102 THE mullah's escape. 



the startled sentry, passed him like lightning, 

 and leaping on his mare, cleared the crowd in a 

 moment, and was away towards the hills. Car- 

 bine and matchlock balls fell like hail around 

 him, but he was untouched ; the Mullah's mare 

 had the speed of the wind, and quickly dis- 

 tanced the pursuers, who, all but six, who were 

 particularly well mounted, gave up the chase in 

 despair. Those six, however, held on, and three 

 of them were so well mounted that after a time 

 they neared the Mullah, who had slackened his 

 pace for the mare to recover her wind. Death 

 then appeared certain, as the sabres of tlie 

 horsemen glittered in the sun ; but the Mullah 

 did not lose courage, and suddenly wheeling 

 round, he struck the two leading horsemen down 

 in succession with his club, and again pushed 

 on towards the hills, near the foot of which 

 was a wide and very deep and rocky ravine. 

 Over it the mare sprung, but unhappily her 

 strength was much exhausted, and she fell back 

 into it, injuring herself irreparably in the fall. 

 The Mullah was unhurt, but had only just time 

 to scramble out and make for the hills when 

 the six pursuers came up ; however, not one of 

 their horses would take the leap, and they lost 



