When it grew dark the the passengers began to get rather excited. One after another, each of them spoke to the driver, apparently asking him to make the coach go faster. With his long whip, the driver beat the horses without pity, and he shouted to them loudly, encouraging them to make even more effort. In the darkness I saw a patch of grey light ahead of us, as though I couild see the sky through a gap in the hills. The passengers became even more excited. The crazy coach bounced on its springs, and swayed like a boat on a stormy sea. I had to hold on. The road grew more level, and we appeared to fly along. Then the mountains seemed to come nearer to us on each side of the road so they were almost on top of us. We were entering the Borgo Pass.

Several of the passengers gave me gifts and insisted I should take them. They were very earnest and would not allow me to refuse. The gifts were rather strange and each one was different, but each was given honestly, with a kind word, and the hope that God would protect me. I saw the passengers show the same signs of fear which I had seen people show outside the hotel at Bistritz - they made the sign of the cross and the sign against the evil eye. We flew along, the driver leaning forward, and on each side the passengers, leaning over the edge of the coach, looking into the darkness. I could see that something very exciting was either happening or was expected to happen, but though I asked each passenger, no one would tell me what it was.