . So there was scarcely any time for preparation , and by noon the party had started for the three hundred and odd miles of mountainous country that lay between them and Kâbul . Only the children 's faces were cheerful ; even Roy 's showed grave and anxious . They rode fast and far till dusk fell , when they had covered full twenty miles . For the last few , both the women , who were mounted behind troopers , had almost been dropping with fatigue , but the captain of the escort was under orders to go as far as possible that night , so he pushed on to reach a place called Robât .